Optio Caritas Foundation
Optio Caritas Foundation is a private foundation based in McHenry, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable and religious organizations, including organizations in Illinois and several other states.
Optio Caritas Foundation at a glance
In short: Optio Caritas Foundation gave $20K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,860
- -15.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,103
- -29.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $406,578
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Optio Caritas Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1300, Mchenry, IL 60051-9021
Phone: (815) 236-5805
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Optio Caritas Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WSFI (BVM Helping Hands) ($4K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 18% to Alabama, 10% to Kentucky, 5% to Maryland, and 5% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Optio Caritas Foundation gives
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $287 (2020) to $32K (2023). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WSFI (BVM Helping Hands) Libertyville, IL | Donation | $3,760 |
| Ewtn Irondale, AL | Donation | $2,500 |
| Dynamic Catholic Erlanger, KY | Donation | $2,000 |
| St Mary Catholic Church McHenry, IL | Donation | $1,750 |
| Diocese of Rockford Rockford, IL | Donation | $1,500 |
| St Vincent de Paul Society McHenry, IL | Donation | $1,200 |
| Conventual Franciscan Friars of Marytown Libertyville, IL | Donation | $1,100 |
| Madonna Renewal Center Freeport, IL | Religious | $1,000 |
| Mundelein Seminary Mundelein, IL | Donation | $1,000 |
| Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrement Hanceville, AL | Religious | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $406,578 | $14,174 | $21,167 | $19,860 | 18 | $19,860 | $12,867 | $22,352 |
| 2024 | $413,571 | $12,078 | $24,586 | $23,500 | 15 | $23,500 | $10,992 | $22,056 |
| 2023 | $426,079 | $11,829 | $33,734 | $32,090 | 13 | $32,235 | $11,157 | $21,086 |
| 2022 | $447,984 | $-26,081 | $23,219 | $22,000 | 13 | $22,116 | $2,049 | $22,501 |
| 2021 | $497,284 | $949 | $24,502 | $23,100 | 12 | $23,222 | $788 | $25,067 |
| 2020 | $520,837 | $501,387 | $1,157 | $287 | 4 | — | $387 | $2,124 |
| 2019 | $20,607 | $155 | $1,901 | — | — | — | — | $1,132 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Optio Caritas Foundation reported a distributable amount of $22K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include donations and grants reported with a religious purpose. Among the grantees, Madonna Renewal Center says its mission is to empower pregnant women unprepared for motherhood. Vagabond Missions describes its work as advancing the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church through Catholic youth ministry in urban communities. The Armed Forces Council of Chicago says its mission is to promote public support of the U.S. military.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $19,860. Grants ranged from $100 to $3,760, with a median grant of $1,000.
Notable grants included $3,760 to WSFI (BVM Helping Hands), $2,500 to EWTN, $2,000 to Dynamic Catholic, $1,750 to St Mary Catholic Church, $1,500 to the Diocese of Rockford, and $1,200 to St Vincent de Paul Society. Madonna Renewal Center, Vagabond Missions, and the Armed Forces Council of Chicago each received $1,000, $1,000, and $200, respectively.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Samantha Adams as Director, Benton Adams as President, Eric Adams as Vice President, Mark Adams as Secretary, and Claire Adams as Treasurer.
Optio Caritas Foundation is led by Benton Adams, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benton Adams
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Adams
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Adams
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Adams
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Adams
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Optio Caritas Foundation
How much does Optio Caritas Foundation give each year?
Optio Caritas Foundation gave $20K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $24K across 15 grants.
What is Optio Caritas Foundation's typical grant size?
Optio Caritas Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,103, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Optio Caritas Foundation give grants?
Optio Caritas Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Alabama (18%) and Kentucky (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Libertyville, IL (2 grants), McHenry, IL (2 grants) and Johnsburg, IL (2 grants).
Does Optio Caritas Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Optio Caritas Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (11 grants) and "Religious" (7 grants).
Who are Optio Caritas Foundation's largest grantees?
Optio Caritas Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include WSFI (BVM Helping Hands) ($3,760), Ewtn ($2,500) and Dynamic Catholic ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Optio Caritas Foundation?
Optio Caritas Foundation reported $407K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $22K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Optio Caritas Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include donations and grants reported with a religious purpose. Among the grantees, Madonna Renewal Center says its mission is to empower pregnant women unprepared for motherhood. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Optio Caritas Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Optio Caritas Foundation's EIN?
Optio Caritas Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-5133034. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Optio Caritas Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 19, 2024)
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