The Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation concentrates its giving on direct-service nonprofits in the south suburban Chicago area, with a clear emphasis on disability-related services, emergency shelter/homelessness programs, and local faith-based education and ministries. Grants are primarily general contributions to mid-sized organizations that provide hands-on care and therapeutic services rather than national advocacy or research. The foundation tends to fund the same regional providers repeatedly, supporting both specialized disability programs and community safety-net organizations.
A standout feature of the Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation is its repeated support for direct-service nonprofits serving the south suburban Chicago area. The largest recent grant in the data is $45,000 to Holistic Riding Equestrian Therapy in Lemont for contribution support, and the foundation also made consecutive $30,000 grants to Center for Independence Through Conductive Education in Countryside. Those awards fit a broader pattern of backing organizations that provide hands-on services rather than national advocacy or research. The foundation’s giving includes disability-related services, emergency shelter and homelessness response, and local faith-based education and ministries. Several grantees appear more than once across the recent record, which suggests ongoing relationships with local providers. Ucp Seguin of Greater Chicago received $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024, while South Suburban Pads received $27,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024. Grants also went to Elms University Center, Port Ministries, My Joyful Heart Nfp, and Chicago Southwest Suburban Community Parish & Center. Across the record, the foundation’s support is centered on organizations working directly with people in Illinois communities.
In disability services, the foundation gave $30,000 in 2024 and another $30,000 in 2023 to Center for Independence Through Conductive Education in Countryside for contribution support. It also supported Ucp Seguin of Greater Chicago in Cicero with $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024. Homelessness and shelter work is another clear area. South Suburban Pads in Chicago Heights received $30,000 in 2024 after a $27,000 grant in 2023, and Pads to Hope Inc Journeys - the Road Home in Palatine received $5,000 in 2023 and again in 2024. The foundation also funds faith-based and education-oriented work. It gave $30,000 to Elms University Center in Chicago in 2023 and $15,000 to Chicago Southwest Suburban Community Parish & Center in Palos Park in 2023. Therapeutic recreation appears as well through Holistic Riding Equestrian Therapy in Lemont.
Typical grant size clusters around the middle of the range: p25 is $10,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $30,000. The record also includes a $45,000 award, showing that larger general contributions occur, but most grants sit in the $10,000 to $30,000 band. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Center for Independence Through Conductive Education, South Suburban Pads, Ucp Seguin of Greater Chicago, My Joyful Heart Nfp, and Pads to Hope Inc Journeys the Road Home. The foundation is structured as a foundation with program-related investments marked true, and it does not fund individuals.
$173K
$7.5M
$739K
$349K
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Concentrated, mid-sized grants focused on a small set of repeat regional grantees; primarily unrestricted contributions to service organizations rather than many one-off or national grants.
Notable grantees: Center for Independence through Conductive Education, South Suburban PADS, UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, Holistic Riding Equestrian Therapy, Elms University Center
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Illinois: 100% of grants in the record went to recipients in the HQ state, and Illinois is also the top state by grant count. The recipient cities are concentrated in the south suburban Chicago area and nearby Chicago itself, including Lemont, Countryside, Chicago Heights, Chicago, Cicero, Mokena, Palos Park, Crestwood, and Palatine. The pattern points to a geographically tight portfolio rather than a multi-state or national one.
The recent grants point to disability services, homelessness response and emergency shelter, and faith-based education and ministries. Named recipients in those areas include Center for Independence Through Conductive Education, South Suburban Pads, Ucp Seguin of Greater Chicago, Elms University Center, and Chicago Southwest Suburban Community Parish & Center.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster at $10,000, $25,000, and $30,000, based on the p25, median, and p75 figures. The recent record also includes a larger $45,000 grant, but most awards fall within that $10,000 to $30,000 range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Ucp Seguin of Greater Chicago with $25,000 in both 2023 and 2024, South Suburban Pads with $27,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024, and Center for Independence Through Conductive Education with $30,000 in both years.
Its giving is local and concentrated in Illinois. All grants in the recent record went to recipients in Illinois, including organizations in Lemont, Countryside, Chicago Heights, Chicago, Cicero, Mokena, Palos Park, Crestwood, and Palatine.
The foundation does not fund individuals. The recent grants all go to organizations, including nonprofits and a university center.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO | CICERO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & COMMUNITY CENTER | PALOS PARK, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| ELMS UNIVERSITY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $17,803 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CANCER | ALSIP, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PORT MINISTRIES | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MY JOYFUL HEART NFP | MOKENA, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SECOND STORY FOUNDATION | CRETE, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CRISIS CENTER FOR SOUTH SUBURBIA | TINLEY PARK, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS | CHICAGI HEIGHTS, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| OASIS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED | FRANKFORT, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME | PALATINE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION | COUNTRYSIDE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & COMMUNITY CENTER | PALOS PARK, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO | CICERO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MY JOYFUL HEART NFP | MOKENA, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CRISIS CENTER FOR SOUTH SUBURBIA | TINLEY PARK, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| THE SECOND STORY FOUNDATION | CRETE, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY | LEMONT, IL | $11,800 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS | CHICAGI HEIGHTS, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| RIVERSIDE CLUB FOR ADVENTURE | WEST CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME | PALATINE, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION | COUNTRYSIDE, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS | CHICAGI HEIGHTS, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO | CICERO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PORT MINISTRIES | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY | LEMONT, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MY JOYFUL HEART NFP | MOKENA, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SHARE YOUR SOLES FOUNDATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME | PALATINE, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY | LEMONT, IL | $45,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION | COUNTRYSIDE, IL | $30,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| ELMS UNIVERSITY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS | CHICAGI HEIGHTS, IL | $27,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO | CICERO, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & CENTER | PALOS PARK, IL | $15,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| ELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES | CRESTWOOD, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MY JOYFUL HEART NFP | MOKENA, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS - THE ROAD HOME | PALATINE, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION |
UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO
$30,000CONTRIBUTION
CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
ELMS UNIVERSITY CENTER
$17,803CONTRIBUTION
CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CANCER
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
PORT MINISTRIES
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
MY JOYFUL HEART NFP
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
SECOND STORY FOUNDATION
CONTRIBUTION
CRISIS CENTER FOR SOUTH SUBURBIA
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
OASIS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
MY JOYFUL HEART NFP
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
CRISIS CENTER FOR SOUTH SUBURBIA
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
THE SECOND STORY FOUNDATION
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY
$11,800CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
RIVERSIDE CLUB FOR ADVENTURE
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION
$30,000CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS
$30,000CONTRIBUTION
UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
PORT MINISTRIES
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
MY JOYFUL HEART NFP
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
SHARE YOUR SOLES FOUNDATION INC
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS THE ROAD HOME
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
HOLISTIC RIDING EQUESTRIAN THERAPY
$45,000CONTRIBUTION
CENTER FOR INDEPENCENCE THROUGH CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION
$30,000CONTRIBUTION
ELMS UNIVERSITY CENTER
$30,000CONTRIBUTION
SOUTH SUBURBAN PADS
$27,000CONTRIBUTION
UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
CHICAGO SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PARISH & CENTER
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
ELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
MY JOYFUL HEART NFP
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
PADS TO HOPE INC JOURNEYS - THE ROAD HOME
$5,000CONTRIBUTION