A private foundation supporting organizations in Community Services, Education, Jewish communities, and Medical Research, primarily through challenge (matching) grants.
Focus Areas
Community ServicesEducationJewish CommunityMedical ResearchChallenge Grants / Matching Grants
Who They Fund
Jewish communities and Jewish-serving organizationspeople receiving community social services (clients of community-based nonprofits)individuals at risk of or affected by community violenceworkers and trainees in skilled construction trades / apprenticeship participantsvoters and civic participants (communities targeted by voting-rights work)
About Circle of Service Foundation
Circle of Service Foundation uses challenge grants as a defining part of its grantmaking, often tying support to fundraising goals that organizations meet with new donors and increased giving. In the recent grants list, that approach appears alongside large awards in community services, Jewish community, education, medical research, and violence reduction.
Several of the biggest grants show how the foundation combines direct program support with capacity-building expectations. Sinai Health System received $3,440,358 in 2024 for community services, followed by another $1,291,450 in 2023 and $776,292 in 2025. Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago appears repeatedly as well, with grants of $2,473,167 in 2024, $1,264,883 in 2025, and $1,211,000 in 2023 across Chicago-area and downstate locations.
The foundation also supports research and civic-related work. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago received $1,735,857 in 2025 for medical research, while the University of Chicago received $629,000 in 2025 for education. Its giving pattern includes both recurring support for organizations already in its portfolio and invitation-based awards in areas such as medical research and education.
What Circle of Service Foundation Funds
Community services and Jewish community organizations are central to Circle of Service Foundation’s portfolio, especially through challenge-style support. Sinai Health System received $3,440,358 in 2024 for community services, and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago received $2,473,167 in 2024 for Jewish community work.
Education grants are aimed at organizations serving low-income youth and appeared in the recent list with the University of Chicago receiving $629,000 in 2025 for education and $555,000 in 2023 for the same category. Childrens First Fund the Chicago Public School Foundation also received $453,460 in 2025 for education.
The foundation’s medical research support is visible in awards such as $1,735,857 in 2025 to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and $469,216 in 2025 to Gastro-intestinal Research Foundation Inc. It also funds violence reduction, including $600,000 in 2025 to Chicago Community Foundation and $600,000 in 2025 to Metropolitan Family Services.
How Circle of Service Foundation Gives
Circle of Service Foundation’s typical grant size is $4,500 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,464 at the 75th percentile, with some awards far above that range. The recent list shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years, including Sinai Health System, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, University of Chicago, Metropolitan Family Services, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and Chicago Community Foundation. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it uses both unsolicited pre-applications and invitation-only pathways depending on the program. Challenge grants are a core structure in its general grantmaking.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$36M
Total Assets
$592M
Total Revenue
$35.5M
Total Expenses
$40.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Regional35 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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direct service / program supportresearch funding (medical)faith-based / mission-aligned fundingtargeted/project-restricted grantsworkforce development support
Topics
medical research (biomedical/health R&D)Jewish community services and institutionsgeneral community social servicesviolence reduction / public safety programsskilled construction trades training / workforce developmentvoting rights and democracy-strengthening
Where Circle of Service Foundation Makes Grants
Circle of Service Foundation gives most often in Illinois, with 69% of grants going to recipients in its HQ state. Chicago dominates the recipient map, with many grants to organizations there, including Sinai Health System, the Museum of Science and Industry, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Community Foundation, Metropolitan Family Services, and the University of Chicago. Outside Chicago, recent Illinois recipients include Northbrook and Highland Park. The grant list also includes New York and California recipients, but all recorded grants in the dataset go to U.S. organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Circle of Service Foundation
What kinds of organizations does Circle of Service Foundation support?
The foundation funds organizations in community services, education, Jewish community, medical research, violence reduction, and some climate-related work. Recent recipients include community organizations, hospitals, universities, Jewish communal institutions, and public-service nonprofits.
Does Circle of Service Foundation use challenge grants?
Yes. Challenge grants are a core part of its grantmaking, meaning support can depend on the recipient raising funds from new donors and increased support from existing donors. The foundation also uses challenge grants in community services and Jewish community funding.
How large are Circle of Service Foundation grants typically?
Its typical grant size is $4,500 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,464 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes much larger awards, including multimillion-dollar grants to several Chicago-area institutions.
What is Circle of Service Foundation’s geographic pattern?
The foundation gives most often in Illinois, and 69% of its grants go to recipients in that state. Chicago is the main recipient city, with additional Illinois grants to places such as Northbrook and Highland Park.
How do applicants approach Circle of Service Foundation?
There are both unsolicited and invitation-only routes. The foundation accepts unsolicited pre-applications for community services and Jewish community grants in Cook County and Lake County, while medical research and education grants are awarded by invitation only. It also offers a general online portal for pre-applications and applications.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Circle of Service Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intake
Challenge Grants (general grantmaking)
EducationJewish CommunityMedical Research+1 more
Who can apply: Applicants must generally be 501(c)(3) public charities with a broad base of nongovernmental supporters, at least $75,000 in private revenue in the prior fiscal year, a governing board of at least five unrelated members including at least four nonemployees, meaningful board financial contributions, and the capacity to raise and track new or increased private donations for a challenge grant. Community Services and Jewish Community applicants generally must be in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois. Education requests, Medical Research requests, and Jewish Community requests outside Cook or Lake County are invitation-only. Multi-year challenge grants are available only to organizations with an established funding history.
Deadline: Pre-applications and applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no specific deadlines unless otherwise communicated. Applicants generally hear within 45 days of a pre-application and 90–120 days of a full application. Current grantees may apply for a new grant 90 days before the current grant term ends.
Community Services & Jewish Community Grants (unsolicited for Cook & Lake County)
Jewish Community
Who can apply: Applicants must generally be public charities under section 501(c)(3), have a broad base of non-governmental supporters, at least $75,000 in private revenue in the last fiscal year, and meet board/governance criteria. For Jewish Community requests, the program is for organizations with programming in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois.
Deadline: Rolling basis; most organizations hear back within 45 days for a Pre-application and 90-120 days for an Application.
Who can apply: Organizations or programs must align with the Community Services focus area and be located in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois. Applicants must be public charities under section 501(c)(3), have the capacity to fulfill a challenge grant, have at least $75,000 in private revenue in the last fiscal year (or contact the foundation if new/startup), have an eligible board structure, and demonstrate clear outcomes and goals.
Deadline: Rolling basis; no specific deadlines unless otherwise stated.
Jewish communityCommunity cohesionIsrael and Jewish communities worldwide
Who can apply: Applicants must generally be 501(c)(3) public charities meeting COSF organizational criteria, including capacity to fulfill a Challenge Grant, at least $75,000 in prior-year private revenue, a broad base of nongovernmental supporters, a board of at least five unrelated members, meaningful board giving, and measurable outcomes. Unsolicited pre-applications are accepted for Jewish Community programs in Cook and/or Lake County, Illinois; requests outside those counties are by invitation only.
Deadline: Pre-applications and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; no specific deadlines are generally stated.
Who can apply: Applicants must use the online portal to start a Pre-application or Application. Applicants are encouraged to review the Pre-application and Application question worksheets before beginning. More detailed 'Getting Started Criteria' and 'Planning for a COSF Grant' pages are linked from the application area.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
