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.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2023
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
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).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY ITHACA, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $152 |
| LUBEZNIK CENTER FOR THE ARTS MICHIGAN CITY, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125 |
| BEVERLY SHORES DEPOT MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY BEVERLY SHORES, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| CONCERN WORLDWIDE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $700 |
| BEVERLY SHORES FIRE DEPARTMENT BEVERLY SHORES, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100 |
| LEND A HAND ACROSS AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $18,000 |
| J STREET WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| JAMES B MORAN CENTER FOR YOUTH ADVOCACY EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100 |
| THE SELFHELP HOME CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN F SCHWAB | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NANCY RUTHER SCHWAB | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELINDA J METZGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
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.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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