The Gies Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 2004 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation was created by Larry and Beth Gies and operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic activities in education, health, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32K
-54.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+29.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$98K
+64.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gies Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
While the foundation does not publicly outline specific mission statements or detailed grantmaking priorities, tax filings indicate primary support for:
- Education — the foundation's largest funding area
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Human services
- Family services
- Child welfare
The foundation demonstrates particular interest in educational access and opportunity, with documented support for organizations focused on school leadership development, educational equity, and college preparatory education in the Jesuit tradition.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide detailed application guidelines. The foundation keeps a low public profile and does not publish clear grantmaking priorities or formal application procedures. Prospective grantees are advised to contact the foundation directly or pursue networking connections, as the foundation appears to have connections to funded organizations through family relationships.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: approximately $181,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, with significant concentration in the Chicago area. Documented funding locations include:
- Illinois: Chicago, Culver, Geneva, Glenwood, Highland Park, St. Charles, Western Springs, Wheaton
- Indiana
- California: Santa Ana
- New York: New York
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
More than half of the foundation's grantmaking remains in the Chicago region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $31,665
- Total Distributions: $1,076,675
- Total Contributions: $1,200,000
2023:
- Total Assets: $69,211
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Revenue: $219,223
- Total Expenses: $998,895
2023 Financial Summary:
- Revenue: $219,000
- Expenses: $999,000
The foundation maintains modest asset levels relative to its annual giving, indicating it distributes contributions received rather than relying on accumulated endowment growth.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,665 | $69,211 | $848,883 |
| Revenue | $1,202,769 | $219,223 | $58,429 |
| Expenses | $1,240,315 | $998,895 | $1,277,481 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,237,655 | $995,483 | $1,274,033 |
| Net Investment Income | $110 | $38,092 | $54,552 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,025 | $22,848 | $80,335 |
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
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Jesuit Academy ($767,500), Accelerate Institute ($75,000), By the Hand Club for Kids ($51,600).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CULVER ACADEMIES CULVER, IN | TO DEVELOP AND NURTURE THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH INTEGRATED PROGRAMS THAT EMPHASIZE THE CULTIVATION OF CHARACTER. | $25,000 |
| ACCELERATE INSTITUTE CHICAGO, IL | TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIONAL SCHOOL LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN GROWING UP IN POVERTY HAVE ACCESS TO GREAT SCHOOLS. | $75,000 |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | TO HELP CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN UNDER-RESOURCED NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ABUNDANT LIVES. | $51,600 |
| CHRIST THE KING ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | TO OFFER CHILDREN WITH EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS ACCESS TO A CATHOLIC, COLLEGE PREPARATTORY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE JESUIT TRADITION. | $49,000 |
| CHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | TO OFFER CHILDREN WITH EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS ACCESS TO A CATHOLIC, COLLEGE PREPARATTORY MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE JESUIT TRADITION. | $767,500 |
| GENEVA COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT GENEVA, IL | TO HELP STUDENTS BECOME SELF-DIRECTED LIFELONG LEARNERS, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATORS, COMPLEX, CREATIVE, AND ADAPTIVE THINKERS AND COLLABORATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. | $10,150 |
| GLENWOOD SCHOOL FOR BOYS GLENWOOD, IL | TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN CYCLES OF POVERTY, INJUSTICE, AND INEQUITY. | $38,000 |
| HOLY TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | TO HELP STUDENTS WITH EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS HAVE ACCESS TO A CATHOLIC SCHOOL. | $25,425 |
| LINK SCHOLARS UNLIMITED CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT LOW-INCOME, ACADEMICALLY STRUGGLING YOUNG LEARNERS BY PROVIDING RIGOROUS LITERACY INSTRUCTION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE MEASURABLE SUCCESS - AND TO INSPIRE LIFE-LONG LEARNING. | $10,000 |
| MISERICORDIA WOMEN'S LEAGUE WESTERN SPRINGS, IL | TO RAISE FUNDS FOR AND PROVIDE SERVICE TO MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Larry W. Gies — Director/President (1 hour per week, no compensation)
- Beth G. Gies — Director/Secretary (4 hours per week, no compensation)
- Brian F. Richards — Director (0.25 hours per week, no compensation)
- Sally Smith — Executive Director (30 hours per week, $120,000 compensation)
Founder Background: Larry Gies graduated with a B.S. from the University of Illinois and earned his MBA from Northwestern University in 1992. He founded Madison Capital Partners in 1994, which evolved into Madison Industries, a holding company that acquires and builds businesses with combined revenues exceeding $5 billion.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gies family has made significant philanthropic commitments beyond the foundation's direct grantmaking:
Larry and Beth Gies made a $150 million gift to the University of Illinois to support the Gies College of Business, focusing on expanding programming and scholar support
Leighton Lecture | CPRBS | Gies College of Business | IllinoisLarry Gies made a $100 million transformational gift to Illinois Athletics
Larry Gies Makes Transformational $100 Million Gift to Illinois AthleticsThese major gifts reflect the family's strong connection to their alma mater and broader educational priorities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gies Foundation fund?
While the foundation does not publicly outline specific mission statements or detailed grantmaking priorities, tax filings indicate primary support for: • **Education** — the foundation's largest funding area • **Health and diseases/conditions** • **Human services** • **Family services** • **Child welfare** The foundation demonstrates particular interest in educational access and opportunity, with documented support for organizations focused on school leadership development, educational equity,…
How do I apply for a grant from The Gies Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 16 grants in 2023 • Made 11 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $1,076,675 • Total giving in 2023: $835,000 **Grant Sizes:** • Median grant amount: $25,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $181,000 • Range: $5,000 to $768,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • By The Hand Club For Kids — $103,200 • Accelerate Institute — $75,000 • Teach for America (TFA) — $25,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide detailed applica…
Where does The Gies Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, with significant concentration in the Chicago area. Documented funding locations include: • **Illinois:** Chicago, Culver, Geneva, Glenwood, Highland Park, St. Charles, Western Springs, Wheaton • **Indiana** • **California:** Santa Ana • **New York:** New York • **Pennsylvania:** Philadelphia More than half of the foundation's grantmaking remains in the Chicago region.
What size grants does The Gies Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gies Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $98K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gies Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gies Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gies Foundation's EIN?
The Gies Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1685394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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