The Osa Foundation
The Osa Foundation is a private foundation based in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Established and endowed by Robin and Jack Lavin in 2005, it supports organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities by creating opportunities, offering targeted support, and improving access to resources.
The Osa Foundation at a glance
In short: The Osa Foundation gave $719K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Illinois. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $719,168
- +26.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,199
- +26.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $24,168
- Total assets
- $9,128,659
- +3.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (5 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (58% 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 Osa Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its PreK-3 Literacy Program RFP sought proposals for classroom-based programs serving Tucson students in grades PreK-3, aligned with the Science of Reading and the school curriculum. The RFP prioritized explicit school-leadership buy-in. The foundation reported inviting proposals from two school districts after receiving 11 letters of interest from five school districts and nonprofit organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The PreK-3 Literacy Program RFP deadline was March 6, 2026.
- Deadline
- The PreK-3 Literacy Program RFP deadline was March 6, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 475 Half Day Road Suite 500, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Phone: (312) 920-9490
Website: https://www.theosafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Osa Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sunnyside Foundation ($90K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $380K.
Grant Size Distribution
168 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 168 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (58%), Arizona (36%), Washington, D.C. (3%), and Pennsylvania (3%). The listed awards include organizations in Chicago and Tucson. Its PreK-3 literacy RFP specifically sought programs serving students in Tucson.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Osa Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 29 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 182% 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 $570K (2023) to $719K (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $719K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Louis University Chicago, IL | Learn and Earn in Three | $50,000 |
| Sunnyside Foundation Tucson, AZ | Sunnyside High School EV CTE program | $50,000 |
| Sunnyside Foundation Tucson, AZ | SUSD Tri-School Partnership | $40,000 |
| National Louis University Chicago, IL | Accelerate U | $30,000 |
| One Million Degrees Chicago, IL | General Operating | $30,000 |
| LEAP Innovations Chicago, IL | General Operating | $30,000 |
| Braven Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating | $25,000 |
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Osa 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 | $9,128,659 | $2,175,036 | $982,066 | $719,168 | 31 | $907,753 | $1,115,100 | $498,318 |
| 2023 | $8,788,958 | $903,700 | $819,505 | $570,000 | 31 | $751,798 | $513,988 | $475,178 |
| 2022 | $8,919,708 | $971,393 | $954,053 | $691,000 | 36 | $856,776 | $421,238 | $487,162 |
| 2021 | $9,152,304 | $2,020,487 | $820,048 | $622,500 | 34 | $753,270 | $1,786,943 | $511,797 |
| 2020 | $8,876,053 | $938,590 | $875,878 | $669,000 | 36 | — | $473,582 | $440,903 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities through opportunities, targeted support, and improved access to resources. Its current program priorities include Education to Career, which supports youth career exploration and readiness, progressive post-secondary pathways, and efforts to ease transitions from high school to post-secondary options. The foundation also lists College Access, Completion and Success as a priority.
The 2024 grant list includes education and career-related organizations. For example, National Louis University describes its mission as providing educational opportunities that prepare and empower learners for meaningful lives and productive careers. One Million Degrees says it accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility. LEAP Innovations describes its work as creating equitable, personalized learning experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $719,168. Individual grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $24,168. Among the largest awards were $50,000 to National Louis University for “LEARN AND EARN IN THREE” and $50,000 to Sunnyside Foundation for its Sunnyside High School EV CTE program. Other awards included $30,000 each to One Million Degrees and LEAP Innovations for general operating support, and $25,000 each to Braven Chicago, Chicago Scholars, Educators for Excellence Chicago, Embarc, and Golden Apple Foundation for general operating support.
The foundation’s website lists required application materials: the organization’s operating budget and year-to-date results for the current fiscal year; prior-year financial statements, preferably audited; a budget for the proposed program with anticipated income sources; a list of current funders; and the organization’s most recent IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, except for renewals. Organizations operating in Chicago schools are asked to identify the schools where the program operates. The foundation says it generally aims to notify applicants within 3–5 business days if an application is complete, within two weeks about questions or a possible meeting, and within four weeks of a funding decision. Approved funds are generally disbursed within 4–5 weeks, subject to any grant agreement. New applicants may require additional due diligence, with the process expected to take 6–8 weeks.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robin Lavin as President/Secretary, Jack Lavin as V.P./Treasurer, and Andrea Lavin, Eric Lavin, and David Lavin as directors.
The Osa Foundation is led by Robin Lavin, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robin Lavin
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Lavin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Lavin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Lavin
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Lavin
V.p. & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Osa Foundation
How much does The Osa Foundation give each year?
The Osa Foundation gave $719K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $570K across 31 grants.
What is The Osa Foundation's typical grant size?
The Osa Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $24,168, and its average grant was $23,199, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Osa Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does The Osa Foundation give grants?
The Osa Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Arizona (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (18 grants) and Tucson, AZ (10 grants).
Does The Osa Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of The Osa Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Osa Foundation's largest grantees?
The Osa Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Sunnyside Foundation ($90,000 across 2 grants), National Louis University ($80,000 across 2 grants) and One Million Degrees ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Osa Foundation?
The Osa Foundation reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $908K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $498K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Osa Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities through opportunities, targeted support, and improved access to resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Osa Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Osa 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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Browse active grant opportunities in The Osa Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Osa Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-osa-foundation-morg_65688c5d54e64775b60f47c2344f1550
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_721589724_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Osa Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-osa-foundation-morg_65688c5d54e64775b60f47c2344f1550},
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 Osa 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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