The John R Houlsby Foundation
The John R Houlsby Foundation is a private foundation based in Westmont, Illinois. Its stated giving is primarily for community welfare, including the arts and youth services.
Key facts about The John R Houlsby Foundation
In short: The John R Houlsby Foundation gave $153K across 15 grants in 2021 (avg $10K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 36-3915186
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2021
- Annual giving (2021)
- $153,000
- Grants made (2021)
- 15
- Average grant
- $10,200
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2021 filing lists Judith Louthan as the application contact and requests letters of inquiry, financial information, and program descriptions. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None listed.
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2021; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2021 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$153K
-80.0% YoY
Grant Count
15
-55.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-54.7% YoY
How The John R Houlsby Foundation gives
- 80% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021). 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
The foundation’s stated mission is giving primarily for community welfare, including the arts and youth services. Its 2021 filing specifies awards for programs whose primary concerns are children, the cultural arts, and community welfare.
The 2021 grants included support for organizations serving children and families, youth, health, housing, and women experiencing homelessness. For example, Safe Families for Children Alliance describes its mission as creating volunteer-supported, extended-family-like support for families and children. New Moms describes its work as partnering with young moms toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. Sarah’s Circle says it provides housing, life necessities, and supportive services to help women end homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $153,000. Grant amounts ranged from $7,000 to $19,000, with a median grant of $10,000. In 2020, it made 34 grants totaling $765,000.
Review Cycle
None listed.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 filing states that awards are restricted to Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, and McHenry counties in Illinois. All grant dollars reported for 2021 went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $153K (2021) to $765K (2020). In 2021 it made 15 grants totaling $153K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Safe Families for Children Alliance ($19K). Together the top 10 received $109K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 49 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Families for Children Alliance Chicago, IL | Grant - Support Program for Children and Families | $19,000 |
| Almost Home Kids Chicago, IL | Grant - Child Life Program | $10,000 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries Inc Chicago, IL | Grant - Breakthrough Youth Network | $10,000 |
| CASA of Cook County Chicago, IL | Grant - Child Advocacy Program | $10,000 |
| CASA of Lake County Vernon Hills, IL | Grant - Expansion of Volunteer Training Program | $10,000 |
| Community Health Chicago, IL | Grant - Take Action! Diabetes Management Program | $10,000 |
| Fraternite Notre Dame Chicago, IL | Grant - Tutoring Program and General Support | $10,000 |
| Housing OPP & Maintenance for the Elderly Chicago, IL | Grant - Food Pantry | $10,000 |
| New Moms Oak Park, IL | Grant - Family Support Program and General Support | $10,000 |
| Sarah's Circle Chicago, IL | Grant - General Operating Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $153,000 | 15 |
| 2020 | $765,000 | 34 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists David Mason as president and director; Maree G Bullock as treasurer; Stanley Ferguson as director; Katherine L Fox as secretary; and Judith Louthan as assistant secretary.
The John R Houlsby Foundation is led by David Mason, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2021 are compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
David Mason
President & Director
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $2K (2021)
Stanley Ferguson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $3K (2021)
Katherine L. Fox
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $3K (2021)
Maree G. Bullock
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $3K (2021)
Judith Louthan
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mary L. Fox (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $3K, to Maree G Bullock (Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Judith Louthan
Mailing address: 7 Tartan Lakes Circle, Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: (630) 986-5645
Website: https://www.guidestar.org
Frequently asked questions about The John R Houlsby Foundation
How much does The John R Houlsby Foundation give each year?
The John R Houlsby Foundation gave $153K across 15 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2020 it gave $765K across 34 grants.
What is The John R Houlsby Foundation's typical grant size?
The John R Houlsby Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,200, across 15 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990 filing.
Where does The John R Houlsby Foundation give grants?
The John R Houlsby Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (12 grants).
Does The John R Houlsby Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of The John R Houlsby Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990 filing.
Who are The John R Houlsby Foundation's largest grantees?
The John R Houlsby Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Safe Families for Children Alliance ($19,000), Almost Home Kids ($10,000) and Breakthrough Urban Ministries Inc ($10,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does The John R Houlsby Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is giving primarily for community welfare, including the arts and youth services. Its 2021 filing specifies awards for programs whose primary concerns are children, the cultural arts, and community welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John R Houlsby Foundation?
The 2021 filing lists Judith Louthan as the application contact and requests letters of inquiry, financial information, and program descriptions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John R Houlsby Foundation's EIN?
The John R Houlsby Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3915186. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The John R Houlsby Foundation by hand.
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