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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lyon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $202K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Ready to take the next step with The Lyon Family Foundation?
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Chicago ($305,000), Jcc of Chicago ($112,500), Metropolitan Family Services ($51,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,363 |
| ASCENSION IL FOUNDATION LISLE, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| BILTMORE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION NORTH BARRINGTON, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $11,410 |
| EMBARC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| HEIFER INTL LITTLE ROCK, AR | GENERAL PURPOSE | $564 |
| HOPE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,250 |
| IMERMAN ANGELS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $832 |
| METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $51,000 |
| THE FORGE FOR FAMILIES HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
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.
Lyford Cay Foundations awards 18 grant recipients | Lifestyles | thenassauguardian.comFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Lyon Family Foundation fund?
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 duri…
How do I apply for a grant from The Lyon Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $780,706 (2024) • Total giving: $619,900 (prior year) • Number of grants: 33 grants made in 2023 • Average grant amount: Ranges from $83 to $19,400 depending on reporting period • Median grant amount: $2,800 • Typical award range: $100–$351,204 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • The University of Chicago: $232,098 • Lawndale Educational and Regional Network Charter School: $37,500 • International Neighborhood Collaborative: $25,000 The foundation is open t…
Where does The Lyon Family Foundation make 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
What size grants does The Lyon Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lyon Family Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $781K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lyon Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lyon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $202K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lyon Family Foundation's EIN?
The Lyon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1500324. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lyon Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
RHS Foundation
MOLINE, IL
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
37
Total Given
$342K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Lyon Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Lyon Family Foundation to a real strategy.