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The Experimental Station

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 32-0017985 Website

THE EXPERIMENTAL STATION WAS ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE AND FOSTER INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES OF ALL GENRES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ART AND DESIGN, INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL MODELS, FOOD, AND ALTERNATIVE MEDIA AND JOURNALISM.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

-22.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.3M

-15.2% YoY

Grant Count

30

-43.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$42K

+49.8% YoY

About The Experimental Station

Based on IRS filings

The Experimental Station is a nonprofit organization focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 30 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $9K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

AltonAuroraAustinBataviaBloomingtonCarbondaleChampaignChicagoClevelandCoal ValleyCobdenCollinsvilleDekalbEdwardsvilleElginEvanstonGlencoeGlenviewJacksonvilleKankakee

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$909K$2M$3M$4M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,560,262$2,011,911$1,500,794
Revenue$3,071,505$3,197,963$3,208,325
Expenses$3,261,695$3,073,469$3,305,824
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$8,948$230$1,753
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$374K$747K$1M$1M42 grants202030 grants20210 grants202253 grants202330 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

GREEN CITY MARKET$178KCERMAK PRODUCE NO 7 INC$173KONE STOP FOODS & LIQUOR …$134KA&S SUPERMERCADO INC AKA…$109KTHE LAND CONNECTION$84KCOMMON GROUND FOOD CO-OP$76KALBERTSON'S COMPANY INC$68KNEIGHBORHOOD CO-OP GROCERY$65KSUGAR BEET FOOD CO-OP$64KUPTOWN FARMERS MARKET NFP$32K

Grant Size Distribution

152 grants across all recorded years

123<$50K21$50–100K8$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

CONSTANCE SPREENEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$109K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
MARTIN FRIEDMANPRESIDENT6
EMMITT HOUSEVICE PRESIDENT6
MULUBWA MUNKANTATREASURER2
BETH LOEBDIRECTOR0.25
STEVE WIESENTHALDIRECTOR0.25
CORLISS KINGDIRECTOR0.25
JILL INGRASSIADIRECTOR0.25
RICHARD WRIGHTDIRECTOR0.25
CONSTANCE SPREENEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$109,168
DAN PETERMANDIRECTOR0.25

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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