USG Foundation Inc
USG Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and activities in education, health and human services, community and civic work, and arts, culture and humanities.
USG Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: USG Foundation Inc gave $786K across 267 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $785,944
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 267
- -6.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,944
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $5,824,705
- +267.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (118 of 247, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to USG Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing describes a written grant proposal in letter form. It should outline the need or problem and its background, why the foundation would be interested, the amount requested and how it will be used, and include a copy of the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exemption letter. Eligible applicants must be a nonprofit with IRS 501(c)(3) status or a similar qualified organization in one of the categories specified by the foundation: an accredited U.S. college or university granting a four-year or higher degree; an appropriately accredited hospital, hospice, or health and welfare organization serving the community; or a cultural or community organization, such as a museum, library, community center, food pantry, animal shelter, festival, zoo, or botanical garden.
- Contact
Application contact: Diane Earll
Mailing address: 550 W Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60643
Phone: (312) 436-4000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who USG Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Merit Scholarship Corporation ($88K). Together the top 10 received $323K.
Grant Size Distribution
1,230 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,218 grants of 1,230 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois recipients received 55% of grant dollars. California received 6%; Florida, Michigan, and New York each received 2%. The 2025 grants included recipients in Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 267 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is USG Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 118 of 247 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $375 repeat.
- 37% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 431% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $707K (2020) to $874K (2022). In 2025 it made 267 grants totaling $786K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Merit Scholarship Corporation Evanston, IL | Educational Institutions and Related Activities | $87,535 |
| American Red Cross Chicago, IL | Health & Human Services | $50,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc Chicago, IL | Arts Culture and Humanities | $50,000 |
| Youth Conservation Corps Waukegan, IL | Community & Civic | $25,000 |
| Lumity Chicago, IL | Community & Civic | $25,000 |
| Career Transistions Center of Chicago Chicago, IL | Community & Civic | $15,000 |
| Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region Villa Park, IL | Health & Human Services | $15,000 |
| Manufacturing Institute Washington, DC | Community & Civic | $15,000 |
| Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves Libertyville, IL | Community & Civic | $15,000 |
| South Suburban PADS Country Club, IL | Health & Human Services | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with USG Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,824,705 | $5,000,000 | $795,932 | $785,944 | 267 | $785,944 | $182,428 |
| 2024 | $1,583,533 | $1,000,000 | $873,675 | $863,883 | 286 | $863,883 | $73,474 |
| 2023 | $1,400,198 | $1,000,000 | $824,329 | $814,729 | 248 | $814,729 | $63,938 |
| 2022 | $1,196,278 | $2,000,000 | $888,186 | $873,717 | 272 | $873,717 | $31,481 |
| 2021 | $82,147 | $500,000 | $767,690 | $757,358 | 157 | $757,358 | $12,280 |
| 2020 | $416,547 | $500,000 | $717,485 | $707,418 | 192 | — | $24,158 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, USG Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $182K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2025 grant purposes included educational institutions and related activities, health and human services, community and civic activities, and arts, culture and humanities.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. National Merit Scholarship Corporation says it recognizes and honors academically talented U.S. students through nationwide scholarship programs. Lumity says it connects STEM-related businesses, schools and under-resourced Chicagoland communities to provide teens with STEM experiences. South Suburban PADS describes its work as providing shelter and supportive services to homeless people, while Communities In Schools of Chicago says it connects social, health and enrichment programs with Chicago public school students.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 267 grants totaling $785,944. Grants ranged from $19 to $87,535, with a median of $500. The largest grant was $87,535 to National Merit Scholarship Corporation in Evanston, Illinois, for educational institutions and related activities. Other grants included $50,000 each to the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity International Inc.; $25,000 each to Youth Conservation Corps and Lumity; and $15,000 each to Career Transitions Center of Chicago, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region, the Manufacturing Institute, Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves, South Suburban PADS, the Young Women’s Christian Association of Metropolitan Chicago, and Communities In Schools of Chicago.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Diane Earll as President Director; Michele Green, Sean Ramey, and Derrick Hutchinson as Directors; and Jennifer Adams as Secretary.
USG Foundation Inc is led by Diane Earll, President Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Diane Earll
President Director
President → President Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Green
Director
Vice President Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derrick Hutchinson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Ramey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Adams
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Christopher Griffin (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Scott Schafer (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sheila Konor (2020–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Noreen Cleary (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Georgia Vlamis (2020) — Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 USG Foundation Inc
How much does USG Foundation Inc give each year?
USG Foundation Inc gave $786K across 267 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $864K across 286 grants.
What is USG Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
USG Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $2,944, across 267 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from USG Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does USG Foundation Inc give grants?
USG Foundation Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (57 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants), New York, NY (8 grants) and Naperville, IL (4 grants).
Does USG Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 267 grants with a stated purpose on USG Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community & Civic" (141 grants), "Health & Human Services" (65 grants) and "Arts Culture and Humanities" (27 grants).
Who are USG Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
USG Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include National Merit Scholarship Corporation ($87,535), Habitat for Humanity International Inc ($55,125 across 3 grants) and American Red Cross ($52,575 across 3 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is USG Foundation Inc?
USG Foundation Inc reported $5.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $786K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $182K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does USG Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grant purposes included educational institutions and related activities, health and human services, community and civic activities, and arts, culture and humanities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from USG Foundation Inc?
The filing describes a written grant proposal in letter form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is USG Foundation Inc's EIN?
USG Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2984045. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 29, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in USG Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). USG Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/usg-foundation-inc-morg_ef45d8a09afa4f9cab488913a791d7d7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362984045_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{USG Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/usg-foundation-inc-morg_ef45d8a09afa4f9cab488913a791d7d7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 USG Foundation Inc'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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