The First Spoke Foundation
The First Spoke Foundation is a Chicago, Illinois public charity that makes grants to support the charitable, educational, and religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Its 2022 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return, so it appears to have wound down; 2023 filing data nevertheless reports grantmaking that year.
The First Spoke Foundation at a glance
In short: The First Spoke Foundation gave $3.3M across 25 grants in 2023 (avg $132K), top state Illinois. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $3,304,997
- -74.3% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 25
- +25.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $132,200
- -79.4% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (30% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2023; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The First Spoke Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 30 South Wells Street 4049, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 357-4790
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The First Spoke Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Partnership Project ($650K). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
130 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 130 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (30%), the District of Columbia (23%), New York (23%), California (23%), and Connecticut (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The First Spoke Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023). 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 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2019) to $12.9M (2022). In 2023 it made 25 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Project Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $650,000 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Carbon Mapper Inc Pasadena, CA | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Secure Community Network Inc Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $277,500 |
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $150,497 |
| All Chicago Making Homelessness History Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund New York, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| New Venture Fund Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| The Jewish Federations of North America New York, NY | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2022 filing is marked as the foundation’s final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $2,372,693 | $3,316,894 | $3,304,997 | 25 | $51,693 |
| 2022 | $7,771,209 | $4,480,404 | $12,896,988 | $12,857,500 | 20 | $326,022 |
| 2021 | $10,124,413 | $552,668 | $4,462,019 | $4,412,375 | 46 | $552,668 |
| 2020 | $12,394,193 | $816,273 | $4,627,649 | $4,560,000 | 35 | $816,273 |
| 2019 | $16,161,369 | $729,091 | $1,336,924 | $1,272,000 | 4 | $729,091 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to “foster, promote, support, develop, encourage and maintain” the broad charitable, educational, and/or religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the foundation, as authorized in their by-laws. Its filing describes its grants as going to organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3).
The 2023 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Birthright Israel Foundation says it raises funds to support educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults; Secure Community Network says it works to create a comprehensive security shield over the Jewish community; and the United States Energy Foundation says its mission is to secure a clean and equitable energy future. Other grantees describe work in areas including homelessness, gun-violence prevention, health care for medically underserved communities, and philanthropic support for Jewish communities.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $3,304,997. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $650,000, with a median of $60,000. The largest listed awards included $650,000 to Partnership Project, $500,000 each to Birthright Israel Foundation and Carbon Mapper Inc, and $277,500 to Secure Community Network Inc. Each was reported for general operating support.
Other listed grants included $250,000 to United States Energy Foundation; $150,497 to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; $100,000 each to All Chicago Making Homelessness History, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, New Venture Fund, and The Jewish Federations of North America; $75,000 to Yale University; and $70,000 to Family Christian Health Center.
The foundation’s filing says staff conduct due diligence on organizations seeking grants and review grant compliance each year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Michael J. Krasny as president; Lonnie Nasatir as treasurer; Wendy Berger Shapiro as secretary; Boaz Blumovitz and James A. Pinkston as assistant treasurers; Rose Jagust as assistant secretary; and Adam Levine as vice president.
The First Spoke Foundation is led by Michael J Krasny, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Michael J Krasny
President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Boaz Blumovitz
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James A Pinkston
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rose Jagust
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Berger Shapiro
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Levine
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lonnie Nasatir
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Steven B Nasatir (2019–2020) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "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 The First Spoke Foundation
How much does The First Spoke Foundation give each year?
The First Spoke Foundation gave $3.3M across 25 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990. In 2022 it gave $12.9M across 20 grants.
What is The First Spoke Foundation's typical grant size?
The First Spoke Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $60,000, and its average grant was $132,200, across 25 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990.
Where does The First Spoke Foundation give grants?
The First Spoke Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (23%) and New York (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (13 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The First Spoke Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The First Spoke Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990.
Who are The First Spoke Foundation's largest grantees?
The First Spoke Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Partnership Project ($650,000), Birthright Israel Foundation ($500,000) and Carbon Mapper Inc ($500,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does The First Spoke Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to “foster, promote, support, develop, encourage and maintain” the broad charitable, educational, and/or religious purposes of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the foundation, as authorized in their by-laws. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The First Spoke Foundation?
The First Spoke Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The First Spoke Foundation's EIN?
The First Spoke Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0894628. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The First Spoke Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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