WP & HB White Foundation
The W. P. & H. B. White Foundation is a private foundation based in Northfield, Illinois. It funds organizations in Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area, primarily in education, health, housing, and human services, with an emphasis on helping people most in need.
WP & HB White Foundation at a glance
In short: WP & HB White Foundation gave $4.3M across 141 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,313,500
- +30.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 141
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,592
- +28.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $35,152,238
- +18.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (24 of 133, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% 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 WP & HB White Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation has an online grant application. Applicants are asked for the organization’s history and the request’s purpose and beneficiaries; the organizational budget and, if applicable, project budget; verification of federal tax-exempt status; a board list; a list of corporate and foundation contributions; the latest audited financial statement; and a signed disclosure statement. Grants may support general operating expenses or specific programs. The Foundation does not fund visual or performing arts, individuals, endowments, or fundraising events.
- Review Cycle
- Proposals are due by the 15th day of the first month of each quarter: January 15 for the March board meeting, April 15 for June, July 15 for September, and October 15 for December.
- Deadline
- Proposals are due by the 15th day of the first month of each quarter: January 15 for the March board meeting, April 15…
- Contact
Application contact: Steven R White
Mailing address: 540 Frontage Rd Ste 3240, Northfield, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 446-1441
Email: srwhite@ameritech.net
Website: https://wpandhbwhitefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from WP & HB White Foundation
Who WP & HB White Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Childrens Advocacy ($140K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($205,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
661 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 626 grants of 661 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its focus as Chicago and the Chicago metropolitan area and gives priority to organizations serving Chicago. In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 1% to recipients in Washington, DC, and less than 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 141 itemized grants.
Cities
Is WP & HB White Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 133 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $2.1M (2020) to $4.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 141 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Childrens Advocacy Chicago, IL | General Support | $140,000 |
| WINGS Program Palatine, IL | Safe House at Wings Metro | $130,000 |
| CARA Program Chicago, IL | General Support | $125,000 |
| The Chicago Lighthouse Chicago, IL | Employment Services Program | $120,000 |
| Franciscan Outreach Chicago, IL | General Support | $115,000 |
| Cristo Rey Arlington Heights, IL | General Support | $100,000 |
| Humble Design Chicago, IL | General Support | $100,000 |
| Christ the King Jesuit High School Chicago, IL | Financial Aid for Tuition | $80,000 |
| Family Rescue Chicago, IL | General Support | $75,000 |
| Parenting for NonViolence Chicago, IL | General Support | $73,000 |
Ready to take the next step with WP & HB White Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,152,238 | $10,431,238 | $5,019,668 | $4,313,500 | 141 | $4,654,908 | $10,208,540 | $4,795,536 |
| 2024 | $29,642,821 | $4,824,224 | $3,934,975 | $3,296,500 | 138 | $3,642,360 | $4,595,671 | $4,080,362 |
| 2023 | $28,749,004 | $-352,671 | $3,269,259 | $2,831,000 | 132 | $3,112,721 | $228,278 | $3,001,963 |
| 2022 | $32,372,991 | $1,024,426 | $3,859,013 | $3,431,000 | 130 | $3,691,240 | $864,289 | $2,909,631 |
| 2021 | $35,226,041 | $10,068,923 | $2,820,609 | $2,250,500 | 120 | $2,499,569 | $9,885,289 | $3,686,291 |
| 2020 | $27,961,788 | $4,565,385 | $2,571,559 | $2,108,650 | 124 | — | $4,409,036 | $2,848,207 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, WP & HB White Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M 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 Foundation says it supports organizations that contribute to the future good of society. Its stated funding areas are education, health, housing, and human services. It offers grants for general operating expenses and specific programs.
Grantee missions illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Big Shoulders Fund says it supports underserved schools providing quality, values-based education for Chicago children. St. Leonard’s Ministries describes its work as providing holistic housing and supportive services to people impacted by the carceral system. Target Hope says it seeks to enhance opportunities for minority students attending public schools in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation awarded 141 grants totaling $4,313,500. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $140,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $140,000 to Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center for general support; $130,000 to WINGS Program for Safe House at Wings Metro; $125,000 to CARA Program for general support; $120,000 to The Chicago Lighthouse for its Employment Services Program; and $115,000 to Franciscan Outreach for general support. Other large awards included $100,000 each to Cristo Rey and Humble Design, both for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Steven R. White as President and Executive Director, Philip O’C White as Vice President and Treasurer, John J. McCortney as Secretary, and William P. White III and Anne M. Tirpak as directors.
WP & HB White Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven R White
Presidentexec Director
President & Executive → Presidentexec Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$156K (2020) → $202K (2025)
William P White III
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Anne M Tirpak
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$5K (2023) → $10K (2025)
John J McCortney
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $20K (2025)
Philip OC White
Vptreasurer
Vice President & Treasurer → Vptreasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $170K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $202K, to Steven R White (PresidentExec Dir). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about WP & HB White Foundation
How much does WP & HB White Foundation give each year?
WP & HB White Foundation gave $4.3M across 141 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.3M across 138 grants.
What is WP & HB White Foundation's typical grant size?
WP & HB White Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $30,592, across 141 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from WP & HB White Foundation that year got $31K on average.
Where does WP & HB White Foundation give grants?
WP & HB White Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (109 grants), Oak Park, IL (4 grants) and Evanston, IL (3 grants).
Does WP & HB White Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 60% of WP & HB White Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (84 of 141) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Financial Aid" (3 grants).
Who are WP & HB White Foundation's largest grantees?
WP & HB White Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Childrens Advocacy ($140,000), WINGS Program ($130,000) and CARA Program ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 8 grants to individuals ($205,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is WP & HB White Foundation?
WP & HB White Foundation reported $35.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does WP & HB White Foundation fund?
The Foundation says it supports organizations that contribute to the future good of society. Its stated funding areas are education, health, housing, and human services. It offers grants for general operating expenses and specific programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from WP & HB White Foundation?
The Foundation has an online grant application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is WP & HB White Foundation's EIN?
WP & HB White Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2601558. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in WP & HB White Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). WP & HB White Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wp-and-hb-white-foundation-morg_c603fe19c5e5400b9e52276395c1b83d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362601558_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{WP \& HB White Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wp-and-hb-white-foundation-morg_c603fe19c5e5400b9e52276395c1b83d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 WP & HB White 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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