Origami Works Foundation
Origami Works Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports the Cook County workforce development ecosystem, working with community-based organizations, educational institutions, employers, and government agencies to reduce barriers to rewarding employment and make work opportunities more visible.
Origami Works Foundation at a glance
In short: Origami Works Foundation gave $244K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $243,750
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +73.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,386
- -44.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $3,999,782
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (87% 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 Origami Works Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its nonprofit internship program has invited organizations to apply for grants covering two interns’ payroll costs and payroll taxes. The posted 2025 application cycle is past; its application deadline was February 27, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 W Madison 3Rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (773) 997-2123
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Origami Works Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vocel ($17K). Together the top 10 received $129K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($29,200), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission centers on Cook County and the Chicago area. In 2025, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 7% to Massachusetts, 4% to Wisconsin, 1% to Michigan, and 1% to Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
How Origami Works Foundation gives
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 155% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 383% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $26K (2020) to $255K (2024). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $244K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vocel Chicago, IL | First Generation College Student Summer Internship | $16,600 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $29,200 |
| Jobs for the Future Boston, MA | First Generation College Student Summer Internship | $16,600 |
| Current Chicago, IL | First Generation College Student Summer Internship | $16,600 |
| Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Chicago, IL | First Generation College Student Summer Internship | $16,600 |
| Cara Collective Chicago, IL | General Support | $12,500 |
| New Moms Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Genesys Works Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| ProPath Fund Chicago, IL | ProPath Fund | $10,000 |
| Manufacturing Renaissance Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Origami Works Foundation?
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 | $3,999,782 | $112,007 | $793,829 | $243,750 | 33 | $768,406 | $90,987 | $200,492 |
| 2024 | $4,189,372 | $122,275 | $820,816 | $254,600 | 19 | $795,795 | $100,908 | $218,255 |
| 2023 | $4,490,964 | $235,063 | $614,963 | $148,200 | 17 | $587,759 | $212,862 | $213,313 |
| 2022 | $4,379,510 | $263,564 | $524,806 | $95,732 | 15 | $502,923 | $246,502 | $239,290 |
| 2021 | $6,174,671 | $5,323,842 | $323,207 | $67,200 | 8 | $313,180 | $161,931 | $61,607 |
| 2020 | $1,133,196 | $12,105 | $153,644 | $26,000 | 5 | — | $13,862 | $50,983 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Origami Works Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support the Cook County workforce development ecosystem, bridging gaps between Chicago-area residents who face barriers to rewarding employment and potential employers. Its stated vision is for all Chicago-area residents to have access to rewarding work with employers that practice inclusive employment.
Its activities include developing resources for employer engagement, piloting customized connections between employers and workforce providers, and matching first-generation college students with paid summer internships at Chicago nonprofits. The foundation’s internship program covers payroll costs for two interns at selected organizations for a 10-week summer placement, with professional development programming provided by the foundation and partners.
Its 2025 grantees included organizations with varied missions. For example, an individual recipient says it connects Black students with resources and opportunities to advance through college, while New Moms says it partners with young mothers toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. North Lawndale Employment Network describes its work as improving residents’ earnings potential through employment initiatives. Jobs for the Future says it works to transform education and workforce systems to drive economic success.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $243,750. Grants ranged from $50 to $16,600, with a median of $6,000. Several of the largest grants were $16,600 for first-generation college student summer internships, including grants to VOCEL, Jobs for the Future, Current, and Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy, as well as individual recipients. Other notable grants included $12,600 to an individual recipient and $10,000 each to New Moms, Genesys Works, ProPath Fund, Manufacturing Renaissance, and BUILD Chicago.
The foundation also reported grants of $10,000 to North Lawndale Employment Network, $6,000 to Chicago Jobs Council, and $5,000 to Allies for Community Business and Braven.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Dani Houchin as Executive Director and Managing Trustee and Tami Hillberry as Program Officer. The 2025 filing lists Dani Houchin Petrie as Trustee and Tamara Hillberry as Program Officer.
Origami Works Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dani Houchin Petrie
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Hillberry
Prgm Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$70K (2021) → $99K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert Petrie III (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $99K, to Tamara Hillberry (Prgm Officer).
Frequently asked questions about Origami Works Foundation
How much does Origami Works Foundation give each year?
Origami Works Foundation gave $244K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $255K across 19 grants.
What is Origami Works Foundation's typical grant size?
Origami Works Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $7,386, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Origami Works Foundation give grants?
Origami Works Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (25 grants).
Does Origami Works Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Origami Works Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "First Generation College Student Summer Internship" (6 grants).
Who are Origami Works Foundation's largest grantees?
Origami Works Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vocel ($16,600), Jobs for the Future ($16,600) and Current ($16,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($29,200), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Origami Works Foundation?
Origami Works Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $768K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $200K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Origami Works Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support the Cook County workforce development ecosystem, bridging gaps between Chicago-area residents who face barriers to rewarding employment and potential employers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Origami Works Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Origami Works Foundation's EIN?
Origami Works Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2251188. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Origami Works 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Origami Works Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Origami Works Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/origami-works-foundation-morg_ba1230e4dc2b494fb6f137e94cef2bb8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832251188_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Origami Works Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/origami-works-foundation-morg_ba1230e4dc2b494fb6f137e94cef2bb8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Origami Works 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.
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