The Cornell Brewer Foundation concentrates its giving on faith-based congregations and local community services in the Chicago area, alongside meaningful support for healthcare. Most grants are sizable and directed to a small set of organizations, including repeated payments to a major medical center and large gifts to specific churches and a re-entry nonprofit. The pattern suggests a blend of evangelical church support, local health system philanthropy, and investment in criminal-justice-related community services.
Cornell Brewer Foundation C/o David Jackson gives repeated, large grants to a narrow group of churches and mission-aligned organizations, with Rush University Medical Center also appearing as a recurring recipient. One clear pattern is multi-year support at the high end of its recent grant list: Rush University Medical Center received $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Philemon House received $30,000 in each of those same years. The foundation also made a $130,000 grant to Willow Creek Community Church in 2023 and a $100,000 grant to One Hope Community Church in 2025. Its grantmaking mixes faith-based worship and ministry, church-delivered community services, and direct support for organizations working in prisoner re-entry and related public-benefit services. Larger grants are not reserved only for one type of institution; they also reach healthcare and several Chicago-area congregations. The overall picture is of a regional funder that backs named organizations with ongoing, organization-specific support rather than broad, open-ended giving.
Faith-based support is central to the foundation’s giving. It awarded $10,000 to Canopy Church in 2024 and another $10,000 in 2025, and gave $8,000 to Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington in 2024. The foundation also supported North Park University with $10,000 in 2023, which fits alongside its church-centered pattern. In public-benefit work, Core Re-entry Inc received $100,000 in 2024 and $13,000 in 2025, showing continued support for re-entry and reintegration services. Health is another recurring area: Rush University Medical Center received $50,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Smaller grants also reached organizations such as Living Water International, Help Hope Live, and Ethnos360.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the largest awards: the distribution sits at $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $3,000 at the median, and $7,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also shows repeat awards across multiple years, especially for churches, healthcare, and public-benefit organizations, which points to ongoing support rather than one-time gifts. The foundation’s profile fits an organization-specific grantmaking model, with named grantees receiving direct support. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$308K
$8M
$563K
$871K
Most grants fall between $2K and $8K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$8K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, large grants to a small number of recipients with repeat funding (multiple grants to Rush); favors direct institutional support to churches, a hospital, and a single public-society nonprofit rather than many small grants.
Notable grantees: Rush University Medical Center, Willow Creek Community Church, One Hope Community Church, CORE Re-Entry Inc
Giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 55% of grants and is the foundation’s top state by grant count. Chicago appears repeatedly among recipients, along with Dundee Township, Huntley, Palatine, Crystal Lake, and South Barrington. The recent list also includes grantees in Danville, Grand Rapids, Charlotte, Stafford, Reston, Radnor, and Camdenton. All recorded recipient grants are in the United States.
The recent grants are centered on faith-based congregations, church-delivered community services, healthcare, and prisoner re-entry. Examples in the data include churches, Rush University Medical Center, and Core Re-entry Inc, along with other public-benefit organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Rush University Medical Center at $50,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Philemon House at $30,000 in each of those three years. Canopy Church also received grants in both 2024 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $2,000, a median of $3,000, and a 75th percentile of $7,500. That places most grants far below the foundation’s largest recent awards.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 55% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago and several other Illinois cities and townships appear frequently among recipients.
No. The profile says it 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $130,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| SHORELINE COMMUNITY CHURCH SB | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH | SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| PHILEMON HOUSE | PALATINE, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| FILO COMMUNITY NFP | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| LIVING WATER INTERNATIONAL | STAFFORD, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | DUNDEE TOWNSHIP, IL | $7,500 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| NICHOLAS SERGI FOUNDATION | OAK BROOK, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| SPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION AT DEICKE HOUSE | WHEATON, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| A ROSIE PLACE FOR CHILDREN | SOUTH BEND, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| ONE HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH | HUNTLEY, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| PHILEMON HOUSE | PALATINE, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| DAVID & CLAUDIA JACKSON FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| CORE RE-ENTRY INC | DANVILLE, IL | $13,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| CANOPY CHURCH | CAMDENTON, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| FILO COMMUNITY NFP | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH | SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL | $8,000 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | DUNDEE TOWNSHIP, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| IMAGING THE WORLD CORP | CHARLOTTE, VT | $7,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| YOUNG LIFE | HARLAN, IA | $6,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| MEL TROTTER MIISTRIES | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $6,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| SPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION AT DEICKE HOUSE | WHEATON, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| CALVARY CHURCH | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK | BARRINGTON, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| ADA BIBLE CHURCH | ADA, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE | ROSEVILLE, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| GUNS AND HOSES | HOLTS SUMMIT, MO | $3,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| LIVE FOR A CURE | LIBERTYVILLE, IL | $3,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| ILLINOIS CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $3,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| MY JOYFUL HEART | MOKENA, IL | $3,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| BIBLES IN SCHOOLS | MIDLOTHIAN, VA | $3,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| YOUVERSION | EDMOND, OK | $2,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| GANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND | MONTECITO, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| CLEARBROOK | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| NICHOLAS SERGI FOUNDATION | OAK BROOK, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES | KANSAS CITY, MO | $2,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| FOUNDATION FOR HEARING AND SPEECH | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| TLC CENTERS FOR THERAPY | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| OUTDOOR HERITAGE EDUCATION CENTER | HAZEL GREEN, WI | $2,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| YOUTH FOR CHRIST | VALPARAISO, IN | $500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2025 | SPECIFIC CHURCH |
| PURPLE PLUNGE | LAKE ZURICH, IL | $500 | 2025 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| CORE RE-ENTRY INC | DANVILLE, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | HEALTH |
| PHILEMON HOUSE | PALATINE, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT |
SHORELINE COMMUNITY CHURCH SB
$20,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH
$20,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
PHILEMON HOUSE
PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
FILO COMMUNITY NFP
$10,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$7,500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
NICHOLAS SERGI FOUNDATION
$5,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
A ROSIE PLACE FOR CHILDREN
$5,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
ONE HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH
$100,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
PHILEMON HOUSE
$30,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
DAVID & CLAUDIA JACKSON FOUNDATION
$25,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
CORE RE-ENTRY INC
$13,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
CANOPY CHURCH
$10,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
FILO COMMUNITY NFP
$10,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH
$8,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$7,500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
IMAGING THE WORLD CORP
$7,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
YOUNG LIFE
$6,500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
MEL TROTTER MIISTRIES
$6,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
CALVARY CHURCH
$5,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK
$5,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
ADA BIBLE CHURCH
$5,000SPECIFIC CHURCH
NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE
$5,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
GUNS AND HOSES
$3,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
LIVE FOR A CURE
$3,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
MY JOYFUL HEART
$3,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
BIBLES IN SCHOOLS
$3,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
YOUVERSION
$2,500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
NICHOLAS SERGI FOUNDATION
$2,500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
FOUNDATION FOR HEARING AND SPEECH
$2,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
TLC CENTERS FOR THERAPY
$2,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
OUTDOOR HERITAGE EDUCATION CENTER
$2,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
YOUTH FOR CHRIST
$500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE
$500SPECIFIC CHURCH
PURPLE PLUNGE
$500PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
CORE RE-ENTRY INC
$100,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT
PHILEMON HOUSE
$30,000PUBLIC OR SOCIETY BENEFIT