The Lyon Family Foundation
The Lyon Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2008. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to bringing meaningful access and opportunity to Chicago's at-risk youth through partnerships with local nonprofits. The foundation focuses on investments in education, the arts, and health and welfare services to enhance the lives and futures of children in underserved communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
-17.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$781K
+30.1% YoY
Grant Count
32
-3.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+34.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on creating an optimistic tomorrow for Chicago's at-risk youth by forging powerful partnerships with local nonprofits. The foundation seeks to enhance the lives and futures of children within these communities through:
- Education
- Arts and cultural access
- Health and welfare services
The foundation also operates Lyon's Way, an initiative launched in June 2021 that expands the foundation's reach to impact the lives of young cancer patients during their cancer journeys. Through Lyon's Way, the foundation partners with the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital on the South Side of Chicago to support the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program, including funding for a full-time psychologist to support patients and families navigating cancer treatment.
Core Values
The foundation operates according to three core values:
- Engagement: Deepening community involvement to enact positive outcomes for those served
- Collaboration: Pursuing relationships with new nonprofit partners and nurturing long-standing relationships
- Resilience: Supporting innovative strategies to overcome obstacles and challenges
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Average Grant
amount: Ranges from $83 to $19,400 depending on reporting period
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various U.S. cities and states, including:
- Primary focus: Chicago, Illinois
- Additional geographic areas: New York, Virginia, California, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Kentucky, Indiana, Arizona, and Colorado
- Specific communities: Barrington, Northbrook, Boston, and Miami
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total assets: $3,748,133
- Total revenue: $1,223,767
- Total expenses: $1,742,406
- Number of employees: 0
Prior Year Data (2024):
- Total assets: $3,106,284
- Total giving: $780,706
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,106,284 | $3,748,133 | $4,178,375 |
| Revenue | $1,368,182 | $1,223,767 | $1,760,887 |
| Expenses | $2,098,698 | $1,742,406 | $1,991,706 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,920,158 | $1,574,135 | $1,845,248 |
| Net Investment Income | $160,818 | $203,522 | $196,300 |
| Distributable Amount | $201,914 | $210,599 | $227,155 |
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
159 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Alexandra Lyon — Executive Director (compensation: $82,000)
- David Lyon — Director (no compensation)
- Donna Lyon — Director (no compensation)
The foundation's values are rooted in the legacy of Robert H. Lyon, who instilled principles of compassion, love, and generosity that continue to guide the foundation's work.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDRA LYON | EXECUTIVE DI | — | $82,000 |
| DONNA LYON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's most significant recent initiative is **Lyon's Way**, launched in June 2021. This program represents an expansion of the foundation's impact to support young cancer patients. Through a three-year commitment with the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, the foundation is funding a full-time psychologist position within the hospital's Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology Program. This initiative addresses the profound mental health impacts of cancer diagnoses on young people, including anxiety, depression, and other symptoms that compound cancer's physical effects. The foundation has indicated plans to expand Lyon's Way over time as resources grow to include additional high-touch, high-impact interventions for youth navigating cancer treatment.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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