The Osa Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 and based in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The foundation was created by Robin and Jack Lavin to support the interests and values of their family while addressing the needs of the broader community. "Osa" is an acronym representing the foundation's core approach: Opportunities, Support, and Access.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.1M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$719K
+26.2% YoY
Grant Count
31
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+26.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Osa Foundation reported a distributable amount of $498K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Osa Foundation supports organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities by creating opportunities, offering targeted support, and improving access to resources.
The foundation's work is grounded in five core values:
- Self-reliance: Valuing the dignity of hard work and considering self-reliance and sustainability as the ultimate goal of philanthropy
- Equity: Believing every person should have access to resources needed to pursue their full potential, with examination of pervasive and institutional barriers to equitable access
- Innovation: Valuing critical, original thinking and creative problem solving
- Integrity: Conducting work with honesty, transparency, and the highest ethical standards
- Diversity: Respecting diversity in society and examining organizational biases to stand up for social justice
The foundation currently partners with organizations operating in underserved communities that promote the following drivers of opportunity:
- Education to Career: Supporting high school and college graduates with information about career pathways and career readiness
- K-12 Education: Funding student engagement programs (experiential learning, career path exposure, physical and mental health initiatives), education innovation (technology efforts, teacher and principal innovations, advocacy and policy), and PreK-3 literacy initiatives
- Higher Education: Supporting college access, completion, and success programs for low-income and first-generation students, as well as systemic efforts
- Youth Development: Funding programs that support young people in underserved communities
Grantmaking
The foundation is transparent about its application procedures and provides a list of current grantees to help potential applicants understand the types of organizations supported. The foundation often renews existing grants for multiple years.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Osa Foundation funds organizations in multiple states and cities, with primary focus areas including:
- Illinois: Chicago and Evanston
- Arizona: Tucson
- Additional locations: New Orleans, Oakland, Washington D.C., California, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $8,788,958
- Total Revenues: $903,700
- Total Expenses: $819,505
- Total Grants and Contributions: $326,505
Assets (2024):
- Total Assets: $9,128,659
Staffing:
- The foundation operates with 0 employees, relying on volunteer leadership
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,128,659 | $8,788,958 | $8,919,708 |
| Revenue | $2,175,036 | $903,700 | $971,393 |
| Expenses | $982,066 | $819,505 | $954,053 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $907,753 | $751,798 | $856,776 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,115,100 | $513,988 | $421,238 |
| Distributable Amount | $498,318 | $475,178 | $487,162 |
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
168 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Louis University ($50,000), Sunnyside Foundation ($50,000), Sunnyside Foundation ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Braven Chicago Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| The Chicago Public Education Fund Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| Chicago Scholars Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| Educators for Excellence Chicago Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| Embarc Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| Golden Apple Foundation Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| High Jump Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| iMentor Chicago Chicago, IL | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| Intrinsic Schools Chicago, IL | DOWNTOWN CAMPUS | $20,000 |
| The Modern Classrooms Project Washington, DC | CHICAGO OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Robin Lavin: President and Secretary (volunteer, no compensation)
- Dr. Jose M. Torres: Chief Executive Officer
- Jack Lavin: Co-founder (with Robin Lavin)
The foundation is supported by family members in leadership roles, all of whom work on a volunteer basis.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Lavin | President/Secretary | 30 | — |
| Jack Lavin | V.P./Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Andrea Lavin | Director | 1 | — |
| Eric Lavin | Director | 1 | — |
| David Lavin | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Osa Foundation has expanded its grantmaking focus to include PreK-3 literacy initiatives in Tucson, Arizona. The foundation recognized that Arizona's statewide effort to increase PreK-3 reading levels presented an opportunity to ensure Tucson educators are effectively supported and resourced to improve literacy outcomes for early readers. This initiative demonstrates the foundation's commitment to education and its willingness to respond to emerging community needs in its geographic focus areas.
The Osa FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Osa Foundation fund?
The Osa Foundation supports organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities by creating opportunities, offering targeted support, and improving access to resources. The foundation's work is grounded in five core values: • **Self-reliance**: Valuing the dignity of hard work and considering self-reliance and sustainability as the ultimate goal of philanthropy • **Equity**: Believing every person should have access to resources needed to pursue their full potential, with exam…
How do I apply for a grant from The Osa Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $70,000 • The foundation made 34 grants in 2023, totaling approximately $395,000 in documented grants • Total giving in 2024 was $719,168 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • National-Louis University (Accelerate U): $30,000 • One Million Degrees (General Operating): $30,000 • The Modern Classrooms Project (Chicago Launch): $25,000 **Application Process:** The foundation is transparent about its application procedures and provid…
Where does The Osa Foundation make grants?
The Osa Foundation funds organizations in multiple states and cities, with primary focus areas including: • **Illinois**: Chicago and Evanston • **Arizona**: Tucson • **Additional locations**: New Orleans, Oakland, Washington D.C., California, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia
What size grants does The Osa Foundation award?
In 2024, The Osa Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $719K — an average of about $23K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Osa Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Osa Foundation reported a distributable amount of $498K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Osa Foundation's EIN?
The Osa Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1589724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Osa Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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