Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation
The Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2021 filing reports grants to charitable organizations. The foundation’s 2020 filing is marked as its final return and says the board resolved to dissolve it after distributing all assets to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations; it therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation gave $56K across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $56,492
- Grants made (2021)
- 14
- Average grant
- $4,035
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (80% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 190 S Lasalle Street No 1700, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 346-4101
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was St Faith Hope and Charity ($15K). Together the top 10 received $52K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2021, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 20% to recipients in Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $56K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Faith Hope and Charity Winnetka, IL | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Mundlein Seminary Mundelein, IL | Charitable | $12,000 |
| Blessed Sacrament Church Seminole, FL | Charitable | $11,492 |
| Jesuit Midwest Chicago, IL | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Joseph & Mary Retreat House Mundelein, IL | Charitable | $3,000 |
| Misericordia Home Chicago, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Mobile Care Foundation Chicago, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Standing Tall Foundation Park Ridge, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Aid for Women Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Catholic Extension Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2,014 | $58,836 | $56,492 | 14 | $2,145 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2021 — 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 2021 grants went to organizations including churches, religious and retreat organizations, and community-service organizations. Among the grantees, Mobile Care Foundation describes its mission as delivering no-cost medical and preventive care, education, and support to low-income children and families through mobile clinics. Misericordia Home says it supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, training, and employment services. Madonna Mission describes its work as providing education and resettlement support for refugees and their families in Chicago. Aid for Women says it operates pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, and residential programs for women facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $56,492. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest reported grants included $15,000 to St Faith Hope and Charity, $12,000 to Mundelein Seminary, and $11,492 to Blessed Sacrament Church. Other grants included $3,000 each to Jesuit Midwest and Joseph & Mary Retreat House, and $2,000 each to Misericordia Home, Mobile Care Foundation, and Standing Tall Foundation.
The foundation’s 2020 filing states that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests. This is a policy stated on a filing marked as final, not a current application process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Sally S. Dowdle as director, president, and “SECRE”; James C. Dowdle Jr., Colleen D. Burke, Jeanne D. Dwyer, and Sarah D. Tyrrell as directors and vice-presidents.
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation is led by Sally S. Dowdle, Director, President & Secretary on the 2021 filing; none of the 5 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Sally S. Dowdle
Director, President & Secretary
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Colleen D. Burke
Director & Vice President
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
James C. Dowdle Jr.
Director & Vice President
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Jeanne D. Dwyer
Director & Vice President
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Sarah D. Tyrrell
Director & Vice President
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021. "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 Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation
How much does Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation give each year?
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation gave $56K across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $2,000, and its average grant was $4,035, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation give grants?
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants) and Mundelein, IL (3 grants).
Does Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).
Who are Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include St Faith Hope and Charity ($15,000), Mundlein Seminary ($12,000) and Blessed Sacrament Church ($11,492), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants went to organizations including churches, religious and retreat organizations, and community-service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation?
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests and contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's EIN?
Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4157838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021.
Does Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2021
Live grants for the work Sally and James Dowdle Family Foundation funds
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