Ortus Foundation
Ortus Foundation is a private foundation based in Oak Park, Illinois, founded in 2022. It supports youth and young adult mental health and suicide prevention through school-based work, research, partnerships, and investment in early-stage for-profit mental health companies.
Ortus Foundation at a glance
In short: Ortus Foundation gave $721K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $720,800
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $55,446
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $13,809,933
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ortus Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It says grants are by request only and that its decision-making process is rigorous; it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 805 Lake Street Pmb 317, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: (847) 287-7832
Website: https://www.ortusfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ortus Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Georgetown University ($350K). Together the top 10 received $715K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 18 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as building networks of advocates around the country. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in several states: 49% to Washington, DC; 21% to Texas; 16% to Illinois; 12% to California; and 1% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ortus Foundation gives
- In 2024 it paid out 175% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $210K (2022) to $721K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $721K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | To further the mission of the donee organization and fund the Healy Student Hub | $350,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | To further the mission of the donee organization and fund the Ethics of Psychedelic Research Program | $150,000 |
| Erikson Institute Chicago, IL | To further the mission of the donee organization | $100,000 |
| Mayan Warrior Foudation Los Angeles, CA | To further the mission of the donee organization | $66,000 |
| Lurie Children's Foundation Chicago, IL | To further the mission of the donee organization and for the Pritzker Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health | $10,000 |
| Wolcott School West Hartford, CT | To further the mission of the donee organization | $10,000 |
| Shulgin Farm Foundation Lafayette, CA | To further the mission of the donee organization | $10,000 |
| Mystic Arts Foundation San Diego, CA | To further the mission of the donee organization | $10,000 |
| Dignitas Ukraine Cranford, NJ | To further the mission of the donee organization | $5,000 |
| Clinton Foundation New York, NY | To further the mission of the donee organization | $4,200 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,809,933 | $702,041 | $1,420,634 | $720,800 | 13 | $1,346,802 | $627,010 | $769,091 |
| 2022 | $14,835,762 | $15,128,920 | $244,284 | $210,000 | 5 | $237,789 | $122,425 | $153,073 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ortus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $769K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to support mental health and suicide prevention for youth and young adults. Its focus areas include strengthening mental health support in schools and colleges; funding research into nontraditional models and novel therapeutics; building connections among organizations; and providing financial resources to early-stage, for-profit mental health companies.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied stated missions. Georgetown University, which received $350,000, describes its mission as fostering intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding through sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs. Baylor College of Medicine, which received $150,000, says it advances human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. Erikson Institute, which received $100,000, prepares professionals to address challenges facing young children, families, and communities. Other 2024 recipients included Mystic Arts Foundation, whose stated mission is to bring immersive art experiences to the public; Dignitas Ukraine, which supports people in Ukraine through education, training, humanitarian support, and other efforts; and Voices Jackson Hole, whose mission is to engage and empower the Teton region’s immigrant communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $720,800. Grants ranged from $1,500 to $350,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest awards included $350,000 to Georgetown University for its mission and the Healy Student Hub; $150,000 to Baylor College of Medicine for its mission and the Ethics of Psychedelic Research Program; and $100,000 to Erikson Institute for its mission. Other notable grants were $66,000 to Mayan Warrior Foundation, $10,000 to Lurie Children’s Foundation for its mission and the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and $10,000 to Wolcott School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sabrina Gracias as President and Sara Crown Star and Tanya Polsky as Board Members.
Ortus Foundation is led by Sabrina Gracias, President since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sabrina Gracias
President
Officer → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Crown Star
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Polsky
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 Ortus Foundation
How much does Ortus Foundation give each year?
Ortus Foundation gave $721K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Ortus Foundation's typical grant size?
Ortus Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $55,446, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ortus Foundation give grants?
Ortus Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (21%) and Illinois (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Jackson, WY (2 grants).
Does Ortus Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Ortus Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To further the mission of the donee organization" (10 grants).
Who are Ortus Foundation's largest grantees?
Ortus Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Georgetown University ($350,000), Baylor College of Medicine ($150,000) and Erikson Institute ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ortus Foundation?
Ortus Foundation reported $13.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $769K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ortus Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to support mental health and suicide prevention for youth and young adults. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ortus Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ortus Foundation's EIN?
Ortus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3313403. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Does Ortus 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ortus Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ortus-foundation-morg_45901d2993204196a2c437a73f50ad0a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_883313403_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ortus Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ortus-foundation-morg_45901d2993204196a2c437a73f50ad0a},
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 Ortus 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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