The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute
The Otho S.A. Sprague Memorial Institute, now known as the Sprague Foundation, is a Chicago-based private foundation that supports clinical healthcare and public health initiatives in Chicago. Its support focuses on health equity and social determinants of health, with an emphasis on serving under-resourced communities and populations.
Key facts about The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute
In short: The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute gave $2.3M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $145K), mostly in Illinois. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6068723
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,320,878
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- Average grant
- $145,055
- Median grant
- $100,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (5 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $52,556,329
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$52.6M
+10.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+11.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
-15.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$145K
+32.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 16 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $87K; repeat grants $171K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $210K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Founded in 1911, the Institute’s stated mandate is “the investigation of the cause of disease and the prevention and relief of human suffering” in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois. The foundation recognizes social determinants of health—including intergenerational poverty, systemic racism, and zip code—as affecting quality of life and life expectancy.
For 2025–2028, its two stated priorities are Community Health Access, reducing barriers to health and creating pathways for underserved populations and communities, and Healthcare Workforce, expanding professional pathways for under-represented groups and supporting work environments that promote staff performance, safety, retention, satisfaction, and a robust healthcare sector.
The foundation’s 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions describe work such as delivering no-cost medical and preventive care to low-income children and families (Mobile Care Foundation), improving the health of individuals and communities served (Sinai Health System), and improving health through patient care, education, research, and community partnerships (Rush University Medical Center). The Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger and treats food as a basic human right.
Grantmaking
The foundation reports two grantmaking cycles each year, in summer and winter, and says it currently operates by invitation only. It prioritizes pilots and other initiatives that seed new approaches to health and healthcare in the Chicagoland region; partnerships that convene organizations are of particular interest. It also states a commitment to full-cost funding and considers collaboration-related expenses appropriate partial uses of awards.
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $2,320,878. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $350,878, with a median of $100,000. Among the largest awards were $350,878 to the University of Illinois at Chicago, $300,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, $250,000 to Sinai Health System, and $225,000 each to Mobile Care Foundation and Rush University Medical Center. These grants were reported for program support.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Ready to take the next step with The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it funds clinical healthcare and public health in the city of Chicago, with primary support for agencies serving under-resourced communities and populations. All grant dollars in its 2025 filing were reported for recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2019) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of IL at Chicago ($351K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 32 grants of 92 (35%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of IL at Chicago Chicago, IL | Program Support | $350,878 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Program Support | $300,000 |
| Sinai Health System Chicago, IL | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Mobile Care Foundation Chicago, IL | Program Support | $225,000 |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | Program Support | $225,000 |
| Children First Fund Chicago, IL | Program Support | $210,000 |
| IWS Family Health Chicago, IL | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Lawndale Christian Health Center Chicago, IL | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Michael Reese Health Trust Chicago, IL | Program Support | $100,000 |
| United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Program Support | $100,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,556,329 | $4,059,336 | $2,793,154 | $2,320,878 | 16 |
| 2024 | $47,375,682 | $4,862,162 | $2,439,477 | $2,084,615 | 19 |
| 2023 | $44,520,184 | $1,791,027 | $2,226,054 | $1,794,390 | 20 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,556,329 | $47,375,682 | $44,520,184 |
| Revenue | $4,059,336 | $4,862,162 | $1,791,027 |
| Expenses | $2,793,154 | $2,439,477 | $2,226,054 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,629,065 | $2,366,131 | $2,182,169 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,972,874 | $4,803,816 | $1,748,715 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,420,060 | $2,260,491 | $2,069,100 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website lists Christy Prahl as executive director. Its listed officers are John A. Svoboda, president; Lee Francis, MD, MPH, vice president; David G. O’Neill, treasurer; and Kary McIlwain, secretary.
The 2025 filing lists Christy Prahl as executive director; John A. Svoboda as chair and director; Lee Francis as vice chair and director; David G. O’Neill as treasurer and director; and Kary McIlwain as a director.
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute is led by Christy Prahl, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christy Prahl
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$158K (2024) → $262K (2025)
John A. Svoboda
Chair & Director
Treaurer & Director → President & Director, 2024
President & Director → Chair & Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adrienne White-Faines
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan S. Traubert MD
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David G. O'Neill
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward K. Chandler
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julian G. Posada
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin B. Weiss MD MPH
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Francis MD MPH
Vice Chair & Director
Vice President & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle L. Collins
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca M. Wurtz MD MPH
Director
President → President & Director, 2020
President & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie A. Whyte MD MBA
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
T. Sands Thompson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kary McIlwain
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Tariq H. Butt MD (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Kathleen T O'Loughlin DMD MPH (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $262K, to Christy Prahl (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: Pobox 806214, Chicago, IL 60680-4123
Phone: (872) 842-1543
Website: https://spraguechicago.org
Frequently asked questions about The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute
How much does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute give each year?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute gave $2.3M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 19 grants.
What is The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's typical grant size?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $145,055, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute that year got $87K on average.
Where does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute give grants?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (16 grants).
Does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (16 grants).
Who are The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's largest grantees?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute's largest 2025 grantees include University of IL at Chicago ($350,878), Greater Chicago Food Depository ($300,000) and Sinai Health System ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute?
The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute reported $52.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute fund?
Founded in 1911, the Institute’s stated mandate is “the investigation of the cause of disease and the prevention and relief of human suffering” in Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does The Otho Sa Sprague Memorial Institute 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.
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