Project Projects Chicago NFP logo

Project Projects Chicago NFP

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 81-1083774 Website

Project Projects Chicago NFP is a Chicago, Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by members of the Chicago-based hospitality group 16” on Center. Its stated aim is to enrich arts and culture in the neighborhoods where it works and plays. The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).

Project Projects Chicago NFP at a glance

In short: Project Projects Chicago NFP gave $57K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$57,403
+1500.3% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
13
+160.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$4,416
+515.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$512
Total assets
$6,595
+260.8% vs 2023
Primary geography
Illinois (94% 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 Project Projects Chicago NFP

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 328 S Jefferson Suite 260, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: (312) 796-7116
Website: https://projectprojectschicago.com

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Project Projects Chicago NFP funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Beyond Hunger: $46KBeyond Hunger$46KPLUS1: $3KPLUS1$3KThe Ally Coalition: $2KThe Ally Coalition$2KArts of Life Inc: $1KArts of Life Inc$1KGray Matter: $1KGray Matter$1KCritical Resistance: $945Critical Resistance$945Bandwith Music: $512Bandwith Music$512Kitchen Possible: $505Kitchen Possible$505Garfield Park Conservatory: $500Garfield Park Conservatory$500Blessings Backpack: $296Blessings Backpack$296

The largest 2024 recipient was Beyond Hunger ($46K). Together the top 10 received $57K.

Grant Size Distribution

23 grants across all recorded years

23<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 filing reports that 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 4% to New York, and 2% to California. The grants listed include recipients in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois, as well as recipients in New York and California.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkOak ParkOaklandRiver ForestWashington

How Project Projects Chicago NFP gives

  • 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 2083% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K0 grants2020 2 grants2021 3 grants2022 5 grants2023 13 grants2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2021) to $57K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $57K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Beyond Hunger Oak Park, ILGeneral Support$46,219
PLUS1 River Forest, ILGenearl Support$2,764
The Ally Coalition New York, NYGeneral Support$2,418
Arts of Life Inc Chicago, ILGeneral Support$1,479
Gray Matter Chicago, ILGeneral Support$1,100
Critical Resistance Oakland, CAGeneral Support$945
Bandwith Music Chicago, ILGeneral Support$512
Kitchen Possible Chicago, ILGeneral Support$505
Garfield Park Conservatory Chicago, ILGeneral Support$500
Blessings Backpack Chicago, ILGeneral Support$296
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsDistributable Amount
2024$6,595$57,403$58,814$57,40313$57,403$50
2023$1,828$2,700$6,624$3,5875$3,587$147
2022$4,158$8,225$8,311$3,5103$3,510$291
2021$7,668$8,442$8,580$2,6302$2,630$599
2020$16,639—————$819

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Project Projects Chicago NFP reported a distributable amount of $50 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

Project Projects Chicago describes its aim as enriching neighborhood arts and culture. Its projects have included fundraising through ticket sales, restaurant menu items, and cocktail sales, with proceeds directed to charities selected through those programs. It also highlights Free Mondays at The Empty Bottle, a no-cover weekly live music series that supports and mentors up-and-coming artists and makes live music more accessible.

Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. Beyond Hunger says it provides direct hunger relief and works with communities to end hunger; it reported serving 67,000 individuals across its programs during the year described. The Ally Coalition says it works to end discrimination against gay people and promote LGBTQ equality. Critical Resistance says it seeks to end the prison industrial complex. BANDWITH MUSIC says it promotes wellness in underserved Chicago communities through access to performing arts instruction.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $57,403. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $46,219, with a median of $512. The largest grant was $46,219 to Beyond Hunger in Oak Park, Illinois, for general support. Other notable grants included $2,764 to PLUS1 in River Forest, Illinois; $2,418 to The Ally Coalition in New York, New York; $1,479 to Arts of Life Inc. in Chicago; and $1,100 to Gray Matter in Chicago. The filing lists general support as the purpose for these grants.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Bruce Finkelman as president, Megan Finkelman as vice president, Brent Heyl as secretary, and Victor Giron as treasurer. The organization’s website also lists Victor David Giron on its board of directors.

Project Projects Chicago NFP is led by Bruce Finkelman, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bruce Finkelman

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brent Heyl

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Megan Finkelman

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victor Giron

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Project Projects Chicago NFP

How much does Project Projects Chicago NFP give each year?

Project Projects Chicago NFP gave $57K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4K across 5 grants.

What is Project Projects Chicago NFP's typical grant size?

Project Projects Chicago NFP's median grant in 2024 was $512, and its average grant was $4,416, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Project Projects Chicago NFP give grants?

Project Projects Chicago NFP gives mostly in Illinois: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants).

Does Project Projects Chicago NFP give general operating support?

Yes: 92% of Project Projects Chicago NFP's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Project Projects Chicago NFP's largest grantees?

Project Projects Chicago NFP's largest 2024 grantees include Beyond Hunger ($46,219), PLUS1 ($2,764) and The Ally Coalition ($2,418), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Project Projects Chicago NFP?

Project Projects Chicago NFP reported $7K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Project Projects Chicago NFP fund?

Project Projects Chicago describes its aim as enriching neighborhood arts and culture. Its projects have included fundraising through ticket sales, restaurant menu items, and cocktail sales, with proceeds directed to charities selected through those programs. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Project Projects Chicago NFP?

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 Project Projects Chicago NFP's EIN?

Project Projects Chicago NFP's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1083774. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Project Projects Chicago NFP 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Project Projects Chicago NFP funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/project-projects-chicago-nfp-morg_6ba8202520414a1eb25f212166c22338

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_811083774_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Project Projects Chicago NFP funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/project-projects-chicago-nfp-morg_6ba8202520414a1eb25f212166c22338},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Project Projects Chicago NFP'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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