The Francis L Lederer Foundation
The Francis L Lederer Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded $171,000 in 22 grants in filing year 2025 to organizations including Chicago Scholars, the Art Institute of Chicago, Erikson Institute, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
Key facts about The Francis L Lederer Foundation
In short: The Francis L Lederer Foundation gave $171K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Illinois. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-2594937
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $171,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- Average grant
- $7,773
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,692,994
- Primary geography
- Illinois (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing asks applicants to describe their organization’s nature and purpose, the intended use of grant funds, and their tax-exempt status. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$171K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
22
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Francis L Lederer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $183K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Francis L Lederer Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas that include education, arts and culture, health, and community support. For example, Erikson Institute describes its mission as preparing professionals to address challenges facing young children, families, and communities. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois says it creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, while Legacy Community Health Services describes its mission as “driving healthy change in our communities.” These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $171,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $15,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest were $15,000 each to Chicago Scholars for general purposes and the Art Institute of Chicago to support Photography Associates; $12,000 to Erikson Institute to support its programs; and $10,000 each to several organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association for its Physician Outreach Program, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois to grant a wish to a child in the Chicago area, and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston for photography acquisitions and prints and drawings.
Review Cycle
None.
How to Apply
The filing asks applicants to describe their organization’s nature and purpose, the intended use of grant funds, and their tax-exempt status. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 25% to recipients in Texas, and 12% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $143K (2023) to $171K (2025). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $171K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($23K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $125K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Scholars Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $15,000 |
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Support Photography Associates | $15,000 |
| Erikson Institute Chicago, IL | Support Erikson's Programs | $12,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | Physician Outreach Program | $10,000 |
| Global Brigades USA Pasadena, CA | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois Chicago, IL | Granting Wish to Child in Chicago Area | $10,000 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago Chicago, IL | Support Rashid Johnson Exhibition | $10,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX | Support Photography Department Acquisitions | $10,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX | Support Prints and Drawings Department | $10,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - Midwest Region Highland Park, IL | General Purposes | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,692,994 | $235,414 | $211,597 | $171,000 |
| 2024 | $2,669,177 | $190,702 | $181,206 | $146,500 |
| 2023 | $2,659,681 | $173,693 | $178,985 | $143,000 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,692,994 | $2,669,177 | $2,659,681 |
| Revenue | $235,414 | $190,702 | $173,693 |
| Expenses | $211,597 | $181,206 | $178,985 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $190,923 | $166,793 | $161,474 |
| Net Investment Income | $198,422 | $157,326 | $139,289 |
| Distributable Amount | $182,719 | $175,936 | $156,831 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mitchell Lederer as president and director; Thomas F McGuire as vice president, secretary, and director; and Adrienne Lederer, Sharon Lederer, and Leslie Lederer as directors.
The Francis L Lederer Foundation is led by Mitchell Lederer, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mitchell Lederer
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne Lederer
Director
President, Treasurer & Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Lederer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Lederer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas F. McGuire
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: The Francis L Lederer Foundation Co
Mailing address: 161 N Clark Street 4200, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 876-7195
Frequently asked questions about The Francis L Lederer Foundation
How much does The Francis L Lederer Foundation give each year?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation gave $171K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $147K across 18 grants.
What is The Francis L Lederer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $7,773, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Francis L Lederer Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Francis L Lederer Foundation give grants?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (25%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants) and Houston, TX (6 grants).
Does The Francis L Lederer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 36% of The Francis L Lederer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Francis L Lederer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Museum of Fine Arts Houston ($22,500 across 3 grants), Chicago Scholars ($15,000) and The Art Institute of Chicago ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Francis L Lederer Foundation?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $191K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $183K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Francis L Lederer Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas that include education, arts and culture, health, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Francis L Lederer Foundation?
The filing asks applicants to describe their organization’s nature and purpose, the intended use of grant funds, and their tax-exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Francis L Lederer Foundation's EIN?
The Francis L Lederer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2594937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Francis L Lederer Foundation by hand.
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