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    Chicago Fire Foundation

    ActiveYouth Development
    CHICAGO, ILWebsite8727100740

    About Chicago Fire Foundation

    The Chicago Fire Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life throughout Chicagoland by leveraging its resources and expertise in the area of soccer to provide sports-based youth development and direct-service programs to underserved communities.

    Focus Areas

    youth developmentsoccer / sports programmingeducation (academic & SEL)community developmenthealth & wellness

    Who They Fund

    students/scholarsyouth athleteswomen and girls in sportsfood-insecure community memberslocal community event participants

    Funding Style

    program supportevent sponsorship

    About Chicago Fire Foundation

    Chicago Fire Foundation’s grantmaking is built around soccer-based youth development in Chicagoland, and one of its clearest patterns is sustained support for a neighborhood community center: North Austin Community Center received $500,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeated commitment sits alongside a broader mix of program support, scholarship funding, event sponsorship, and in-kind donations tied to team resources. The foundation also backs organized youth sports access through groups such as United Elite S C Nfp, which received $140,000 for program support, and Indiana Fire Juniors, which received $45,000 for scholarship funding. Across the organization’s active programs and recent grants, the common thread is using soccer as a vehicle for direct service, youth participation, and community engagement in Chicago and surrounding Illinois communities. Recent support also reached Chicago Park District and All Kids Play, showing that the foundation funds both public-facing local partnerships and nonprofit sports access work. Its giving is regional, with most grants staying in Illinois and many centered in Chicago.

    What Chicago Fire Foundation Funds

    Youth development is the foundation’s core lens. Through the P.L.A.Y.S. Program, it delivers a soccer-based sports and social-emotional learning curriculum for elementary students in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, linking structured play to academic performance and SEL skills. Community-based sports access appears in its support for Chicago Park District, which received $100,000 in 2025 for program support. The foundation also invests in equipment and participation through the Passback Program and Kicks for Kids, both of which provide soccer gear or complimentary match tickets to youth in Chicagoland. Beyond youth programming, it has supported food access through the Greater Chicago Food Depository with a $17,000 program-support grant tied to Free Kicks for Meals, connecting a sports event to meal distribution.

    How Chicago Fire Foundation Gives

    Typical grant size is $11,750 at the 25th percentile, $37,500 at the median, and $130,000 at the 75th percentile, which points to a mix of modest grants and larger anchor commitments. The recent record also shows repeated awards to the same recipient across multiple years, especially the three-year sequence to North Austin Community Center. The foundation appears to combine monetary grants, event sponsorships, scholarship funding, and in-kind donation programs. It also accepts unsolicited online requests for memorabilia and merchandise donations through its Donation Requests program, while monetary and sponsorship requests are not considered in that channel.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $640K

    Total Assets

    $4.1M

    Total Revenue

    $795K

    Total Expenses

    $1.3M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $12K and $130K, with a median of $38K.

    25th Percentile

    $12K

    Median

    $38K

    75th Percentile

    $130K

    Geographic Reach

    Regional5 states funded

    About 64% of grants go to recipients in IL.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

    JESSICA YAVITZ

    Accepts unsolicited proposals

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    EIN: 91-1931487
    3 filings on record
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    scholarship funding
    restricted/contribution grants

    Topics

    youth sports programsgender equity in athletics (Title IX commemoration)food security via sports events (meal drives)community engagement through eventsscholarship support for students

    Where Chicago Fire Foundation Makes Grants

    Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 64% of recipients in the foundation’s home state of grant activity. Chicago is the main city in the recent record, with major support going to North Austin Community Center, Chicago Park District, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and One Chicago Fund. Outside Illinois, recent grants reached Plainfield, Westfield, Washington, Brooklyn, Braintree, and Oak Park. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 14 grants in the United States.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Chicago Fire Foundation

    How does Chicago Fire Foundation support youth sports access?

    It funds both programs and direct access. Recent examples include $100,000 to Chicago Park District for program support, $45,000 to Indiana Fire Juniors for scholarship funding, and in-kind programs like Passback and Kicks for Kids, which donate soccer equipment and complimentary tickets to youth organizations in Chicagoland.

    What are the foundation’s main focus areas?

    Its listed focus areas are youth development, soccer and sports programming, education with academic and SEL elements, community development, and health and wellness. Those themes appear in programs such as P.L.A.Y.S., which serves elementary students, and in grants tied to food access and neighborhood-based sports participation.

    Does Chicago Fire Foundation accept unsolicited requests?

    Yes, for its donation-request channels and program-based in-kind support. The foundation accepts online requests for memorabilia and merchandise donations, and its Passback Program and Kicks for Kids are also listed as accepting unsolicited requests.

