The Leonard and Joan Foundation
The Leonard and Joan Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported 64 grants totaling $308,794, with recipients including Chicago-area arts and community organizations, educational institutions, and organizations working in areas such as health and public support.
The Leonard and Joan Foundation at a glance
In short: The Leonard and Joan Foundation gave $309K across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Illinois. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $308,794
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,825
- +5.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,575
- Total assets
- $6,959,315
- +14.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 64, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Leonard and Joan 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: 3744 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 525-5935
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Leonard and Joan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Illinois Chicago ($52K). Together the top 10 received $176K.
Grant Size Distribution
259 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 254 grants of 259 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois recipients received 76% of grant dollars. The next-largest shares went to recipients in New York (6%), Connecticut (3%), Kansas (3%), and California (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Leonard and Joan Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 64 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $137K (2019) to $309K (2025). In 2025 it made 64 grants totaling $309K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | Education | $51,600 |
| Part I LN 25 Cash Basis Contr Adjus Chicago, IL | Part 1 LN 25 Cash Basis Contr ADJ | $30,512 |
| Season of Concern Chicago, IL | Theatre Productions | $20,600 |
| International Voices Project Chicago, IL | Community Service | $15,000 |
| Music Theater Works Wilmette, IL | Theatre Productions | $10,500 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foun Chicago, IL | Public Support | $10,350 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | Public Support | $10,220 |
| International Essential Tremor Foun Lenexa, KS | Medical Research | $10,010 |
| Theo Ubique Evanston, IL | Theatre Productions | $10,000 |
| Albany Park Theater Project Chicago, IL | Theatre Productions | $7,575 |
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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 | $6,959,315 | $1,002,971 | $370,351 | $308,794 | 64 | $284,864 | $519,866 | $315,377 |
| 2024 | $6,054,514 | $933,780 | $331,057 | $278,727 | 61 | $245,467 | $457,905 | $282,027 |
| 2023 | $5,369,285 | $604,039 | $288,176 | $238,116 | 63 | $197,191 | $118,480 | $241,824 |
| 2022 | $4,508,359 | $791,037 | $262,862 | $242,804 | 40 | $232,144 | $298,142 | $216,484 |
| 2021 | $4,901,538 | $898,503 | $265,908 | $223,061 | 31 | $178,010 | $431,197 | $223,038 |
| 2020 | $4,316,655 | $582,172 | $210,236 | $175,840 | 32 | — | $121,168 | $177,863 |
| 2019 | $3,758,180 | $958,935 | $173,781 | $137,330 | 22 | — | $143,263 | $139,105 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leonard and Joan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $315K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grant purposes include education, theatre productions, community service, public support, and medical research.
Examples of the organizations it supports illustrate the range of work among its grantees. Season of Concern describes its mission as providing care to people in the Chicago theater community affected by health issues that prevent them from working. Albany Park Theater Project says it creates experiences that amplify immigrant and first-generation community voices and help build a more just and equitable world. Save the Children describes itself as an international children’s relief and development organization.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 64 grants totaling $308,794. Grant amounts ranged from $256 to $51,600, with a median of $2,575.
Among the largest named grants were $51,600 to the University of Illinois Chicago for education; $20,600 to Season of Concern for theatre productions; $15,000 to International Voices Project for community service; $10,500 to Music Theater Works for theatre productions; and $10,350 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation for public support. The foundation also reported grants of $10,220 to Save the Children Federation and $10,010 to the International Essential Tremor Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists L. Walter Stearns as president, Eugene Dizon as vice president, and Marcela Dizon as secretary.
The Leonard and Joan Foundation is led by L. Walter Stearns, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
L. Walter Stearns
President
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Dizon
Vice President
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcela Dizon
Secretary
On filings since 2019
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Leonard and Joan Foundation
How much does The Leonard and Joan Foundation give each year?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation gave $309K across 64 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $279K across 61 grants.
What is The Leonard and Joan Foundation's typical grant size?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,575, and its average grant was $4,825, across 64 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leonard and Joan Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Leonard and Joan Foundation give grants?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (32 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does The Leonard and Joan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 64 grants with a stated purpose on The Leonard and Joan Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Theatre Productions" (17 grants), "Medical Research" (17 grants) and "Public Support" (12 grants).
Who are The Leonard and Joan Foundation's largest grantees?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Illinois Chicago ($51,600), Part I LN 25 Cash Basis Contr Adjus ($30,512) and Season of Concern ($20,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Leonard and Joan Foundation?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $285K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $315K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Leonard and Joan Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grant purposes include education, theatre productions, community service, public support, and medical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leonard and Joan 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 Leonard and Joan Foundation's EIN?
The Leonard and Joan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1367670. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Leonard and Joan 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Leonard and Joan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Leonard and Joan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leonard-and-joan-foundation-morg_74d145d15b124e7196d6b086d9db2008
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261367670_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leonard and Joan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leonard-and-joan-foundation-morg_74d145d15b124e7196d6b086d9db2008},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Leonard and Joan 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.
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