The Coleman Foundation Inc
The Coleman Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1979, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization dedicated to strengthening the Greater Chicago region through strategic investments in health, entrepreneurship, and disability services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$182.4M
+4.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.1M
+15.5% YoY
Grant Count
185
-11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+29.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Coleman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Coleman Foundation works to strengthen the greater Chicago region through targeted investments across multiple program areas:
Health Program
The foundation aspires to reduce health disparities and promote well-being for everyone in the Greater Chicago region. The Health program invests in accessible, equitable, and preventive health initiatives. The program has evolved from its origins in funding cancer research and treatment in the 1980s to address broader community health priorities.
The foundation's renewed Health strategy centers on two primary goals:
- Adopting and Strengthening Innovative Care Delivery Models — including mobile programs, microsites, integrated programming, and "Food as Medicine" initiatives
- Reducing Barriers to Health Services — through Community Health Workers, health insurance navigation, and healthcare delivery reform
Entrepreneurship Program
Through 2027, the Coleman Foundation works to strengthen the greater Chicago region's entrepreneurship ecosystem. The goal is to support a network of well-connected organizations that aid all entrepreneurs in accessing the capital, education, and business support services needed to grow their ventures.
Disability Services
The foundation provides general operating support for organizations serving individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Grantmaking
The foundation administers several grant programs including:
Grant Range
** $400 - $489,250
Review Cycle
February 27, 2026
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Coleman Foundation focuses its grantmaking on the Greater Chicago region and the state of Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $182.0 million
- Annual Revenue: $5.07 million (2024); $22.6 million (annual income reported)
- Annual Expenses: $10.8 million (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $1.82 million (2024)
- Total Giving: $9.6 million (most recent data)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $124.8 million in 2011 to $182.4 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $182,395,099 | $174,975,741 | $160,872,571 |
| Revenue | $5,067,528 | $20,533,923 | $-1,529,566 |
| Expenses | $10,819,566 | $11,812,230 | $12,355,241 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,253,602 | $9,625,303 | $11,400,091 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,908,184 | $19,733,473 | $2,288,542 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,768,474 | $8,006,154 | $8,512,537 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Little City Foundation ($125,000), Center for Disability and Elder Law Inc ($100,000), Equip for Equality Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Avenues to Independence Park Ridge, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| Center for Enriched Living Riverwoods, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| Center for Independence through Conductive Education Countryside, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| Donka Inc Wheaton, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| Gateway to Learning Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| GiGi's Playhouse Portland, OR | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| Have Dreams Park Ridge, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| L'Arche Chicago Forest Park, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| PACTT Learning Center Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
| South Chicago Parents and Friends Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Shelley A Davis — President (50 hours/week, $277,474)
- Thomas D Trinley — CFO/COO (45 hours/week, $237,001)
- R Michael Furlong — Director (6 hours/week, $47,750)
- Patricia K Yuzawa-Rubin — Director (6 hours/week, $38,750)
- Laura A Lane — Director (6 hours/week, $32,000)
- Alison Fitzgerald — Director (6 hours/week, $32,000)
- Walter Abrego Barrientos — Director (6 hours/week, $32,000)
- Esther Barron — Director (6 hours/week, $32,000)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas D Trinley | CFO/COO | 45 | $246,213 |
| R Michael Furlong | Director | 6 | $36,500 |
| Patricia K Yuzawa-Rubin | Director | 6 | $41,000 |
| Laura A Lane | Director | 6 | $32,000 |
| Alison Fitzgerald | Director | 6 | $45,500 |
| Walter Abrego Barrientos | Director | 6 | $32,000 |
| Esther Barron | Director | 6 | $32,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Coleman Foundation announced the appointment of a new Executive Director as of Spring 2025. The foundation continues to actively manage its grantmaking programs and has recently launched open calls for both Health and Entrepreneurship initiatives in 2026.
Spring Newsletter 2025 - The Coleman FoundationThe foundation maintains an active newsletter program and regularly publishes grant announcements and program updates to keep stakeholders informed of funding opportunities and foundation activities.
Spring Newsletter 2025 - The Coleman FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Coleman Foundation Inc fund?
The Coleman Foundation works to strengthen the greater Chicago region through targeted investments across multiple program areas: The foundation aspires to reduce health disparities and promote well-being for everyone in the Greater Chicago region. The Health program invests in accessible, equitable, and preventive health initiatives. The program has evolved from its origins in funding cancer research and treatment in the 1980s to address broader community health priorities. The foundation's re…
How do I apply for a grant from The Coleman Foundation Inc?
• **Grant Range:** $400 - $489,250 • **Median Grant Amount:** $34,275 • **Giving Rate:** 5.7% of assets • **Total Grants Awarded:** 345 grants (as of most recent data) The foundation administers several grant programs including: • General Operating Support for Intellectual Disability Services (averaging $31,570 and $20,060 across different cohorts) • General Operating Support for Health initiatives (averaging $47,629) • Grants made at the discretion of Board Members (averaging $15,314) **2026 H…
Where does The Coleman Foundation Inc make grants?
The Coleman Foundation focuses its grantmaking on the **Greater Chicago region** and the state of **Illinois**.
What size grants does The Coleman Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Coleman Foundation Inc awarded 185 grants totaling $9.1M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Coleman Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Coleman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Coleman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Coleman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3025967. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Coleman Foundation Inc'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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