The Gies Foundation
The Gies Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 grants supported educational organizations and programs serving children and students, including schools, school-leadership development, and after-school programming.
The Gies Foundation at a glance
In short: The Gies Foundation gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $257K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,055,950
- +91.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -27.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $256,994
- +162.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $51,225
- Total assets
- $975,703
- +2981.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Gies Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 444 W Lake St Ste 4400, Chicago, IL 60606-0010
Phone: (312) 277-0159
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Gies Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Jesuit Academy ($1.7M). Together the top 7 received $2.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,850), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 66 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Gies Foundation gives
- Giving grew 85% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $835K (2023) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | $1,685,000 |
| Accelerate Institute Chicago, IL | To create transformational school leaders to ensure that children growing up in poverty have access to great schools. | $102,500 |
| 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. | $98,000 |
| By the Hand Club for Kids Chicago, IL | To help children who live in under-resourced neighborhoods have abundant lives. | $51,600 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $50,850 |
| Glenwood School for Boys Glenwood, IL | To help children and families who live in cycles of poverty, injustice, and inequity. | $38,000 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Chicago, IL | GiGi's Playhouse offers therapeutic, educational and research-driven programs to individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. We make a lifetime commitment to changing lives and providing hope through the consistent delivery of educational, therapeutic, and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community, using a replicable playhouse model. | $25,000 |
| Chicago Area Track and Field St Joseph, IL | The Chicago area offers a vibrant track and field community with various clubs, events, and facilities for athletes of all ages. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Gies Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $975,703 | $3,078,538 | $2,134,500 | $2,055,950 | 8 | $2,134,500 | $3,150 | $7,890 |
| 2024 | $31,665 | $1,202,769 | $1,240,315 | $1,076,675 | 11 | $1,237,655 | $110 | $3,025 |
| 2023 | $69,211 | $219,223 | $998,895 | $834,500 | 14 | $995,483 | $38,092 | $22,848 |
| 2022 | $848,883 | $58,429 | $1,277,481 | $1,113,905 | 13 | $1,274,033 | $54,552 | $80,335 |
| 2021 | $2,067,935 | $41,823 | $2,167,006 | $1,982,297 | 20 | $2,142,712 | $31,763 | $164,366 |
| 2020 | $4,193,118 | $1,414,677 | $1,493,293 | $1,318,467 | 16 | — | $1,390,827 | $224,315 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gies Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for education and for organizations serving children and students. For example, Accelerate Institute describes its mission as closing the achievement gap by creating high-impact school leaders who accelerate student achievement. By The Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program nurturing children’s minds, bodies, and souls. GiGi’s Playhouse says it provides free educational, therapeutic, and career-development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 8 grants totaling $2,055,950. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,685,000, with a median of $51,225. The largest grant was $1,685,000 to Chicago Jesuit Academy to offer children with educational and economic needs access to a Catholic, college preparatory middle-school education in the Jesuit tradition. Other grants included $102,500 to Accelerate Institute, $98,000 to Christ the King Academy, $51,600 to By The Hand Club for Kids, and $50,850 to an individual recipient High School.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Gies Foundation is led by Larry W Gies, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Larry W Gies
Director & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth G Gies
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian F Richards
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 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.
Frequently asked questions about The Gies Foundation
How much does The Gies Foundation give each year?
The Gies Foundation gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 11 grants.
What is The Gies Foundation's typical grant size?
The Gies Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $51,225, and its average grant was $256,994, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Gies Foundation give grants?
The Gies Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants).
Does The Gies Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Gies Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Gies Foundation's largest grantees?
The Gies Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Jesuit Academy ($1,685,000), Accelerate Institute ($102,500) and Christ the King Academy ($98,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($50,850), which are not listed by name. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Gies Foundation?
The Gies Foundation reported $976K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Gies Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for education and for organizations serving children and students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Gies Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does The Gies Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Gies Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gies Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Dr Scholl Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Dr. Scholl Foundation funds nonprofit work in education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural activities, and the environment, with consideration for other worthwhile projects. Grants average $5,000–$25,000, mostly in the United States; it also considers international requests when a board member has direct knowledge of the applicant.
Assets
$211.9M
Grants
410
Total Given
$8.9M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Gies Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-gies-foundation-morg_f1481c66d082401aaa65daa4e12d39bb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201685394_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Gies Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-gies-foundation-morg_f1481c66d082401aaa65daa4e12d39bb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Gies Foundation'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.
The Gies Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?