The Catalyst Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, with tax-exempt status since November 2005. The organization operates as a corporate foundation and grantmaking entity, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
+10.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$403K
-10.0% YoY
Grant Count
23
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-10.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Catalyst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $261K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary program area is investment for revenue through general operating support to various grantees. The foundation supports a diverse range of organizations across multiple sectors.
Grantmaking
The foundation awards general operating support grants to its grantees.
Grant Range
$2,000 - $60,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024
- Total Revenue: $520,511
- Total Expenses: $479,191
- Net Income: $41,320
- Total Assets: $4,822,401
- Total Liabilities: $411,000
Revenue Breakdown (2024)
- Grants and contributions: $410,749
- Investment income and dividends: $136,827
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,822,401 | $4,368,433 | $4,166,899 |
| Revenue | $520,511 | $689,395 | $427,877 |
| Expenses | $479,191 | $511,453 | $486,427 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $410,725 | $455,725 | $427,675 |
| Net Investment Income | $68,362 | $223,515 | $24,423 |
| Distributable Amount | $260,529 | $235,887 | $234,998 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include New Israel Fund ($60,000), Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc ($60,000), Partners in Health ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A HOME WITHIN INC OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ADELPHI UNIVERSITY GARDEN CITY, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AJWS SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR PEACE NOW WOBURN, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CALIFORNIA JAZZ CONSERVATORY BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CANAL ALLIANCE SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FIRST PLACE FOR YOUTH OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by the Rosbrow family:
- Thomas W. Rosbrow (Director, President)
- Patricia J. Rosbrow (Director, Treasurer, Secretary)
- Benjamin Rosbrow (Director, Vice President)
- Laura Rosbrow (Director, Vice President)
- Jesse Rosbrow (Director, Vice President)
All leadership members serve approximately 1 hour per week.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENJAMIN ROSBROW | DIR., V.P. | 1 | — |
| LAURA ROSBROW | DIR., V.P. | 1 | — |
| JESSE ROSBROW | DIR., V.P. | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA J ROSBROW | DIR., TREAS., SEC. | 1 | — |
| THOMAS W ROSBROW | DIR., PRES. | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 150 N Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 364-8710
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Catalyst Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary program area is **investment for revenue** through general operating support to various grantees. The foundation supports a diverse range of organizations across multiple sectors.
How do I apply for a grant from The Catalyst Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total grants awarded: 23 grants • Grant range: $2,000 - $60,000 • Median grant amount: $18,375 • Giving rate: 10.7% **Recent Grantees (2024)** • Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene (RFMH): $60,000 • Partners in Health (PIH): $50,000 • Adelphi University (AU): $25,000 The foundation awards general operating support grants to its grantees.
What size grants does The Catalyst Foundation award?
In 2024, The Catalyst Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $403K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Catalyst Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Catalyst Foundation reported a distributable amount of $261K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Catalyst Foundation's EIN?
The Catalyst Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0286950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Catalyst Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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