The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute
The Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute, now operating as the Sprague Foundation, is an independent private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1911, the organization has operated for over a century as a grantmaking institution dedicated to health-focused philanthropy in the Chicago region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
19
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
+22.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to investigate the root causes of illness and prevent and relieve human suffering. This mandate, established by founder Otho Sylvester Arnold Sprague, specifically directs the organization's work toward "the investigation of the cause of disease and the prevention and relief of human suffering in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois."
The foundation recognizes that social determinants of health—including intergenerational poverty, systemic racism, and geographic location—significantly impact quality of life and life expectancy. The organization's philanthropic work has historically supported transformational initiatives including the Chicago Asthma Consortium, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children, and Chicago Health Atlas.
As of 2025, the foundation has narrowed its strategic focus to two key priority areas for the 2025-2028 period:
- Community Health Access: Reducing barriers to health and creating new pathways for underserved populations and communities
- Healthcare Workforce: Expanding professional pathways for underrepresented groups and supporting work environments that encourage staff performance, safety, retention, and satisfaction
Grantmaking
The foundation functions as an enabling organization, seeding efforts to help partner organizations leverage resources, establish proof of concept, and embed new innovations within health systems.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Chicago and the Chicagoland region, with a specific mandate to serve the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and the State of Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $47,375,682
- Total Revenues: $4,862,162
- Total Expenses: $2,439,477
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,091,826
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $3,769,336
- Staff: 1 employee
Organization Details:
- EIN: 36-6068723
- IRS Classification: 501(c)(3)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since September 1942
- Incorporated: 1910 in Illinois
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Il at Chicago ($417,052), Swedish Covenant Hospital Foundation ($200,000), Heartland Alliance Health ($180,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, WA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CHILDREN FIRST FUND CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CITY OF COLLEGES OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $125,263 |
| GRANTMAKERS IN HEALTH WASHINGTON, WA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $4,100 |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| HEARTLAND ALLIANCE HEALTH CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $180,000 |
| ILLINOIS CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| LAWNDALE CHRISTIAN HEALTH CENTER CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| MOBILE CARE FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James N. Alexander serves as Executive Director of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTY PRAHL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $157,574 |
| JOHN A SVOBODA | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LEE FRANCIS MD MPH | VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAVID G O'NEILL | TREASURER AND DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHELLE L COLLINS | SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| EDWARD K CHANDLER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KARY MCILWAIN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JULIAN G POSADA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| T SANDS THOMPSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BRYAN S TRAUBERT MD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KEVIN B WEISS MD MPH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| STEPHANIE A WHYTE MD MBA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| REBECCA M WURTZ MD MPH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded a grant to the Institute of Medicine of Chicago for a Black and Latino Male Medical & Dental Student Mentoring program, demonstrating continued commitment to addressing health equity gaps through workforce development initiatives.
Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute Awards Black and Latino Male MedicalThe organization invested over $2 million annually in Chicago's health sector and has maintained more than 100 years of continuous philanthropic investment in the region's health infrastructure.
Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation Announces New Health ...Contact Information
- Website: spraguechicago.org
- Phone: 872-842-1543
- Address: PO Box 806214, Chicago, IL 60680-4123
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute fund?
The foundation's mission is to investigate the root causes of illness and prevent and relieve human suffering. This mandate, established by founder Otho Sylvester Arnold Sprague, specifically directs the organization's work toward "the investigation of the cause of disease and the prevention and relief of human suffering in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois." The foundation recognizes that social determinants of health—including intergenerational poverty, systemic racism, a…
How do I apply for a grant from The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute?
The foundation functions as an enabling organization, seeding efforts to help partner organizations leverage resources, establish proof of concept, and embed new innovations within health systems. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Swedish Covenant Hospital Foundation: $200,000 (Program Support) • Heartland Alliance Health: $180,000 (Program Support) • Esperanza Health Centers: $138,200 (Program Support) **Annual Giving**: Approximately $1.45 million in total annual giving The foundation has s…
Where does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Chicago and the Chicagoland region, with a specific mandate to serve the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and the State of Illinois.
What size grants does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute award?
In 2024, The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute awarded 19 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's EIN?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6068723. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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