The Selfreliance Foundation
The Selfreliance Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing describes its direct charitable activity as grantmaking for smaller Ukrainian organizations. Its 2024 grants went primarily to recipients in Illinois, with additional grants to organizations in four other states.
The Selfreliance Foundation at a glance
In short: The Selfreliance Foundation gave $1.1M across 78 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), mostly in Illinois. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,076,700
- +21.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 78
- +23.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,804
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $17,697,118
- +4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (28 of 74, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (80% 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 Selfreliance Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says to submit a letter requesting assistance. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and award recipients must have 501(c)(3) status.
- Contact
Application contact: The Selfreliance Foundation
Mailing address: 2332 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: (773) 328-7585
Website: https://selfrelianceassociation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Selfreliance Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Nicholas Ukr Cath Eparchy ($95K). Together the top 10 received $545K.
Grant Size Distribution
324 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 309 grants of 324 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining grant dollars went to organizations in Michigan (9%), New Jersey (5%), Connecticut (3%), and Florida (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 78 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Selfreliance Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 74 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $637K (2021) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 78 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Nicholas Ukr Cath Eparchy Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $95,000 |
| St Joseph Ukr Cath Church Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $75,000 |
| Selfreliance Association Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $75,000 |
| St Nicholas Cathedral School Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $65,000 |
| Sts Volodymyr and Olha Ukr Cath Church Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $55,000 |
| Immaculate Conception Ukr Cath Church Palatine, IL | General Expenses | $37,500 |
| Ukrainian Catholic University Found Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $35,200 |
| Amer Ukr Youth Assoc inc Pavlushkov Bran Chicago, IL | General Expenses | $35,000 |
| Amer Ukr Youth Assoc inc Vitovsky Branch Palatine, IL | General Expenses | $32,500 |
| St John the Baptist UCC Whippany Whippany, NJ | General Expenses | $30,000 |
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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 | $17,697,118 | $1,856,099 | $1,120,920 | $1,076,700 | 78 | $1,076,700 | $603,475 | — |
| 2023 | $16,961,939 | $2,448,527 | $932,175 | $888,700 | 63 | $888,700 | $243,527 | $1,034,031 |
| 2022 | $15,445,587 | $1,414,887 | $880,070 | $832,200 | 65 | $832,200 | $214,214 | $725,203 |
| 2021 | $14,910,770 | $3,342,463 | $648,410 | $636,500 | 61 | $636,500 | $142,463 | $658,578 |
| 2020 | $12,216,717 | $549,276 | $679,647 | $661,070 | 57 | — | $242,776 | $362,238 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for religious, educational, cultural, youth, and community organizations, as well as organizations working in other areas.
Among its grantees, the Ukrainian National Museum describes its mission as preserving and exhibiting Ukrainian history and culture. The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art describes itself as an educational art center featuring exhibitions and a permanent collection, and hosting literary events, concerts, and lectures. Revived Soldiers Ukraine says it provides aid to people in Ukraine, including medical treatment and supplies for wounded soldiers. UMANA Foundation says it works to improve health care for Ukrainians worldwide and aid victims of medical issues caused by the invasion of Ukraine.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 78 grants totaling $1,076,700. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $95,000, with a median grant of $6,500.
Among the largest grants were $95,000 to St Nicholas Ukr Cath Eparchy, $75,000 each to St Joseph Ukr Cath Church and Selfreliance Association, and $65,000 to St Nicholas Cathedral School. Each was listed for general expenses. Other notable awards included $25,000 to the Ukrainian National Museum, $20,000 to the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, and $15,000 to Revived Soldiers Ukraine.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Myron Wasiunec and Daria Twardowsky as directors; Victor Wojtychiw as secretary/treasurer; Bohdan Watral as president; and Oresta Fedyniak and Oleh Karawan as members.
The Selfreliance Foundation is led by Bohdan Watral, President since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 5 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bohdan Watral
President
Member → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$6K (2024)
Daria Twardowsky
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
$6K (2024)
Myron Wasiunec
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oleh Karawan
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2024)
Oresta Fedyniak
Member
Chair → Member, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2024)
Victor Wojtychiw
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Daria Twardowsky-Vincent (2022–2023) — Vice Chair
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $6K, to Daria Twardowsky (Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Selfreliance Foundation
How much does The Selfreliance Foundation give each year?
The Selfreliance Foundation gave $1.1M across 78 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $889K across 63 grants.
What is The Selfreliance Foundation's typical grant size?
The Selfreliance Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $13,804, across 78 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Selfreliance Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does The Selfreliance Foundation give grants?
The Selfreliance Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Michigan (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (30 grants), Hartford, CT (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Palatine, IL (2 grants).
Does The Selfreliance Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Selfreliance Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (78 of 78) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Selfreliance Foundation's largest grantees?
The Selfreliance Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Nicholas Ukr Cath Eparchy ($95,000), St Joseph Ukr Cath Church ($75,000) and Selfreliance Association ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Selfreliance Foundation?
The Selfreliance Foundation reported $17.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What does The Selfreliance Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for religious, educational, cultural, youth, and community organizations, as well as organizations working in other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Selfreliance Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to submit a letter requesting assistance. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Selfreliance Foundation's EIN?
The Selfreliance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5423872. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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
Live grants for the work The Selfreliance Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Selfreliance Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-selfreliance-foundation-morg_4f0b67746aff48789884c05ab0eac798
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205423872_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Selfreliance Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-selfreliance-foundation-morg_4f0b67746aff48789884c05ab0eac798},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Selfreliance 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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