The Sassafras Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like The Sassafras Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 36-4120772

Foundation Overview

Based in Chicago, IL, The Sassafras Foundation has awarded 39 grants totaling $44,987 to organizations in New York, District of Columbia and 7 other states across the US. Individual grants range from $10 to $18,000, with a median award of $500.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$44,987
Total Assets
$0
Median Grant (all grants)
$500

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
14
Median Grant
$500
% No Significant Change
0% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Highly Accessible: 71%

10 of 14 recipients (71%) were new grantees. Foundation prioritizes discovering new partners. Most funding supports first-time applicants with compelling missions.

Geographic Focus
Illinois

Grants are geographically diversified with 36% in Illinois and funding distributed across 9 total locations. This foundation values broad geographic impact and diverse community partnerships. Within Illinois, funding concentrates in Chicago (79%), Evanston (21%).

Funding Trajectory
+1513%

Strong 1513% growth in annual giving over 6 years indicates expanding philanthropic capacity and increasing opportunities for grant seekers. This upward trajectory suggests growing foundation resources and commitment.

Program Areas
Community Projects + Environment

Dual focus on community projects (75%) and environment, indicating strategic concentration in complementary program areas.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into The Sassafras Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Cornell Lab Of Ornithology $500 Ithaca, NY, US General Support 2023
World Wildlife Fund $152 Washington, DC, US General Support 2023
Lubeznik Center For The Arts $125 Michigan City, IN, US General Support 2023
Beverly Shores Depot Museum And Art Gallery $500 Beverly Shores, IN, US General Support 2023
Concern Worldwide $700 New York, NY, US General Support 2023
Beverly Shores Fire Department $100 Beverly Shores, IN, US General Support 2023
Lend A Hand Across America $18,000 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2023
J Street $500 Washington, DC, US General Support 2023
James B Moran Center For Youth Advocacy $100 Evanston, IL, US General Support 2023
The Selfhelp Home $2,000 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2023
Shirley Heinze Land Trust $500 Valparaiso, IN, US General Support 2023
Feeding America $1,000 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2023
Mlb Charities $75 New York, NY, US General Support 2023
Facing History & Ourselves $105 Boston, MA, US General Support 2023
Dunes Learning Center $50 New York, NY, US General Support 2022
World Center Kitchen $1,000 Washington, DC, US General Support 2022
Desert Foothills Land Trust $500 Cave Creek, AZ, US General Support 2022
Wttw $220 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2022
James B Moran Center For Youth Advocacy $500 Evanston, IL, US General Support 2022
Food Bank Of Northwest Indiana $1,000 Merrillville, IN, US General Support 2022
Wild At Heart $500 Cave Creek, AZ, US General Support 2022
Cornell Lab Of Ornithology $500 Ithaca, NY, US General Support 2022
The Nature Conservancyt $100 Arlington, VA, US General Support 2022
The Selfhelp Home $500 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2022
Shirley Heinze Land Foundation $1,000 Valparaiso, IN, US General Support 2021
Cornell Lab Of Ornithology $240 Ithica, NY, US General Support 2021
Planned Parenthood $135 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2021
Robinhood Foundation $250 Grand Rapids, MI, US General Support 2021
J Street Foundation $1,500 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2021
Concern Worldwide Foundation $500 New York, NY, US General Support 2021
Town Of Beverly Shores Errosion Fund $10,000 Beverly Shores, IN, US Environmental Support 2020
Arizona Opera $100 Phoenix, AZ, US General Support 2018
Trout Unlimited Inc $75 Wooly Bugger, WV, US General Supportpublic Charity 2018
Business & Professional People For Public Interest $200 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2018
Chicago Parks Foundation $250 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2018
Concern Worldwide $500 Chicago, IL, US General Supportpublic Charity 2017
Absr Community Foundation $500 Beverly Shores, IN, US General Support 2017
Northwestern University Giving $10 Evanston, IL, US General Support 2017
Shriver Center For Poverty Law $500 Chicago, IL, US General Support 2017

Foundations Similar to The Sassafras Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($0-$0), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in IL that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 13-4336244 | 10 grants awarded
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Same state
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EIN: 13-3705651 | 108 grants awarded
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EIN: 16-6073270 | 30 grants awarded
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EIN: 15-6014070 | 23 grants awarded
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$400
median grant
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EIN: 01-0745982 | 1 grants awarded
$0
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$766
median grant
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Contact Information

Official contact details for The Sassafras Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 36-4120772
Website N/A
Address 1622 W CARROLL AVE Chicago, IL 60612-2502

Key People (3)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee The Sassafras Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Director Steven F Schwab
Director Nancy Ruther Schwab
Director Melinda J Metzger

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for The Sassafras Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Application Status
Based on its IRS Form 990-PF filings, this foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications, meaning eligible organizations can apply directly without a prior relationship.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.