The Springboard Foundation
The Springboard Foundation is a Chicago, Illinois, public charity that supported grassroots charitable programs, with a primary focus on afterschool and supplemental education. Its 2019 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking. The filing also records grants made in 2020.
The Springboard Foundation at a glance
In short: The Springboard Foundation gave $356K across 12 grants in 2020 (avg $30K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $355,879
- -26.9% vs 2019
- Grants made (2020)
- 12
- -52.0% vs 2019
- Average grant
- $29,657
- +52.3% vs 2019
- Median grant
- $7,250
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2020; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Springboard Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The listed cycle ran through February 2025 and is past.
- Deadline
- The listed cycle ran through February 2025 and is past.
- Contact
Mailing address: 225 N Michigan Ave No 2200, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 616-8000
Website: https://springboardfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Springboard Foundation
Who The Springboard Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was The Chicago Community Foundation ($274K). Together the top 10 received $344K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 37 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2020 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The 2019 filing describes supported organizations as serving the greater Chicago metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Springboard Foundation gives
- 100% of 2020 grantees were also funded in 2019. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020). 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 2019 to 2020, annual grant giving ranged from $356K (2020) to $487K (2019). In 2020 it made 12 grants totaling $356K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Community Foundation Chicago, IL | To grant the full balance of the Springboard Foundation into the Springboard Foundation Fund, a donor advised fund at The Chicago Community Trust. | $274,435 |
| Simple Good Westchester, IL | To work with a consultant to develop a fundraising plan. | $11,250 |
| River City Community Development Center Chicago, IL | To engage a consultant to create a fund development plan. | $9,500 |
| Chicago Heart Initiative Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $7,500 |
| Mariachi Heritage Foundation Inc Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $7,500 |
| Music In Urban Schools Inspiring Change Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $7,500 |
| Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project NFP Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $7,000 |
| Territory Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $6,444 |
| Debate It Forward Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $6,250 |
| Role Model Movement Inc NFP Chicago, IL | For general operating support. | $6,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | $328,965 | $475,058 | $355,879 | 12 | $363 |
| 2019 | $194,461 | $533,094 | $636,069 | $486,797 | 25 | $9,020 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission stated in the 2019 filing was to provide financial and intellectual capital to selected grassroots charitable programs that might otherwise have difficulty obtaining support. Its primary focus was afterschool and supplemental education for Chicago public school students. The filing also describes site visits and ongoing contact with supported organizations, with members contributing time, knowledge, and networks as well as funds.
Among its 2020 grantees, River City Community Development Center described its own work as afterschool and summer programs, leadership training, and apprenticeships. Role Model Movement said its mission was to inspire youth and empower communities. West Point Fellowship described itself as a community music school, instrument-repair facility, steel-drum manufacturer, and performing ensemble.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $355,879. The median grant was $7,250; individual grants ranged from $6,000 to $274,435. The largest grant, $274,435, went to The Chicago Community Foundation to transfer the foundation’s full balance into the Springboard Foundation Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Chicago Community Trust. Other reported grants included $11,250 to Simple Good for fundraising-plan development and $9,500 to River City Community Development Center for a fund-development plan. Several grantees received general operating support, including Chicago Heart Initiative ($7,500), Mariachi Heritage Foundation ($7,500), and Music In Urban Schools Inspiring Change ($7,500).
A grant-program listing describes awards of $5,000–$20,000 for grassroots nonprofits, primarily in afterschool and supplemental education in Chicago. It gives a cycle of Fall 2024 through February 2025; that cycle is past. The 2019 filing’s final-return status means the foundation should not be treated as currently open for applications.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed Keith Kizziah as president, Doug Armstrong as vice president, Chandler Bigelow as secretary, Jessica Strausbaugh as treasurer, and John Palmer as social chair. Directors listed were Prudence R. Beidler, Richard H. Driehaus, Mark E. Ferguson, and Jack Keller. Andrew Flynn was listed as president until November 2019.
The Springboard Foundation is led by Andrew Flynn, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 11 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Andrew Flynn
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Kizziah
President
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Palmer
Social Chair
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas W Mabie
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Keller
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark E Ferguson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Prudence R Beidler
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard H Driehaus
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chandler Bigelow
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Armstrong
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Strausbaugh
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Carol Crenshaw (2019) — Former Treasurer
- Former: James J Glasser (2019) — Director
- Former: Kenneth McAtamney (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Springboard Foundation
How much does The Springboard Foundation give each year?
The Springboard Foundation gave $356K across 12 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990. In 2019 it gave $487K across 25 grants.
What is The Springboard Foundation's typical grant size?
The Springboard Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $7,250, and its average grant was $29,657, across 12 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Springboard Foundation give grants?
The Springboard Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants).
Does The Springboard Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Springboard Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Springboard Foundation's largest grantees?
The Springboard Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include The Chicago Community Foundation ($274,435), Simple Good ($11,250) and River City Community Development Center ($9,500), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The Springboard Foundation fund?
The mission stated in the 2019 filing was to provide financial and intellectual capital to selected grassroots charitable programs that might otherwise have difficulty obtaining support. Its primary focus was afterschool and supplemental education for Chicago public school students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Springboard Foundation?
The Springboard Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check springboardfoundation.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Springboard Foundation's EIN?
The Springboard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4482332. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2020.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 11, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2020
Live grants for the work The Springboard Foundation funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Springboard Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from The Springboard 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.
The Springboard Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?