The Tiny Tiger Foundation
The Tiny Tiger Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1987, it operates as a non-operating foundation with a volunteer-led leadership structure. The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$385K
+13.2% YoY
Grant Count
39
+25.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-10.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tiny Tiger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $367K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environment and biodiversity
- Wildlife and zoos
- Religion (specifically Christianity)
- Human services
- Youth development and youth organizing
- Journalism and arts access
Grantmaking
The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only.
Grant Range
$1,800–$30,000
Average Grant
$10,500–$11,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple states, with particular concentration in:
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Illinois
- California
- Arizona
- Maine
- Missouri
Grantmaking reaches organizations across 8 states, with major funding areas including Boston, Chicago, and St. Louis.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $4,707,145–$4,852,837
- Annual revenue: $296,813–$344,048
- Annual expenses: $383,289–$442,505
- Giving rate: 8.6%
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since October 1988
- EIN: 36-3521718
- Donations are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,707,145 | $4,852,837 | $4,892,078 |
| Revenue | $296,813 | $344,048 | $107,874 |
| Expenses | $442,505 | $383,289 | $388,518 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $413,454 | $361,166 | $358,370 |
| Net Investment Income | $267,762 | $321,925 | $156,604 |
| Distributable Amount | $366,592 | $321,236 | $332,224 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boston Arts Academy Foundation Inc ($25,000), Commonwealth Zoological Corporation ($25,000), Wgbh Educational Foundation ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAMPS NEWFOUND AND OWATONNA HARRISON, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| CHERISHABILITY PORTLAND, OR | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| 826 BOSTON INC ROXBURY, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| ADVENTURE UNLIMITED GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,800 |
| BOSTON ARTS ACADEMY FOUNDATION INC BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BOSTON BALLET INC BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| BOSTON CASA BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| BOSTON PARTNERS IN EDUCATION BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by three key individuals, all serving on a voluntary basis without compensation:
- Barbara W. Field – President, Treasurer, and Director
- Katherine Field Stephen – Vice President and Assistant Secretary
- Thomas E. Swaney – Secretary and Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA W FIELD | PRESIDENT, TREAS, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE FIELD STEPHEN | VICE PRESIDENT, ASST. SEC. | 1 | — |
| THOMAS E SWANEY | SECRETARY, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 321 North Clark Street, Suite 2300, Chicago, IL 60654-4746
- Phone: (312) 391-7551
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Tiny Tiger Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Arts and culture • Education • Environment and biodiversity • Wildlife and zoos • Religion (specifically Christianity) • Human services • Youth development and youth organizing • Journalism and arts access
How do I apply for a grant from The Tiny Tiger Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical grant range: $1,800–$30,000 • Median grant size: $10,000–$10,400 • Average grant size: $10,500–$11,000 **Application Process:** The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. **Recent Activity:** • 50 grants awarded in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $413,454 • Historical grantmaking has ranged from $340,000–$385,400 annually • The foundation has made 64 grants …
Where does The Tiny Tiger Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple states, with particular concentration in: • Massachusetts • Colorado • Kansas • Illinois • California • Arizona • Maine • Missouri Grantmaking reaches organizations across 8 states, with major funding areas including Boston, Chicago, and St. Louis.
What size grants does The Tiny Tiger Foundation award?
In 2024, The Tiny Tiger Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $385K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tiny Tiger Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tiny Tiger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $367K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Tiny Tiger Foundation's EIN?
The Tiny Tiger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3521718. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tiny Tiger Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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