Sam I Am Foundation
Sam I Am Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, with the largest awards supporting Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation and Highland Park Peace Project.
Sam I Am Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam I Am Foundation gave $566K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), mostly in Illinois. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $565,653
- +11.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,712
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $2,921,734
- +0.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (7 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sam I Am Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2345 Egandale Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 431-5632
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam I Am Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation ($300K). Together the top 10 received $549K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 97 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 5% to New York, and 3% to Washington, DC. The filing also lists 0% for Massachusetts and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sam I Am Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 22 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $333K (2020) to $566K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $566K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Highland Park Peace Project Highland Park, IL | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Friends of the IDF Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| North Shore Congregation Israel Glencoe, IL | General Operating Support | $29,340 |
| Anti Defamation League New York, NY | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Am Shalom Glencoe, IL | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Council Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $15,068 |
| National Kidney Foundation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| The Ark Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Charles M Schwartz Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sam I Am 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 | $2,921,734 | $584,002 | $583,945 | $565,653 | 22 | $567,906 | $581,037 | $495,412 |
| 2024 | $2,921,677 | $439,292 | $513,696 | $506,533 | 19 | $509,333 | $435,698 | $486,296 |
| 2023 | $2,996,081 | $356,824 | $474,862 | $448,345 | 20 | $451,355 | $353,318 | $431,708 |
| 2022 | $3,091,219 | $498,117 | $470,679 | $443,192 | 18 | $445,132 | $495,628 | $410,807 |
| 2021 | $3,063,781 | $348,571 | $344,645 | $342,111 | 18 | $342,121 | $347,084 | $358,875 |
| 2020 | $3,065,822 | $559,404 | $346,665 | $332,968 | 19 | — | $557,067 | $299,011 |
| 2019 | $2,799,083 | $988,065 | $372,159 | $348,820 | 25 | — | $984,994 | $330,608 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam I Am Foundation reported a distributable amount of $495K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for a children’s hospital foundation, a peace project, Jewish community organizations, health organizations, and other charitable organizations. The grantees describe their own work: Lurie Children’s Hospital Foundation says it optimizes philanthropy in support of the hospital’s mission and future; Highland Park Peace Project describes its educational purpose as advancing education related to preventing gun violence; and The Ark says it helps Chicagoland Jews facing adversity navigate toward self-reliance.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $565,653. Awards ranged from $50 to $300,000, with a median grant of $3,750. The largest grants were $300,000 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation and $100,000 to Highland Park Peace Project. Other notable awards included $30,000 to Friends of the IDF, $29,340 to North Shore Congregation Israel, and $25,000 each to the Anti-Defamation League and Am Shalom. The listed purposes for these grants were general operating support.
The foundation reported 19 grants totaling $506,533 in 2024 and 20 grants totaling $448,345 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jillian Samantha Teven as director and treasurer; Ryan Samantha Loeb as director and secretary; Justin Samuel Loeb as director and president; and Paul Loeb and Jodi Loeb as foundation managers.
Sam I Am Foundation is led by Justin Samuel Loeb, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Justin Samuel Loeb
Director & President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Samantha Loeb
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jillian Samantha Teven
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Loeb
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jodi Loeb
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jillian Samantha Loeb (2019–2021) — Director & Treasurer
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 Sam I Am Foundation
How much does Sam I Am Foundation give each year?
Sam I Am Foundation gave $566K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $507K across 19 grants.
What is Sam I Am Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam I Am Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $25,712, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam I Am Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Sam I Am Foundation give grants?
Sam I Am Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Highland Park, IL (2 grants) and Glencoe, IL (2 grants).
Does Sam I Am Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sam I Am Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sam I Am Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam I Am Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation ($300,000), Highland Park Peace Project ($100,000) and Friends of the IDF ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sam I Am Foundation?
Sam I Am Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $568K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $495K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sam I Am Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for a children’s hospital foundation, a peace project, Jewish community organizations, health organizations, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam I Am Foundation?
The foundation 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 Sam I Am Foundation's EIN?
Sam I Am Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4574159. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Sam I Am 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 May 14, 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 May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sam I Am Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Modestus Bauer Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Modestus Bauer Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including health, food access, education, and arts groups, with most of its giving going to Illinois. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $101,600, with a median of $5,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.8M
Grants
136
Total Given
$1.0M
Circle of Service Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation funds community services, education, Jewish community, and medical research, with grantmaking concentrated in Cook and Lake Counties, Illinois, though it also funds organizations elsewhere. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000 and ranged from $50 to about $1.74 million; it accepts unsolicited pre-applications for community services and for Jewish community requests in Cook or Lake County, but not for the other stated categories or out-of-area Jewish community requests.
Assets
$592.0M
Grants
637
Total Given
$37.0M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sam I Am Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-i-am-foundation-morg_228236a04eb24ceea96fc805d521a64e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474574159_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam I Am Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-i-am-foundation-morg_228236a04eb24ceea96fc805d521a64e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Sam I Am 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.
Sam I Am Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?