131 private foundations reported religion grants in Illinois on their IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2022–2025. Historical giving records — not an open application portal.
Themes are derived from the free-text purpose each foundation wrote on its own Part XV filing, so a grant is classified by what the funder said it was for. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from recipient counts and tables.
Across tax years 2022–2025, 131 private foundations reported 230 grants for religion totaling $4,606,191 to 205 organizations in Illinois. The most-funded Illinois communities were Chicago, Wheaton, Sterling. The Shimon BEN Joseph Foundation DBA JIM Joseph Foundation reported the most religion giving — $375,000 across 1 grant. The median grant was $7,250.
Foundation filings are a record of past giving. The UseGrants eligibility check matches you to federal and state opportunities accepting applications today.
| Foundation | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| The Shimon BEN Joseph Foundation DBA JIM Joseph Foundation | 1 | $375,000 |
| The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc | 3 | $300,000 |
| Charles W & Patricia S Bidwill Foundation | 8 | $250,000 |
| 125 Foundation | 2 | $210,000 |
| Margaret a Cargill Foundation | 1 | $200,000 |
| Kunes Family Foundation | 4 | $188,540 |
| Alphawood Foundation | 2 | $160,000 |
| The Ejnra Foundation | 2 | $138,000 |
| Dillon Foundation | 8 | $127,250 |
| Pinetops Foundation | 1 | $115,000 |
| Joel D John Foundation | 2 | $110,000 |
| The Bolick Foundation | 2 | $97,621 |
| Recipient | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago | 1 | $375,000 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | 1 | $200,000 |
| Holy Family Ministries Foundation | 1 | $200,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | 1 | $150,000 |
| Preservation Chicago | 2 | $136,500 |
| Ifcj | 1 | $127,400 |
| Sinapsis Group Inc | 1 | $115,000 |
| BIG Shoulders | 1 | $100,000 |
| Jewish Child and Family Services Chicago | 1 | $100,000 |
| Moody Bible Institute | 1 | $100,000 |
| Word Partners | 1 | $100,000 |
| Secure Community Network | 2 | $95,000 |
| Multiplication Network Ministries | 1 | $87,621 |
| The Gospel Coalition | 1 | $75,000 |
| Jewish United Fund | 2 | $70,000 |
131 private foundations reported religion grants in Illinois on their IRS Form 990-PF filings, totaling $4,606,191. The largest by reported dollars were The Shimon BEN Joseph Foundation DBA JIM Joseph Foundation, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc, Charles W & Patricia S Bidwill Foundation. These are historical filings, not open application portals — check each foundation's own guidelines before approaching them.
205 distinct organizations appear as recipients in Illinois, led by Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Holy Family Ministries Foundation. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from these figures.
The median reported religion grant in Illinois was $7,250, and the largest single reported grant was $375,000. Amounts are as reported by the filing foundation for a historical tax year.
The UseGrants feed tracks federal and state opportunities that are open today, each with the eligibility explained in plain English.
Source: public IRS Form 990-PF Part XV filings (tax years 2022–2025). Theme classification is derived from the funder’s own purpose text and is a summary, not a legal categorization. UseGrants is an independent aggregator, not affiliated with any foundation listed.
