The 125 Foundation concentrates its giving on Catholic/religious education and direct services for vulnerable populations, pairing substantial support for a few core local institutions with sizable emergency humanitarian grants abroad. Its portfolio mixes repeated multi-grant commitments to faith-based and youth-serving organizations in the Chicago area with targeted funding for refugee, immigrant, and Ukraine relief efforts.
125 Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a $200,000 grant to Holy Family Ministries Foundation for religious education and support, alongside repeated support for Chicago-area youth and faith-based organizations. The foundation’s pattern shows a preference for a small set of organizations that receive multiple awards across several years, rather than a wide spread of one-time grants. It also funds emergency humanitarian work tied to Ukraine, including grants to Operation White Stork and White Stork - United States Ltd in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Beyond those core areas, the foundation has backed immigrant and refugee services, food assistance, and targeted education and health-related causes. Its recent grants include both larger institutional awards and smaller local service grants, with recipients in Chicago, Northbrook, Munster, Lansing, Barrington, and beyond. The overall picture is of a regional grantmaker that combines sustained support for Catholic and religious education with direct-service funding for vulnerable populations.
Catholic and religious education is a central thread in the foundation’s portfolio. Holy Family Ministries Foundation received $200,000 in 2025 for religious education and support, and Valparaiso University received $50,000 in 2025 for religious education and support. The foundation also gave $25,000 to One Collective in 2023 and $10,000 in 2025 for religious education and support. Another recurring area is youth programming in Chicago: Chicago Youth Centers received $100,000 in 2025 for children’s education and $100,000 in 2023 for youth support programs. On the humanitarian side, the foundation funded Ukraine relief through $150,000 to Operation White Stork in 2023 and $100,000 to Operation White Stork - United States Ltd in 2025. Immigrant and refugee support appears as well, including $75,000 to The Welcome Network in 2025 for resources for immigrants and refugees.
Typical grants cluster at the upper end of the foundation’s range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent record also shows repeated awards to the same recipients across multiple years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. 125 Foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant pattern includes both large anchor grants and smaller supplemental awards, with several organizations appearing more than once over 2023 to 2025.
$2.3M
$2.2M
$1.6M
$507K
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 77% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Concentrated, mid-to-large sized grants focused on a small set of repeat local grantees alongside several substantial one-off international relief awards; mix of multi-grant relationships and targeted emergency funding.
Notable grantees: Holy Family Ministries Foundation, Chicago Youth Centers, Operation White Stork / White Stork - United States Ltd, Global Empowerment Mission, Chicagoland Immigrant Welcome Network
The foundation gives most often in Illinois, where 77% of grants go, and its recent awards are concentrated in the Chicago area and nearby Northwest Indiana. Chicago, Northbrook, Barrington, Munster, and Lansing all appear among recipient locations. Grants also reached Valparaiso, Elgin, and Des Plaines in the region. Outside the Midwest, the recent list includes Doral, Florida; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Raleigh, North Carolina, but the grant count remains entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants show support for Catholic and religious education, Chicago youth programs, immigrant and refugee services, food assistance, and Ukraine relief. Examples include Holy Family Ministries Foundation for religious education and support, Chicago Youth Centers for children’s education, and Operation White Stork for Ukrainian relief.
The foundation’s grant size distribution is centered at $50,000. The 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000.
