The Jaros Charitable Trust concentrates its giving on conservative Christian causes, funding evangelistic, apologetics, and Christian education/media ministries with an interest in public policy advocacy. Grants are directed to faith-based organizations that use media, online platforms, and outreach programs to promote evangelical Christian beliefs and influence public discourse. Their giving appears mission-driven toward spreading Christian doctrine and supporting organizations that shape religious messaging and policy positions.
A recurring cluster of grants to Christian apologetics ministries, including multiple awards to Defenders Media and the Foundation for Reasonable Christianity, defines the Arthur G Jaros Sr & Dawn L Jaros Charitable Trust’s recent giving. The trust supports evangelical Christian work across media, education, evangelism, and public policy advocacy, with gifts ranging from small church support to larger ministry grants. Its recent records show both repeated support for the same organizations and a mix of ministry types, from online Christian education to village-level outreach and humanitarian work through Christian charities. Among the larger awards, the trust gave $36,000 to Defenders Media in both 2023 and 2024, and $31,000 to the Illinois Family Institute for a public policy advocacy program in 2023. It also funded Reach A Village, Jesus Online Ministries, and Foundation for Reasonable Christianity, each tied to Christian evangelistic, educational, or apologetics work. The pattern suggests a donor advised by doctrinal priorities rather than a single service niche, with giving that links Christian messaging, instruction, and advocacy. Grants also reach churches directly, including General Fund support to congregations in Indiana and Illinois.
Christian apologetics is one of the clearest themes in the trust’s records. It gave $36,000 to Defenders Media in 2023 and again in 2024, and $24,000 to Foundation for Reasonable Christianity in 2025 for Christian apologetics ministry. Those grants sit alongside support for Christian educational ministries, including $29,000 to Jesus Online Ministries in 2023 and $14,400 in 2025 for the same purpose. Evangelistic outreach is another active area. The trust awarded $29,500 to Reach A Village in 2023, followed by $22,000 in 2025 and $13,000 in 2024 for Christian evangelistic ministry. It also gave $11,600 to Cup of Cold Water Ministries in 2023 and $6,000 to NewThing in 2025 for Christian evangelistic ministry. Public policy advocacy appears as well, through $31,000 to the Illinois Family Institute in 2023 and $7,000 to the Heritage Foundation in 2023.
The trust’s typical grant size is modest: the 25th percentile is $600, the median is $1,800, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. That distribution sits alongside a smaller number of larger ministry grants, such as $36,000 and $31,000 awards in the recent record. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Defenders Media, Foundation for Reasonable Christianity, Reach A Village, Caring Network Illinois, Samaritan’s Purse, White River Christian Church, and Chapelstreet Church, which points to repeat support rather than one-off giving alone. The trust is a private charitable trust, not a vehicle for individual grants or program-related investments.
$229K
$4.7M
$365K
$241K
Most grants fall between $600 and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$600
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Concentrated, selective funding: a small number of relatively large grants (several near $30K–$72K) focused almost exclusively on religious organizations, including repeat funding to at least one media/apologetics grantee.
Notable grantees: Defenders Media (Christian apologetics/media), Illinois Family Institute (conservative public policy advocacy), Reach A Village (evangelistic outreach), Jesus Online Ministries (Christian educational online ministry)
Grants are entirely domestic in the records provided, with all 169 grants going to U.S. recipients. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 27% of grants go to recipients in the trust’s HQ state. Recent Illinois recipients include West Chicago, Tinley Park, Park Forest, Glen Ellyn, Newark, North Aurora, and Naperville. Outside Illinois, the trust has funded organizations in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, and Washington, DC, showing a national spread even with a strong Illinois concentration.
The recent record centers on Christian ministries and faith-based organizations. Named grantees include Defenders Media for Christian apologetics, Reach A Village for Christian evangelistic ministry, Jesus Online Ministries for Christian educational ministry, and the Illinois Family Institute and Heritage Foundation for public policy advocacy.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years: Defenders Media received $36,000 in 2023 and 2024 and $24,000 in 2025; Reach A Village was funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Foundation for Reasonable Christianity received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small on the whole. The 25th percentile is $600, the median is $1,800, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $36,000, $31,000, and $29,500.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 27% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Recent Illinois recipients include organizations in West Chicago, Tinley Park, Park Forest, Glen Ellyn, Newark, North Aurora, and Naperville.
