The John R Houlsby Foundation
The John R Houl sby Foundation is a private foundation based in Westmont, Illinois. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return, so the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The John R Houlsby Foundation at a glance
In short: The John R Houlsby Foundation gave $153K across 15 grants in 2021 (avg $10K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $153,000
- -80.0% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 15
- -55.9% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $10,200
- -54.7% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The John R Houlsby Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The final filing listed letters of inquiry, financial information, and program descriptions as materials, with no deadline. It did not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and limited eligible programs to those in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, and McHenry counties whose primary concerns are children, the cultural arts, and community welfare. These instructions are not current application guidance because the filing is marked as final.
- Contact
Application contact: Judith Louthan
Mailing address: 7 Tartan Lakes Circle, Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: (630) 986-5645
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John R Houlsby Foundation funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing restricts eligible programs to Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, and McHenry counties in Illinois. All reported 2021 grant dollars went to Illinois recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The John R Houlsby Foundation gives
- 80% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $153K (2021) to $765K (2020). In 2021 it made 15 grants totaling $153K.
Grants by year
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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $3,621 | $271,779 | $153,000 | 15 | $238,386 | $6,780 |
| 2020 | $268,158 | $4,479 | $931,337 | $765,000 | 34 | — | $43,278 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John R Houlsby Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for programs serving children and families, youth, arts education, health, housing, and community welfare. For example, Safe Families for Children Alliance describes its mission as creating “extended family-like supports” to help keep children safe and families intact. Music of the Baroque describes itself as a professional orchestra and chorus that also educates Chicago Public School students through a singing program.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $153,000. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $19,000, with a median grant of $10,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
The largest 2021 grant was $19,000 to Safe Families for Children Alliance for a program supporting children and families. Other reported grants included $10,000 each to Almost Home Kids, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, CASA of Cook County, CASA of Lake County, Community Health, Fraternite Notre Dame, Housing Opp & Maintenance for the Elderly, New Moms, Sarah’s Circle, and SkyART. Glenwood Academy received $9,000.
The foundation’s 2021 filing states that it did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing listed letters of inquiry, financial information, and program descriptions as application materials, with no deadline. It also listed county and program-area restrictions. These are instructions from the final return and should not be treated as current application instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed 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.
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-PF. 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-PF.
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-PF 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-PF.
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-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does The John R Houlsby Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for programs serving children and families, youth, arts education, health, housing, and community welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John R Houlsby Foundation?
The final filing listed letters of inquiry, financial information, and program descriptions as materials, with no deadline. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The John R Houlsby Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The John R Houlsby Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 26, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Live grants for the work The John R Houlsby Foundation funds
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