Lost Pond Foundation concentrates its philanthropy into a very small number of large grants, splitting major support between a donor-advised/charitable intermediary and a mix of health research and local faith-based social services. The foundation makes repeat, high-dollar gifts (notably to Fidelity Charitable) while also funding disease-specific medical research (type 1 diabetes) and Catholic diocesan relief services in its home region of Illinois. Overall, the pattern suggests a donor who uses an intermediary for flexible grantmaking alongside targeted investments in causes of personal importance.
Highly concentrated: very few, large grants with repeat giving to a single intermediary (Fidelity Charitable) and selective direct support for specific health and faith-based local nonprofits.
Lost Pond Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a very large recurring relationship with Fidelity Charitable, which received $738,977 in 2024 and $554,161 in 2025 for operational and program expenses. That pattern points to a funder that uses a charitable intermediary alongside direct grants to operating nonprofits. Beyond the intermediary grants, the foundation has also made substantial support available to medical research and local service providers, including Breakthrough T1D (fka JDRF) at $175,000 in 2025 and Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet at $155,000 in 2025. The grant list shows a mix of health, education, food access, youth development, and faith-based relief organizations, with several recipients appearing in more than one year. Some of the giving goes to institutions with broad reach, such as The Nature Conservancy, while other awards stay close to Illinois communities like Chicago, Crest Hill, Hinsdale, and Palatine. The overall picture is of a foundation that combines flexible intermediary support with direct, mission-specific grants to nonprofits that can use general operating and program dollars.
In health-related giving, Lost Pond Foundation supported Breakthrough T1D (fka JDRF) with $175,000 in 2025 for operational and program expenses, and it also gave $150,000 in 2024 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund for the same purpose. The foundation has also backed other health causes through $150,000 grants to the Alzheimer's Association in both 2024 and 2025. For children and youth services, By the Hand Club for Kids received $150,000 in 2025, following $150,000 in 2024 and $75,000 in 2024. Local Catholic and relief work also appears in the portfolio: Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet received $155,000 in 2025 and $80,000 in 2024, while St Isaacs Jogues Church received $30,000 in 2025 and smaller gifts in 2024. The foundation also funded food access through Greater Chicago Food Depository grants in 2024 and 2025.
Lost Pond Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also shows a handful of much larger awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Fidelity Charitable, By the Hand Club for Kids, Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana University Foundation, Senior Nutrition ServicesMOWSWM, Little Sisters of the Poor, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and St Isaacs Jogues Church. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant descriptions repeatedly cite support for operational and program expenses, indicating a preference for general operating or flexible program support.
$2M
$35.6M
$5M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $3K and $50K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: Fidelity Charitable, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly domestic, with all 65 recent grants going to US recipients. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 55% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Chicago appears repeatedly, including grants to By the Hand Club for Kids, The Nature Conservancy, Adler Planetarium, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. Other Illinois locations include Crest Hill, Hinsdale, and Palatine. Outside Illinois, repeat recipients include Fidelity Charitable in Cincinnati, Breakthrough T1D in New York, and the Alzheimer's Association in San Jose.
The recent grants point to a mix of donor-advised giving support, health research and advocacy, and local faith-based or social service organizations. Named recipients include Fidelity Charitable, Breakthrough T1D (fka JDRF), Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet, and By the Hand Club for Kids.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Fidelity Charitable, By the Hand Club for Kids, Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana University Foundation, Senior Nutrition ServicesMOWSWM, Little Sisters of the Poor, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and St Isaacs Jogues Church.
The foundation’s grant-size profile is $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include much larger awards, such as $738,977 to Fidelity Charitable in 2024 and $554,161 in 2025.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 55% of grants going to recipients in that state. Recent Illinois recipients include Chicago-based organizations, as well as groups in Crest Hill, Hinsdale, and Palatine.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, based on the profile data provided.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Foundation | Bloomington, IN | $255,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| The Nature Conservancy | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Breakthrough T1D (FKA JDRF) | New York, NY | $175,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet | Crest Hill, IL | $155,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Alzheimer's Association | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| By the Hand Club for Kids | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Doctors without Borders | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Donald Danforth Plant Science Center | St Louis, MO | $100,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Brilliant Cities To Support Expansion Into Chicago | Detroit, MI | $100,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| The Thresholds Homeless Outreach Program (Hop) | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| St Alphonsus Parish | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Cristo Rey Network | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank | Geneva, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Northwestern Medicine | Chicago, IL | $55,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Chicago Commons | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Jack Miller Center | Bala Cynwyd, PA | $48,350 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| St Isaacs Jogues Church | Hinsdale, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Adler Planetarium | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Palatine, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Meals On Wheels Of Southwest Michigan | Benton Harbor, MI | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Chikaming Open Lands | Sawyer, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Wellness House | Hinsdale, IL | $7,500 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| St Agnes Catholic Church | Sawyer, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Candor Health Education | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| National Assistance League - Chicagoland West | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Uniting Voices Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Archdiocese of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Elementary School District 181 Foundation | Hinsdale, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Fidelity Charitable | Cincinnati, OH | $554,161 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Breakthrough T1D (FKA JDRF) | New York, NY | $175,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet | Crest Hill, IL | $155,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| The Nature Conservancy | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| By the Hand Club for Kids | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Alzheimer's Association | San Jose, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Brilliant Detroit | Detroit, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Indiana University Foundation | Bloomington, IN | $70,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| St Isaacs Jogues Church | Hinsdale, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Adler Planetarium | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Jack Miller Center | Bala Cynwyd, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Senior Nutrition ServicesMOWSWM | Benton Harbor, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Palatine, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Chikaming Open Lands | Sawyer, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| St Agnes Catholic Church | Three Oaks, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Uniting Voices Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Candor Health Education | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Wellness House | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| National Assistance League - Chicagoland West | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
| Archdiocese of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES. |
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
The Nature Conservancy
$200,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet
$155,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Doctors without Borders
$100,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Brilliant Cities To Support Expansion Into Chicago
$100,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
St Alphonsus Parish
$75,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Northwestern Medicine
$55,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Chicago Commons
$50,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
St Isaacs Jogues Church
$30,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Little Sisters of the Poor
$20,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Meals On Wheels Of Southwest Michigan
$20,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
St Agnes Catholic Church
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Candor Health Education
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
National Assistance League - Chicagoland West
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Archdiocese of Chicago
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Elementary School District 181 Foundation
$2,500TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Fidelity Charitable
$554,161TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet
$155,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
The Nature Conservancy
$150,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
St Isaacs Jogues Church
$30,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Jack Miller Center
$25,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Senior Nutrition ServicesMOWSWM
$20,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Little Sisters of the Poor
$20,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
St Agnes Catholic Church
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Uniting Voices Chicago
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Candor Health Education
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
National Assistance League - Chicagoland West
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.
Archdiocese of Chicago
$5,000TO SUPPORT OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM EXPENSES.