The Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of substantial, local grants that support civic infrastructure in the Evanston/Chicago area. Major investments go to K–12 and higher education institutions, public media, and organizations working in public safety/justice or community repair, indicating a preference for place-based civic and educational impact. Many grants are large and directed to familiar institutional partners rather than a wide spread of small charities.
The Lewis-sebring Family Foundation’s giving is marked by a large cluster of institutional grants in Evanston and Chicago, with especially visible support for local education and civic infrastructure. In the latest grants, Eths Foundation received $501,667 in 2025 for support of its mission, and Chicago Public Media/WBEZ received $277,500 the same year. Those awards sit alongside recurring support for Northwestern University, First Repair, and other organizations tied to the Evanston–Chicago corridor. The foundation’s recent record shows a preference for established organizations over one-off experimentation. It has backed Evanston Township High School through Eths Foundation in multiple years, funded public media through Chicago Public Media/WBEZ, and supported community repair work through First Repair. It also appears in education-related funding for Books and Breakfast, Teach for America, Foundation 65, and Evanston Scholars. Taken together, the grants point to a family foundation focused on place-based civic life, school-related opportunity, and institutions that shape local public conversation and community support.
Education appears in several forms. Eths Foundation received $130,000 in 2024 for support of its mission, while Books and Breakfast was awarded $60,000 in 2025 and $45,000 in 2024 for support of its mission. The foundation also gave $100,000 to Teach for America in 2025, showing another education channel. Higher education is another clear line. Northwestern University received $200,000 in 2024 for support of its mission, and earlier it received $158,198 to create a fellowship fund. That mix suggests both operating support and named-program creation. Public media and local journalism also receive attention. Chicago Public Media/WBEZ was awarded $25,000 in 2024 for support of its mission and $35,000 in 2023 for gala support, while the Evanston Roundtable received a $32,000 pledge payment in 2023. Community repair work shows up through First Repair, which received $235,088 in 2023 for recruitment fees and $175,000 in 2025 for support of its mission.
Typical grant size is modest but not tiny: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,500. That distribution sits alongside a set of much larger institutional awards, which means the foundation uses both small grants and larger commitments. The recent list also shows repeated support for the same recipients across multiple years, including Eths Foundation, First Repair, Northwestern University, Chicago Public Media/WBEZ, Books and Breakfast, and Foundation 65. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. Available records show a regional giving pattern, with most grants going to Illinois recipients.
$3.1M
$6.4M
$4.5M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $1K and $12K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a few repeat or multi-grant institutional partners in the local Chicago/Evanston region rather than many small grants; three of the top four recipients received multiple large awards.
Notable grantees: ETHS Foundation (Evanston Township High School), First Repair, Northwestern University, Chicago Public Media / WBEZ
The foundation gives primarily in Illinois, which accounts for 78% of grants and is also the top state by grant count. Evanston is the most visible city in the recent grants list, followed by Chicago, with additional awards in Skokie. Outside Illinois, recent grants reached Washington, DC; Concord, Massachusetts; Amherst, Massachusetts; and Mount Royal, New Jersey. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 127 grants going to U.S. organizations.
Recent grants center on education, public media, and community repair. Examples include Eths Foundation for Evanston Township High School, Northwestern University for mission support and a fellowship fund, Chicago Public Media/WBEZ for mission support and a gala, and First Repair for recruitment fees and mission support.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including Eths Foundation, First Repair, Northwestern University, Chicago Public Media/WBEZ, Books and Breakfast, and Foundation 65. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time grants.
Illinois is the top giving state, with 78% of grants going to recipients there. The recent grants list is concentrated in Evanston and Chicago, with additional Illinois awards in Skokie.
The grant-size distribution is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $11,500 at the 75th percentile. The foundation also makes larger awards, including several six-figure grants.
Yes. The foundation’s profile indicates that it funds individuals, in addition to nonprofit organizations and institutional partners.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETHS FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $1,121,991 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIAWBEZ | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| A BETTER CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $176,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| FIRST REPAIR | EVANSTON, IL | $175,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| MCGAW YMCA | EVANSTON, IL | $150,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| BRAVEN | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| YOU | EVANSTON, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| EVANSTON ROUNDTABLE | EVANSTON, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| FORA | CHICAGO, IL | $50,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| NORTHLIGHT THEATER | SKOKIE, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| EVANSTON SCHOLARS | EVANSTON, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| UBUNTU GLOBAL CONNECTIONSAXIUM | CONCORD, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| BOOKS AND BREAKFAST | EVANSTON, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| KUUMBA EVANSTON | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CHERRY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES | BOSTON, MA | $16,092 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CONSERVATORY OF THE ARTS | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $14,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| GRINNELL COLLEGE | GRINNELL, IA | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| EVANSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CHICAGO CRED | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| AMHERST COLLEGE | AMHERST, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| AMERICAN INDEPENDENT | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| C&W MARKET FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| AFP CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| EVANSTON CASE | EVANSTON, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| MIKVA CHALLENGE | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| U-GO INITIATIVE | SOLANA BEACH, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| LATINO POLICY FORUM | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| WTTW CHANNEL 11 | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| PEOPLE'S MUSIC SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| RESTLESS BOOKS | AMHERST, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| GIRLS PLAY SPORTS | EVANSTON, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO QUAD CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $4,426 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOC | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA | SPRINGFIELD, MA | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| CHICAGO LEARNING EXCHANGE | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| PEER SERVICES | EVANSTON, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOVERY, AL | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
ETHS FOUNDATION
$1,121,991IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$75,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
EVANSTON ROUNDTABLE
$75,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
UBUNTU GLOBAL CONNECTIONSAXIUM
$30,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
KUUMBA EVANSTON
$20,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
CHERRY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$20,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES
$16,092IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
CONSERVATORY OF THE ARTS
$14,500IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
GRINNELL COLLEGE
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
CHICAGO CRED
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
AMHERST COLLEGE
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
AMERICAN INDEPENDENT
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
C&W MARKET FOUNDATION
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
AFP CHICAGO
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
EVANSTON CASE
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
WTTW CHANNEL 11
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
RESTLESS BOOKS
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
GIRLS PLAY SPORTS
$5,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO QUAD CLUB
$4,426IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
PEER SERVICES
$2,500IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$1,000IN SUPPORT OF ORGANIZATION'S MISSION