The Coleman Foundation Inc
The Coleman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It invests in community-based organizations and local institutions working to strengthen the physical health and economic and emotional well-being of people in the greater Chicago region.
The Coleman Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Coleman Foundation Inc gave $9.1M across 185 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), mostly in Illinois. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,106,508
- +15.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 185
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $49,224
- +29.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $182,395,099
- +4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (48 of 156, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Coleman Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for proposals; proposals are by invitation only. Invited organizations submit an initial LOI with the materials described above. The Foundation also states that invited grantseekers use its online portal to submit a proposal.
- Review Cycle
- The filing says LOIs are accepted throughout the calendar year. The Board typically meets quarterly, in March, June, September, and November.
- Deadline
- The filing says LOIs are accepted throughout the calendar year.
- Contact
Application contact: The Coleman Foundation Inc
Mailing address: 651 W Washington Blvd 306, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: (312) 902-7120
Email: grants@colemanfoundation.org
Website: https://colemanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Coleman Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Growing Season-Illinois Inc ($300K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
955 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 577 grants of 955 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s primary geographic focus is the greater Chicago area. Its IDD strategy specifically refers to Illinois residents. The filing says only programs within the United States are considered and excludes international programs. In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 185 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Coleman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 48 of 156 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.9M (2023) to $15.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 185 grants totaling $9.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Community Foundation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Entrepreneurship | $250,000 |
| South Side Healthy Community Organization Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Health | $250,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois Chicgo, IL | General Operating Support - Health | $200,000 |
| Growing Season-Illinois Inc Evaston, IL | Grants made at the discretion of Board Members to qualified publicly-supported charities | $200,000 |
| Saint Anthony Hospital Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Health | $150,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Health | $130,000 |
| Little City Foundation Palatine, IL | General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities | $125,000 |
| Chicago Urban League Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Entrepreneurship | $125,000 |
| West Side Forward Chicago, IL | General Operating Support - Entrepreneurship | $125,000 |
| Matching Gifts - Details available upon request Chicago, IL | Program Support | $116,508 |
Ready to take the next step with The Coleman Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $182,395,099 | $5,067,528 | $10,819,566 | $9,106,508 | 185 | $11,253,602 | $3,908,184 | $8,768,474 |
| 2023 | $174,975,741 | $20,533,923 | $11,812,230 | $7,884,402 | 208 | $9,625,303 | $19,733,473 | $8,006,154 |
| 2022 | $160,872,571 | $-1,529,566 | $12,355,241 | $9,659,383 | 229 | $11,400,091 | $2,288,542 | $8,512,537 |
| 2021 | $207,697,809 | $53,822,018 | $10,737,869 | $8,396,354 | 162 | $10,460,282 | $52,751,086 | $9,256,873 |
| 2020 | $191,210,811 | $11,993,606 | $15,091,549 | $15,176,028 | 171 | — | $11,164,491 | $8,477,638 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to invest in community-based organizations and local institutions that preserve and strengthen the physical health and economic and emotional well-being of people living in the greater Chicago region. Its stated vision is to create more compassionate, equitable, and inclusive resources and opportunities through thoughtful, sustainable solutions.
For 2025–2027, its Entrepreneurship strategy focuses on strengthening the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem and reducing barriers to education, capital, and business support services. Its Health strategy aims to reduce health disparities and promote well-being through accessible, equitable, and preventive initiatives. Its IDD strategy focuses on systems-wide solutions to improve access to support, resources, and information for Illinois residents with IDD, their families, and the agencies that serve them.
The Foundation supports organizations whose work spans these areas. For example, South Side Healthy Community Organization describes its mission as building a healthcare system that prioritizes community needs and advances health equity. Little City Foundation says it works to provide people with IDD opportunities to live, work, learn, and participate in their communities. Chicago Urban League describes its work as fostering economic empowerment, cultivating leadership, and dismantling systemic barriers for Black Chicago.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 185 grants totaling $9,106,508. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest reported awards included $250,000 to Chicago Community Foundation for general operating support in Entrepreneurship and $250,000 to South Side Healthy Community Organization for general operating support in Health. Other notable awards were $200,000 to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois for general operating support in Health; $150,000 to Saint Anthony Hospital for general operating support in Health; and $125,000 each to Little City Foundation for IDD support and Chicago Urban League for Entrepreneurship support.
Proposals are by invitation only. The Foundation’s filing describes an initial approach through a concise letter of inquiry (LOI), with information about the organization, proposed program, objectives and evaluation, requested grant size, sustainability after the grant period, and a project contact. The filing says LOIs are accepted throughout the calendar year. Grants are limited to IRS-certified tax-exempt nonprofit organizations under section 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) that are not private foundations; grants to individuals and international programs are not considered.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s website lists Nora Garcia as CEO and Thomas D. Trinley as CFO/COO. Staff also include Alisha Garcia Flores, Data and Grants Manager; Kenya McRae, Senior Program Officer for Health; and Nathan Stevens, Senior Program Officer.
The website lists Esther Barron as Chair, Pat Yuzawa-Rubin as Vice Chair, and Walter Abrego as Treasurer and Secretary. Other listed directors are Alison Fitzgerald, Michael Furlong, and Laura Lane Taylor.
The Coleman Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alison Fitzgerald
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$39K (2020) → $46K (2024)
Esther Barron
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$32K (2020) → $32K (2024)
R Michael Furlong
Director
Chairman & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$49K (2020) → $37K (2024)
Laura A Lane
Director
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$32K (2023) → $32K (2024)
Patricia K Yuzawa-Rubin
Director
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$39K (2023) → $41K (2024)
Walter Abrego Barrientos
Director
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
$32K (2023) → $32K (2024)
Thomas D Trinley
CFO & COO
CFO & Treasurer → CFO & COO, 2023
On filings since 2021
45 hrs/week
$158K (2021) → $246K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Shelley A Davis (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Daniel B Wanzenberg (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael W Hennessy (2020) — President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $246K, to Thomas D Trinley (CFO/COO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Coleman Foundation Inc
How much does The Coleman Foundation Inc give each year?
The Coleman Foundation Inc gave $9.1M across 185 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.9M across 208 grants.
What is The Coleman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Coleman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $49,224, across 185 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Coleman Foundation Inc that year got $44K on average.
Where does The Coleman Foundation Inc give grants?
The Coleman Foundation Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (103 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), Evanston, IL (4 grants) and Countryside, IL (3 grants).
Does The Coleman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 74% of The Coleman Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (137 of 185) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Coleman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Coleman Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Growing Season-Illinois Inc ($300,000 across 2 grants), Chicago Community Foundation ($253,000 across 2 grants) and South Side Healthy Community Organization ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Coleman Foundation Inc?
The Coleman Foundation Inc reported $182.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Coleman Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to invest in community-based organizations and local institutions that preserve and strengthen the physical health and economic and emotional well-being of people living in the greater Chicago region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Coleman Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for proposals; proposals are by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Coleman Foundation Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Coleman Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-coleman-foundation-inc-morg_d20ae3c6ff5d4733b3ed10e58face09b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363025967_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Coleman Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-coleman-foundation-inc-morg_d20ae3c6ff5d4733b3ed10e58face09b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Coleman Foundation Inc'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.
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