The Lyon Family Foundation
The Lyon Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports local nonprofit partnerships intended to expand opportunity for Chicago’s at-risk youth, with investments in education, arts, and children’s and families’ health and welfare.
The Lyon Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lyon Family Foundation gave $781K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Illinois. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $780,706
- +30.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- -3.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,397
- +34.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,175
- Total assets
- $3,106,284
- -17.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (14 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Lyon Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Proposals are accepted by invitation only.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals are due May 1 and October 1.
- Deadline
- Proposals are due May 1 and October 1.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1406 N Astor, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (847) 302-5510
Website: https://lyonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lyon Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Chicago ($305K). Together the top 10 received $666K.
Grant Size Distribution
159 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 144 grants of 159 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it has narrowed its scope to Chicago. Its 2024 grant dollars were concentrated in Illinois: 89% went to recipients in Illinois, 4% to New York, 3% to Texas, and 1% each to California and Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lyon Family Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 32 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 951% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $507K (2020) to $781K (2024). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $781K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $305,000 |
| JCC of Chicago Northbrook, IL | General Purpose | $112,500 |
| Metropolitan Family Services Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $51,000 |
| Embarc Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Gateway to Learning Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $37,500 |
| The Dovetail Project Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Blood Cancer United New York, NY | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| Alzheimer's Assoc Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $20,363 |
| Ascension IL Foundation Lisle, IL | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| The Forge for Families Houston, TX | General Purpose | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lyon Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,106,284 | $1,368,182 | $2,098,698 | $780,706 | 32 | $1,920,158 | $160,818 | $201,914 |
| 2023 | $3,748,133 | $1,223,767 | $1,742,406 | $599,900 | 33 | $1,574,135 | $203,522 | $210,599 |
| 2022 | $4,178,375 | $1,760,887 | $1,991,706 | $619,937 | 32 | $1,845,248 | $196,300 | $227,155 |
| 2021 | $4,671,375 | $1,731,788 | $1,293,593 | $622,762 | 29 | $1,170,488 | $278,410 | $260,280 |
| 2020 | $4,144,753 | $242,200 | $1,106,321 | $506,644 | 33 | — | $134,935 | $254,201 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to create “an optimistic tomorrow for Chicago’s at risk youth” through partnerships with local nonprofits. Its focus areas are education, arts, health and welfare, adolescent and young adult oncology support, and leukemia research. The foundation describes its education work as supporting low-income students in Chicago public schools, including through early childhood initiatives, after-school programs, and preparation for post-secondary success. Its health and welfare work includes support for food, shelter, and emergency medical care for children and families.
Through Lyon’s Way, the foundation says it funds a full-time psychologist at University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. The foundation also describes its leukemia research support in connection with its history of giving in honor of Robert Lyon, who died of leukemia in 2007.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. EMBARC says it works to increase academic success for low-income high school students through social and cultural enrichment, career development, life skills, and academic support. By The Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program that supports children’s minds, bodies, and souls. MOD Collective says it works to end diaper need and support low-income families. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 32 grants totaling $780,706. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $305,000, with a median of $8,175. The largest awards included $305,000 to the University of Chicago, $112,500 to JCC of Chicago, $51,000 to Metropolitan Family Services, $50,000 to EMBARC, and $37,500 to Gateway to Learning. The filing lists each of these grants’ purposes as general purpose.
The foundation says it selects results-oriented organizations whose programs are innovative and methodical in evaluating success. It makes decisions twice a year, in June and November, and requires an invitation to submit a proposal. Requested materials include an organization overview, program evaluation information, and a grant-purpose description addressing the intended allocation, population served, measurement, and desired outcome. One year after funding, grantees must submit a recap report and supporting organizational and program budget information, a list of current funders, prior-year financial statements, staff and leadership biographies, and a current federal tax-exemption letter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Alexandra Lyon Singer as executive director and describes her as Robert Lyon’s youngest child. The 2024 filing lists Alexandra Lyon as executive director and Donna Lyon as a director.
The Lyon Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donna Lyon
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alexandra Lyon
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
$84K (2020) → $82K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: David Lyon (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $82K, to Alexandra Lyon (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about The Lyon Family Foundation
How much does The Lyon Family Foundation give each year?
The Lyon Family Foundation gave $781K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $600K across 33 grants.
What is The Lyon Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lyon Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,175, and its average grant was $24,397, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lyon Family Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does The Lyon Family Foundation give grants?
The Lyon Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (12 grants).
Does The Lyon Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Lyon Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lyon Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lyon Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Chicago ($305,000), JCC of Chicago ($112,500) and Metropolitan Family Services ($51,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lyon Family Foundation?
The Lyon Family Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $202K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lyon Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to create “an optimistic tomorrow for Chicago’s at risk youth” through partnerships with local nonprofits. Its focus areas are education, arts, health and welfare, adolescent and young adult oncology support, and leukemia research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lyon Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Lyon Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lyon Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lyon-family-foundation-morg_36620600bc90404db359a199ced8ca3d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261500324_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lyon Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lyon-family-foundation-morg_36620600bc90404db359a199ced8ca3d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Lyon Family 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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