The Sassafras Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-4120772

The Sassafras Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 14 grants totaling $24K.

Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$24K

+400.1% YoY

Grant Count

14

+40.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

+257.2% YoY

About The Sassafras Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Sassafras Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2023. In 2023, it awarded 14 grants totaling $24K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Cities

ARLINGTONBEVERLY SHORESBOSTONCAVE CREEKCHICAGOEVANSTONGRAND RAPIDSITHACAITHICAMERRILLVILLEMICHIGAN CITYNEW YORKVALPARAISOWASHINGTON

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.12020202120222023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$6K$12K$18K$24K1 grants20206 grants202110 grants202214 grants2023

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2023

LEND A HAND ACROSS AMERICA$18KTHE SELFHELP HOME$2KFEEDING AMERICA$1KCONCERN WORLDWIDE$700CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY$500BEVERLY SHORES DEPOT MUS…$500J STREET$500SHIRLEY HEINZE LAND TRUST$500WORLD WILDLIFE FUND$152LUBEZNIK CENTER FOR THE …$125

Grant Size Distribution

31 grants across all recorded years

31<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Lend a Hand Across America ($18,000), The Selfhelp Home ($2,000), Feeding America ($1,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY ITHACA, NYGENERAL SUPPORT$500
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$152
LUBEZNIK CENTER FOR THE ARTS MICHIGAN CITY, INGENERAL SUPPORT$125
BEVERLY SHORES DEPOT MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY BEVERLY SHORES, INGENERAL SUPPORT$500
CONCERN WORLDWIDE NEW YORK, NYGENERAL SUPPORT$700
BEVERLY SHORES FIRE DEPARTMENT BEVERLY SHORES, INGENERAL SUPPORT$100
LEND A HAND ACROSS AMERICA CHICAGO, ILGENERAL SUPPORT$18,000
J STREET WASHINGTON, DCGENERAL SUPPORT$500
JAMES B MORAN CENTER FOR YOUTH ADVOCACY EVANSTON, ILGENERAL SUPPORT$100
THE SELFHELP HOME CHICAGO, ILGENERAL SUPPORT$2,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

From 2023 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
STEVEN F SCHWABDIRECTOR1
NANCY RUTHER SCHWABDIRECTOR1
MELINDA J METZGERDIRECTOR1

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Sassafras Foundation?

The Sassafras Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds — in total assets as of 2023.

Where does The Sassafras Foundation operate?

The Sassafras Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Virginia.

What size grants does The Sassafras Foundation award?

In 2023, The Sassafras Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $24K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The Sassafras Foundation's EIN?

The Sassafras Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4120772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.

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Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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