Tellabs Foundation
Tellabs Foundation is a private foundation based in Downers Grove, Illinois. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return, and no filings have been made since; the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Tellabs Foundation at a glance
In short: Tellabs Foundation gave $4.1M across 31 grants in 2021 (avg $132K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $4,077,086
- +58.6% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 31
- -29.5% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $131,519
- +125.2% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Tellabs Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return, so this is not a current application opportunity.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3000 Woodcreek Dr 310, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (630) 939-2923
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tellabs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was The Dupage Community Foundation ($3.4M). Together the top 10 received $3.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 75 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2021, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The filing also lists recipients in Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Connecticut, each at 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tellabs Foundation gives
- 55% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2020) to $4.1M (2021). In 2021 it made 31 grants totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Dupage Community Foundation Downers Grove, IL | General Support | $3,447,086 |
| NAMI Dupage Wheaton, IL | General Support | $150,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | General Support | $100,000 |
| People's Resource Center Wheaton, IL | General Support | $50,000 |
| Giving Dupage Wheaton, IL | General Support | $30,000 |
| Garden Center Services Chicago, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| MARCH4MEG Palos Park, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Lincoln Academy Springfield, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Imsa Fund Aurora, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Playsmart Literacy Inc Chicago, IL | General Support | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $348,250 | $4,147,171 | $4,077,086 | 31 | $4,122,986 | $175,706 | $120,886 |
| 2020 | $3,595,096 | $277,629 | $2,699,561 | $2,570,000 | 44 | — | $14,739 | $216,105 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tellabs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $121K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for organizations whose missions, as described by those grantees, include improving quality of life and building community partnerships (The DuPage Community Foundation), providing meals and food access (Northern Illinois Food Bank), and connecting people with local giving opportunities (Giving DuPage). Other recipients described work in areas including support for people with developmental disabilities, housing and services for people impacted by the carceral system, and youth development.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $4,077,086. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $3,447,086, with a median of $10,000. Its largest grants included $3,447,086 to The DuPage Community Foundation, $150,000 to NAMI DuPage, $100,000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank, $50,000 to People’s Resource Center, and $30,000 to Giving DuPage. The DuPage Community Foundation’s grant was for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2021 filing were Denise Callarman, Vice President; Stephanie P Marshall, Vice President; Carol Gavin, President and Secretary; and Chris Birck, Treasurer and Vice Preside.
Tellabs Foundation is led by Carol Gavin, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Carol Gavin
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Birck
Treasurer & Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Callarman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie P. Marshall
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Tellabs Foundation
How much does Tellabs Foundation give each year?
Tellabs Foundation gave $4.1M across 31 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $2.6M across 44 grants.
What is Tellabs Foundation's typical grant size?
Tellabs Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $10,000, and its average grant was $131,519, across 31 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tellabs Foundation give grants?
Tellabs Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), Wheaton, IL (4 grants), Downers Grove, IL (3 grants) and Naperville, IL (2 grants).
Does Tellabs Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Tellabs Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tellabs Foundation's largest grantees?
Tellabs Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include The Dupage Community Foundation ($3,447,086), NAMI Dupage ($150,000) and Northern Illinois Food Bank ($100,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Tellabs Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tellabs Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it 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 Tellabs Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Tellabs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $121K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tellabs Foundation's EIN?
Tellabs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4037547. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does Tellabs 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Live grants for the work Tellabs Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Tellabs Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Tellabs 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.
Tellabs Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?