John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
The John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation makes relatively few but large grants focused primarily on strengthening Chicago-area social services, education, and community health, while also supporting select national/global policy and humanitarian efforts. Their funding emphasizes program support and scholarships for K–12 and higher education (notably Catholic and independent schools), legal services for immigrants, food security, and behavioral/mental health for vulnerable populations. They favor established nonprofits delivering direct services and systems-change work in Northern Illinois, with occasional major gifts to national organizations.
Focus Areas
Urban K–12 scholarship support and Catholic/independent school strengthening in Chicago (Big Shoulders Fund, Lake Forest College scholarships)School discipline reform and Chicago education systems change (Reclaiming Chicago)Immigrant legal defense and rights advocacy (National Immigrant Justice Center)Hunger relief and regional food bank support in Northern Illinois (Northern Illinois Food Bank)Community health and behavioral health services for underserved populations (Erie Family Health Foundation, Josselyn Center)
Who They Fund
nonprofit organizations (programs and staff)
About John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
A pair of $3 million grants in 2025 points to the foundation’s scale and priorities: one to Reclaiming Chicago NFP for school discipline reform and Chicago education systems change, and one to The Carter Center Inc for program work. The John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation’s grantmaking is concentrated in Northern Illinois, with especially strong support for Chicago-area education, health, housing, and immigrant justice. Its recent giving includes large program grants to Big Shoulders Fund, National Immigrant Justice Center, Erie Family Health Foundation Inc, and The Josselyn Center NFP, alongside scholarship support for Lake Forest College. The pattern is not limited to a single issue. Grants also reach food security, community development, and capital needs, including support for Northern Illinois Food Bank, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Inc, and Misericordia Home. The foundation favors established nonprofits and often funds direct service delivery, systems-change work, and institutional support. Within education, its portfolio includes urban K–12 scholarship support, Catholic and independent school strengthening, and higher education scholarships. Across housing and health, the funding often targets organizations serving under-resourced communities in Chicagoland and Lake County.
What John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation Funds
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s giving. In 2025 it gave $2,000,000 to Big Shoulders Fund for program support and $2,500,000 to Lake Forest College for scholarships. It also supported Reclaiming Chicago NFP with $3,000,000 for school discipline reform and Chicago education systems change. Health funding centers on access to care for underserved communities: Erie Family Health Foundation Inc received $1,500,000 in 2025 for program work, and The Josselyn Center NFP received $1,326,087 for program support. Housing and shelter are another clear area, with $750,000 to Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Inc for capital expenditure and $625,000 to PADS Lake County Inc for capital expenditure. The foundation also backs immigrant legal services through a $2,375,000 grant to National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for program support.
How John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation Gives
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent grant list shows a long tail of much larger awards. The foundation appears to favor large, multi-year or repeat relationships: Big Shoulders Fund, Erie Family Health Foundation Inc, Loyola University of Chicago, The Josselyn Center NFP, Misericordia Home, and Northern Illinois Food Bank all appear more than once in the recent grants table across 2023 and 2025. It is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not part of the active grant programs shown here; the listed programs are invitation-only or place-based funding areas.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$43.3M
Total Assets
$185.2M
Total Revenue
$112.2M
Total Expenses
$35.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $80K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$80K
Geographic Reach
Local5 states funded
About 96% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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