The trust has funded advocacy-oriented organizations such as the Illinois Family Institute for a public policy advocacy program in 2023 and the Heritage Foundation for a public policy advocacy program in 2023. These grants sit alongside its broader support for faith-based ministries.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation for Reasonable Christianity | Newport Beach, CA | $24,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian apologetics ministry |
| Defenders Media | West Chicago, IL | $24,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian apologetics ministry |
| Reach A Village | Park Forest, IL | $22,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Jesus Online Ministries | Higley, AZ | $14,400 | 2025 | Funding of Christian educational ministry |
| Caring Network Illinois | Glen Ellyn, IL | $11,000 | 2025 | Funding of womens pregnancy counseling service |
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian humanitarian organization |
| After Hours Ministry | North Hollywood, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Funding of ministry to people involved in sexual exploitation and human trafficking |
| White River Christian Church | Noblesville, IN | $7,800 | 2025 | Contributions to General Fund |
| Chapelstreet Church | North Aurora, IL | $6,825 | 2025 | Contributions to General Fund |
| Illinois Family Institute | Tinley Park, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Cup of Cold Water Ministries | Newark, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Gulf Coast FCA | Venice, FL | $6,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| NewThing | Naperville, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Turning Point USA | Phoenix, AZ | $5,925 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Indiana Family Institute | Noblesville, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | Funding of academic institution of higher learning |
| Heritage Foundation | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Illinois Policy Institute | Chicago, IL | $4,800 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Bible League International | Crete, IL | $3,650 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Convention of States Foundation | Houston, TX | $3,600 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| MassResistance | Waltham, MA | $3,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Wounded Warrior Project | Topeka, KS | $2,500 | 2025 | Contributions to philanthropic organization to veterans |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation | Staten Island, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | Contributions to philanthropic organization supporting first responder and Goldstar families |
| Inner City Impact | Chicago, IL | $2,400 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| CRU (Family Life Ministries) | Orlando, FL | $2,400 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| LEAD for Christ | Frisco, TX | $2,400 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Heritage Classic Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | $2,200 | 2025 | Funding of National Multiple Sclerosis Society |
| Prager University Foundation | Sherman Oaks, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Grace Community Bible Church | Venice, FL | $1,950 | 2025 | Contributions to General Fund |
| Alliance Defending Freedom | Scottsdale, AZ | $1,800 | 2025 | Funding of non-profit legal services organization |
| Courtside Ministries | Chicago, IL | $1,800 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | Tampa, FL | $1,500 | 2025 | Funding of not-for-profit hospital |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $1,500 | 2025 | Funding of not-for-profit hospital |
| Pacific Garden Mission | Chicago, IL | $1,200 | 2025 | Funding of Christian humanitarian organization |
| Grace Community Church of Southern Maryland | Hollywood, MD | $1,200 | 2025 | Contributions to Missions Fund |
| American Family Association | Tupelo, MS | $1,200 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Child Evangelism Fellowship | Lombard, IL | $1,020 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| College Church in Wheaton | Wheaton, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | Contributions to General Fund |
| Leadership Institute | Arlington, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | Funding of public policy advocacy program |
| Northern Lakes Ministries | Rhinelander, WI | $1,000 | 2025 | Funding of Christian camping ministry |
| CRU | Orlando, FL | $960 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| SOS International | La Quinta, CA | $960 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Reconciliation Ministries | Medina, WA | $720 | 2025 | Funding of Christian ministry to the Middle East |
| ScholarLeaders Intrernational | Grand Rapids, MI | $600 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Pioneers | Orlando, FL | $600 | 2025 | Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry |
| Global Christian Relief | Santa Ana, CA | $600 | 2025 | Funding of ministy to persecuted Christians |
| The Starting Point Project | Waukesha, WI | $600 | 2025 | Funding of Christian education ministry |
| HorsePower Therapeutic Riding | Elburn, IL | $500 | 2025 | Funding of program to children and adults with disabilities |
| Pine Grove Community Church | Rhinelander, WI | $480 | 2025 | Contributions to General Fund |
| Moody Global Ministries | Chicago, IL | $240 | 2025 | Funding of non-commercial radio network |
Foundation for Reasonable Christianity
$24,000Funding of Christian apologetics ministry
Defenders Media
$24,000Funding of Christian apologetics ministry
Jesus Online Ministries
$14,400Funding of Christian educational ministry
Caring Network Illinois
$11,000Funding of womens pregnancy counseling service
Funding of Christian humanitarian organization
After Hours Ministry
$10,000Funding of ministry to people involved in sexual exploitation and human trafficking
White River Christian Church
$7,800Contributions to General Fund
Chapelstreet Church
$6,825Contributions to General Fund
Illinois Family Institute
$6,000Funding of public policy advocacy program
Gulf Coast FCA
$6,000Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
NewThing
$6,000Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Turning Point USA
$5,925Funding of public policy advocacy program
Indiana Family Institute
$5,000Funding of public policy advocacy program
Bible League International
$3,650Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Convention of States Foundation
$3,600Funding of public policy advocacy program
MassResistance
$3,000Funding of public policy advocacy program
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
$2,500Contributions to philanthropic organization supporting first responder and Goldstar families
CRU (Family Life Ministries)
$2,400Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
LEAD for Christ
$2,400Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Heritage Classic Foundation
$2,200Funding of National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Grace Community Bible Church
$1,950Contributions to General Fund
Courtside Ministries
$1,800Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Pacific Garden Mission
$1,200Funding of Christian humanitarian organization
Grace Community Church of Southern Maryland
$1,200Contributions to Missions Fund
American Family Association
$1,200Funding of public policy advocacy program
Child Evangelism Fellowship
$1,020Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
College Church in Wheaton
$1,000Contributions to General Fund
Northern Lakes Ministries
$1,000Funding of Christian camping ministry
CRU
$960Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
SOS International
$960Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Reconciliation Ministries
$720Funding of Christian ministry to the Middle East
ScholarLeaders Intrernational
$600Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Pioneers
$600Funding of Christian evangelistic ministry
Global Christian Relief
$600Funding of ministy to persecuted Christians
The Starting Point Project
$600Funding of Christian education ministry
HorsePower Therapeutic Riding
$500Funding of program to children and adults with disabilities
Pine Grove Community Church
$480Contributions to General Fund
Moody Global Ministries
$240Funding of non-commercial radio network