    What size grants does Chicago Fire Foundation usually make?

    Its typical grant size is $11,750 at the 25th percentile, $37,500 at the median, and $130,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger anchor commitments, such as $500,000 awards to North Austin Community Center across multiple years.

    Where does Chicago Fire Foundation give most often?

    Most grants go to Illinois recipients, which make up 64% of grants in the recent record. Chicago is the most common city in the grant list, but the foundation also supports organizations in Plainfield, Northbrook, Oak Park, Westfield, Washington, Brooklyn, and Braintree.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Chicago Fire Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowRolling / open intake

    Passback Program

    equipment donationyouth sport accessin-kind support

    Who can apply: Not structured as a grant — open to individuals or groups wishing to donate new or gently used soccer equipment for distribution to youth soccer programs.

    Deadline: No deadlines listed; program accepts donations (ongoing).

    View & apply
    Open nowRolling / open intake

    Kicks for Kids

    direct serviceyouth accesssport access+1 more

    Who can apply: Applicant organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Chicagoland area. Priority to organizations serving economically disadvantaged or otherwise challenged youth. Tickets must be used for youth (limited adult supervision tickets allowed). Applications lacking 501(c)(3) documentation will not be considered.

    Deadline: No specific deadlines listed; ticket requests are tied to match dates. Organizations must give one week's notice if unable to use confirmed tickets to permit reallocation.

    View & apply
    Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Varies

    Donation Requests — Memorabilia and Merchandise Donations

    community outreachcharitable fundraisingin-kind donations

    Who can apply: Priority is given to organizations in the Chicagoland area and based in Illinois. Requests must be submitted at least six weeks before the event date, include a Tax ID number, and organizations are limited to one request per calendar year. Donation requests are for charitable purposes only.

    Deadline: Submit at least 6 weeks in advance of the event date.

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTERCHICAGO, IL$500,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CHICAGO PARK DISTRICTCHICAGO, IL$100,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    ALL KIDS PLAYNORTHBROOK, IL$30,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    GOOD SPORTS INCBRAINTREE, MA$10,0002025EVENT SPONSORSHIP
    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTERCHICAGO, IL$500,0002024PROGRAM SUPPORT
    GOOD SPORTS INCBRAINTREE, MA$10,0002024EVENT SPONSORSHIP
    CENTER FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE THROUGH SPORTOAK PARK, IL$5,0002024SPONSORSHIP
    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTERCHICAGO, IL$500,0002023PROGRAM SUPPORT
    UNITED ELITE S C NFPPLAINFIELD, IL$140,0002023PROGRGAM SUPPORT
    US SOCCER FEDERATION FOUNDATIONWASHINGTON, DC$50,0002023PROGRAM SUPPORT
    INDIANA FIRE JUNIORSWESTFIELD, IN$45,0002023PROGRAM SUPPORT - SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING
    COMMON GOAL USABROOKLYN, NY$17,7502023PROGRAM SUPPORT - PLAY PROUD CONTRIBUTION
    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORYCHICAGO, IL$17,0002023PROGRAM SUPPORT - FREE KICKS FOR MEALS
    ONE CHICAGO FUNDCHICAGO, IL$10,0002023PROGRAM SUPPORT - TITLE IX ANNIVERSARY EVENT

    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER

    $500,000
    CHICAGO, IL2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT

    $100,000
    CHICAGO, IL2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    ALL KIDS PLAY

    $30,000
    NORTHBROOK, IL2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    GOOD SPORTS INC

    $10,000
    BRAINTREE, MA2025

    EVENT SPONSORSHIP

    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER

    $500,000
    CHICAGO, IL2024

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    GOOD SPORTS INC

    $10,000
    BRAINTREE, MA2024

    EVENT SPONSORSHIP

    CENTER FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE THROUGH SPORT

    $5,000
    OAK PARK, IL2024

    SPONSORSHIP

    NORTH AUSTIN COMMUNITY CENTER

    $500,000
    CHICAGO, IL2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    UNITED ELITE S C NFP

    $140,000
    PLAINFIELD, IL2023

    PROGRGAM SUPPORT

    US SOCCER FEDERATION FOUNDATION

    $50,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    INDIANA FIRE JUNIORS

    $45,000
    WESTFIELD, IN2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT - SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING

    COMMON GOAL USA

    $17,750
    BROOKLYN, NY2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT - PLAY PROUD CONTRIBUTION

    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY

    $17,000
    CHICAGO, IL2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT - FREE KICKS FOR MEALS

    ONE CHICAGO FUND

    $10,000
    CHICAGO, IL2023

    PROGRAM SUPPORT - TITLE IX ANNIVERSARY EVENT