Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation
The Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It made 14 grants totaling $552,500 in 2024 to organizations including a cancer-support foundation, a college, and arts and cultural organizations.
Key facts about Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation
In short: Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation gave $553K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), top state Illinois. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6941059
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $552,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $39,464
- Median grant
- $12,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $9,405,969
- Primary geography
- Illinois (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Contact F Conrad Fischer and submit a standardized grant format with specifics relating to the statement of purpose. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- November 15.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.4M
+16.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$553K
+160.0% YoY
Grant Count
14
-26.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+252.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $519K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 124% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation says it responds to the urgent needs of Coloradans with cancer by providing financial assistance. Kalamazoo College describes its mission as preparing graduates to understand and live successfully in a diverse, complex world and provide enlightened leadership. Chicago Shakespeare Theater says it creates theatrical experiences that engage people of all ages and identities. Cato Institute describes its mission as advancing ideas and policies related to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Special Olympics says it fosters acceptance and inclusion of people of all abilities through sports, health, and education programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $552,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $125,000, with a median grant of $12,500. Its largest reported grants were $125,000 to Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation, $120,000 to Kalamazoo College, $100,000 each to Joffrey Ballet and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and $45,000 to The Gilmore. Other reported grants included $16,500 to Chicago Shakespeare Theater, $15,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, and $10,000 each to the Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art and Greater Chicago Food Bank. Special Olympics received $500.
Review Cycle
November 15.
How to Apply
Contact F Conrad Fischer and submit a standardized grant format with specifics relating to the statement of purpose. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Ready to take the next step with Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (46%), Michigan (30%), Colorado (23%), Washington, DC (1%), and Massachusetts (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $205K (2022) to $1.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $553K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation ($125K). Together the top 10 received $546K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 106 (91%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation Denver, CO | General Purpose | $125,000 |
| Kalamazoo College Kalamazoo, MI | General Purpose | $120,000 |
| Joffrey Ballet Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| The University of Chicago Booth School of Business Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| The Gilmore Kalamazoo, MI | General Purpose | $45,000 |
| Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $16,500 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Bank Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Cato Institute Washington DC, DC | General Purpose | $4,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $552,500 | 14 |
| 2023 | $212,500 | 19 |
| 2022 | $205,200 | 20 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,405,969 | $8,109,786 | $7,660,855 |
| Revenue | $1,853,523 | $661,446 | $812,349 |
| Expenses | $557,340 | $212,515 | $267,330 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $552,500 | $212,500 | $205,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $238,547 | $661,445 | $111,326 |
| Distributable Amount | $519,293 | $452,594 | $430,397 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 29, 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 July 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists F Conrad Fischer and Sonja Fischer as trustees.
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
SONJA FIScHER
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
F CONRAD FIScHER
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: F. Conrad Fisher (2019–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: F Conrad Fischer
Mailing address: 1440 N State Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (224) 216-7285
Frequently asked questions about Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation
How much does Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation give each year?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation gave $553K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $213K across 19 grants.
What is Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's typical grant size?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $12,500, and its average grant was $39,464, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation give grants?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (30%) and Colorado (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants) and Kalamazoo, MI (2 grants).
Does Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's largest grantees?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation ($125,000), Kalamazoo College ($120,000) and Joffrey Ballet ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation reported $9.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $553K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $519K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation says it responds to the urgent needs of Coloradans with cancer by providing financial assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation?
Contact F Conrad Fischer and submit a standardized grant format with specifics relating to the statement of purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's EIN?
Sonja & F Conrad Fischer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6941059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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