It gives mostly in Illinois: 77% of grants go to recipients in the state, and Illinois is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients also appear in nearby Indiana, plus Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Holy Family Ministries Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Chicago Youth Centers in 2023 and 2025; and Operation White Stork / Operation White Stork - United States Ltd across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | FAITH-BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | FOOD DEPOSITORY AND EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE |
| CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | DES PLAINES, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY SERVICES |
| WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD | WINNETKA, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| CHURCH WORLD SERVICE INC | ELKHART, IN | $25,000 | 2026 | FAITH-BASED EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION INITIATIVES |
| CHICAGO BIBLE SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO PROVIDE FREE OR LOW-COST BIBLES AND PROMOTE INCREASED READING OF THE BIBLE |
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT |
| OPERATION WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD | WINNETKA, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | CHILDREN'S EDUCATION |
| THE WELCOME NETWORK | LANSING, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES |
| VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY | VALPARAISO, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| LUTHERAN LIFE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC | RALEIGH, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| ONE COLLECTIVE | ELGIN, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY MEAL | BARRINGTON, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| HELP OF BEAUFORT | BEAUFORT, SC | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD, CLOTHING & ASSISTANCE |
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION | NORTHBRROK, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION INC | DORAL, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | RELIEF AID TO PEOPLE DISPLACED BY DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS |
| CHICAGOLAND IMMIGRANT WELCOME NETWORK | MUNSTER, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONALLY-BORN RESIDENTS OF NW INDIANA AND S CHICAGO |
| WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD | WINNETKA, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| CHICAGO FELLOWSHIP | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | COVID RELIEF |
| ONE COLLECTIVE | ELGIN, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT |
| INGAGE UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GLOBAL TRAINING IN EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND HEALTH |
| HELP OF BEAUFORT | BEAUFORT, SC | $10,000 | 2024 | FOOD, CLOTHING, ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED |
| COMMUNITY MEAL | BARRINGTON, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | DES PLAINES, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS |
| TEAM BRIGHT SIDE INC | NORTHFIELD, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | PEDIATRIC CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH BLOOD CANCER |
| LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | OAK BROOK, IL | $100 | 2024 | SUPPORT LIONS CLUB WORLDWIDE |
| OPERATION WHITE STORK | WINNETKA, IL | $150,000 | 2023 | UKRAINIAN RELIEF |
| CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAMS |
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION | NORTHBRROK, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | URBANA, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION PURPOSE |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | DES PLAINES, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS |
| ONE COLLECTIVE | ELGIN, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT |
| JEFFREY PRIDE FOUNDATION | BARRINGTON, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH & EDUCATION |
| HELP OF BEAUFORT | BEAUFORT, SC | $10,000 | 2023 | FOOD, CLOTHING, ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED |
| COMMUNITY MEAL | BARRINGTON, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED |
| LIONS CLUB MT HOOD | WELCHES, OR | $100 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES
$150,000FAITH-BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$100,000FOOD DEPOSITORY AND EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE
CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS
$100,000CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS
$50,000COMMUNITY SERVICES
WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD
$50,000UKRAINE RELIEF
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE INC
$25,000FAITH-BASED EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATION INITIATIVES
CHICAGO BIBLE SOCIETY
$10,000TO PROVIDE FREE OR LOW-COST BIBLES AND PROMOTE INCREASED READING OF THE BIBLE
HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION
$200,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
OPERATION WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD
$100,000UKRAINE RELIEF
CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS
$100,000CHILDREN'S EDUCATION
THE WELCOME NETWORK
$75,000RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANTS & REFUGEES
VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY
$50,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
LUTHERAN LIFE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION
$25,000SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS
FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC
$10,000FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
ONE COLLECTIVE
$10,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & SUPPORT
COMMUNITY MEAL
$10,000FOOD FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
HELP OF BEAUFORT
$10,000FOOD, CLOTHING & ASSISTANCE
HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION
$100,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT
GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION INC
$100,000RELIEF AID TO PEOPLE DISPLACED BY DISASTERS AND CONFLICTS
CHICAGOLAND IMMIGRANT WELCOME NETWORK
$100,000RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONALLY-BORN RESIDENTS OF NW INDIANA AND S CHICAGO
WHITE STORK - UNITED STATES LTD
$100,000UKRAINE RELIEF
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
CHICAGO FELLOWSHIP
$50,000COVID RELIEF
ONE COLLECTIVE
$10,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT
INGAGE UNLIMITED
$10,000GLOBAL TRAINING IN EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, AND HEALTH
HELP OF BEAUFORT
$10,000FOOD, CLOTHING, ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED
COMMUNITY MEAL
$10,000FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS
$10,000SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS
TEAM BRIGHT SIDE INC
$1,000PEDIATRIC CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH BLOOD CANCER
LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
$100SUPPORT LIONS CLUB WORLDWIDE
OPERATION WHITE STORK
$150,000UKRAINIAN RELIEF
CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS
$100,000YOUTH SUPPORT PROGRAMS
HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES FOUNDATION
$100,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATION PURPOSE
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS
$50,000SOCIAL SERVICES FOR IL RESIDENTS
ONE COLLECTIVE
$25,000RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/SUPPORT
JEFFREY PRIDE FOUNDATION
$20,000PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH & EDUCATION
HELP OF BEAUFORT
$10,000FOOD, CLOTHING, ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED
COMMUNITY MEAL
$10,000FOOD SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED
LIONS CLUB MT HOOD
$100COMMUNITY SUPPORT