Northern Illinois University Foundation
The niu foundation's mission is to energize and connect the private sector with the niu community to secure and steward resources that support the future and growth of niu.
Northern Illinois University Foundation at a glance
In short: Northern Illinois University Foundation gave $7.6M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $7.6M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,629,552
- +25.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,629,552
- +25.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,629,552
- Total assets
- $235,186,416
- +28.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Northern Illinois University Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northern Illinois University ($7.6M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 3 grants of 5 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Northern Illinois University Foundation gives
- Giving grew 121% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2021) to $7.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $7.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL | To Provide Grants to Northern Illinois University | $7,629,552 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $235,186,416 | $60,306,566 | $18,644,228 | $7,629,552 | 1 | $8,452,734 |
| 2024 | $183,520,460 | $19,215,396 | $15,873,607 | $6,092,120 | 1 | $6,601,130 |
| 2023 | $184,924,291 | $24,268,397 | $13,136,031 | $4,245,964 | 1 | $6,690,368 |
| 2022 | $169,106,712 | $31,131,654 | $11,027,067 | $3,449,870 | 1 | $10,172,266 |
| 2021 | $170,425,866 | $19,769,016 | $9,316,147 | $2,983,731 | 1 | $3,636,912 |
About Northern Illinois University Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Northern Illinois University Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Dekalb, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $235.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $7.6M. Net investment income was $8.5M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Northern Illinois University Foundation is led by Catherine Squires, President, CEO & Secretary- since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 43 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine Squires
President, CEO & Secretary-
President & CEO → President, CEO & Secretary, 2022
President, CEO & Secretary → President, CEO & Secretary-, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reynaldo Bustinza
Executive Director & Alumni Engagement
Key Employee → Executive Director & Alumni Engagement, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luke Sebby
Executive Director & Strategic Development
Key Employee → Executive Director & Strategic Development, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip Zepeda
Executive Director, Campaign, Committee & Strat
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Tierney
Board Chair
Treasurer → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Kambich
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brent Brodeski
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Crenshaw
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Cole
Director -
Vice Chair → Director -, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Crocker
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Pick
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Godlewski
Director of Finance & Strategic Init
Director of Finance & Strategic Priorities → Director of Finance, 2023
Director of Finance → Director of Finance & Strategic Init, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Liesendahl
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Thomas Futrell
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Sener
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kym Kowalski
Controller & Senior Director of Finance
Controller → Controller & Senior Director of Finance, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Manny Sanchez
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pete Garrity
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ray Banks
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rich Escalante
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Barsema
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Boston
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael C. Adzovic
Senior Director Ops & Annual Giving
Highest Compensated Employ → Highest Compensated Employee, 2023
Highest Compensated Employee → Senior Director Ops & Annual Giving, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cherilyn Murer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harlan Teller
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Quinn
Director of Board Relations
Secretary → Director of Board Relations, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leanne Murphy
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Gluck
Senior Director of Advancement
Highest Compensated Employee → Senior Director of Advancement, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becca Katz
Student Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Eileen Sullivan Smith
Senior Director of Corporate & Fnd Relations
Highest Compensated Employee → Senior Director of Corporate & Fnd Relations, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Drake
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Knight
Senior Director of Advancement
Highest Compensated Employee → Senior Director of Advancement, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Slocum
Senior Director of Planned Giving
Highest Compensated Employee → Senior Director of Planned Giving, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Clark
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jc Labarbera
Student Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Maniola
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Quinn
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Hamblock
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marty Johnston
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Daigler
Assistant Vice President & COO
Key Employee → Assistant Vice President & COO, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond Lowell Jackson
Assistant Vice President & CDO
Key Employee → Assistant Vice President & CDO, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wheeler Coleman
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Paull
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: David Heide (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Yousuf Khan (2023–2024) — Student Director
- Former: Pat Gregolunas (2024) — Director
- Former: Kristin Clark Miller (2022–2023) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Timothy M. Webster (2022–2023) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Elizabeth Anne McKee (2023) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Grant Goral (2023) — Student Director
- Former: Isabelle Vondra Part Year (2023) — Student Director
- Former: Kenneth Greisman Part Year (2023) — Director
- Former: Sankat Patel (2023) — Director
- Former: Adam Michael Neal (2021–2022) — Highest Compensated Employ
- Former: Cherilyn Murer Jd Cr (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Isabelle Vondra (2021–2022) — Student Director
- Former: Kenneth Greisman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Melissa Nigro (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Michael Cullen (2021–2022) — Board Chair-
- Former: Sophia Arnold (2021–2022) — Student Director
- Former: Dane McLaughlin Walkington (2022) — Highest Compensated Employ
- Former: Alberta Solfisburg (2021) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Jaymie Simmon (2021) — Director · Filing note: Term ended May '21
- Former: John Landgraf (2021) — Director · Filing note: Term ended May '21
- Former: John Sentovich (2021) — Key Employee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Northern Illinois University Foundation
How much does Northern Illinois University Foundation give each year?
Northern Illinois University Foundation gave $7.6M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.1M across 1 grant.
How large is Northern Illinois University Foundation?
Northern Illinois University Foundation reported $235.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $60.3M.
What is Northern Illinois University Foundation?
Northern Illinois University Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Dekalb, IL. It holds $235.2M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Northern Illinois University Foundation operate?
Northern Illinois University Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Northern Illinois University Foundation's EIN?
Northern Illinois University Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6086819. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Northern Illinois University Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northern Illinois University Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Northern Illinois University Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Northern Illinois University Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?