The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and community foundation established in 1958, serving Oak Park, River Forest, and surrounding communities in western Cook County, Illinois. The organization functions as a central resource connecting donors, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to address local priorities and create positive change.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.6M
+11.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-33.2% YoY
Grant Count
65
-14.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-21.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Unite community members to mobilize resources to advance a racially just society and equitable outcomes for residents of Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities.
Vision: A racially just society in which all members of the community thrive and prosper.
Core Values: Equity, Belonging, Courage, and Hope
The Foundation's work encompasses:
- Donor advisory services and philanthropic planning
- Grantmaking to nonprofit organizations
- Scholarship programs and student support
- Endowment fund management for nonprofits
- Community leadership development programs
- Technical assistance and training for nonprofit organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$11,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary service area: Oak Park, River Forest, and surrounding communities in western Cook County, Illinois. Grantmaking also extends to Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $55.6 million
- Total Revenue: $6.12 million
- Total Expenses: $4.63 million
- Total Liabilities: $271,000
- Annual Giving Rate: 3.5% of assets
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 1998; operates a donor-advised fund
Rating: Four-Star rating with 97% score
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,643,298 | $49,948,656 | $45,848,497 |
| Revenue | $6,119,259 | $4,998,949 | $6,349,877 |
| Expenses | $4,631,019 | $5,450,525 | $4,357,068 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,637,261 | $-118,913 | $2,550,967 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Oak Park-river Forest
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Heph Foundation ($400,000), Animal Care League ($142,001), Chicago Public Media Inc ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL CARE LEAGUE OAK PARK, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $142,001 |
| BEYOND HUNGER OAK PARK, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $24,500 |
| CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $30,000 |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $125,000 |
| CHICAGO WEST COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $9,150 |
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BROOKFIELD, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,703 |
| CHILDREN'S RESEARCH TRIANGLE CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| COLLABORATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION OAK PARK, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS FUND CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY OF CONGREGATIONS OAK PARK, IL | TO SUPPORT GENERAL PROGRAM SERVICES | $18,203 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and Chief Executive Officer: Antonio Martinez Jr.
Staff: 8 employees (as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KELLY TURNER | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| DOUGLAS DIXON | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| PHIL HAUSKEN | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| KEVIN ROBINSON | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| IV ASHTON | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| TIFFINY BOLDEN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| DENISE BURNS | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ANA GARCIA DOYLE | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| JON HALE | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| SARAH JOLIE | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| LISA JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| WILLIAM PLANEK | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| TAWFIQ FARRAJ | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| MARIO LUCERO | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| ANTONIO MARTINEZ JR | PRESIDENT AND CEO | 40 | $193,679 |
| SHERYL MARTIN | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 24 | $78,239 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants announced include:
$645,000 to Housing Forward for 2026 emergency shelter operations
Oak Park grants $645k to Housing Forward for 2026 emergency shelter operations$500,000 for a residential energy savings program
Oak Park approves $500k for residential energy savings program\_ - Wednesday\$45,000 to Acorn Public Library
Oak Forest's Acorn Public Library Awarded $45,000 In Grant Money | Oak Forest,The Foundation maintains an active presence in the community through its role as a convener of resources and supporter of nonprofit excellence, with ongoing engagement through volunteer opportunities, committee participation, and affinity groups including Women Leaders in Philanthropy, Business Leaders, and Emerging Leaders Groups.
Our Grants Strategy - Oak Park-River Forest Community FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Oak Park-river Forest fund?
**Mission:** Unite community members to mobilize resources to advance a racially just society and equitable outcomes for residents of Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities. **Vision:** A racially just society in which all members of the community thrive and prosper. **Core Values:** Equity, Belonging, Courage, and Hope The Foundation's work encompasses: • Donor advisory services and philanthropic planning • Grantmaking to nonprofit organizations • Scholarship programs and student s…
How do I apply for a grant from Oak Park-river Forest?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $2.0 million across 65 grants • Median grant size: $11,000 • Grant range: $5,000 to $400,000 **Historical Giving Trends:** • 2023: $3.0 million across 76 grants (median $12,000) • 2022: $2.4 million across 71 grants (median $16,000) **Application Policy:** Invite-only; does not accept unsolicited applications **Active Grant Opportunities:** • OPRFCF Community Grants • Kott Memorial Charitable Trust Grants **Programs:** • **Future Philanthropists Progra…
Where does Oak Park-river Forest make grants?
Primary service area: Oak Park, River Forest, and surrounding communities in western Cook County, Illinois. Grantmaking also extends to Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
What size grants does Oak Park-river Forest award?
In 2024, Oak Park-river Forest awarded 65 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Oak Park-river Forest's EIN?
Oak Park-river Forest's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4150724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oak Park-river Forest's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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