NSH Inc concentrates philanthropic support in northern Illinois around housing stability, local community revitalization, and services that help vulnerable populations gain independence and employment. They fund nonprofit developers and service providers that deliver affordable housing, homeownership pathways, job and career programs, and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Grants are sizable and appear targeted to program expansion and capacity for established local organizations.
A defining pattern in Nsh Inc’s recent giving is repeat support for affordable housing in Lake County. The foundation awarded Habitat for Humanity Lake County in both 2023 and 2025, with grants of $150,000 and $200,000, to develop, manage, and preserve housing for low- and moderate-income households. That continuity sits alongside other local grants that connect housing, employment, and community stability in northern Illinois. In 2025, Nsh Inc also gave $200,000 to Renew Communities Nfp for jobs, attainable home ownership, and career pathways for students, and $200,000 to Clearbrook for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Earlier support to Housing Opportunity Development Corporation in Skokie, at $225,000, pointed to the same broad approach: backing established organizations working on affordable housing and related community needs. The pattern suggests a funder that favors substantial, targeted grants to Illinois nonprofits serving residents who need housing access, economic mobility, or residential and service supports.
Affordable housing is a core theme in Nsh Inc’s grantmaking. The foundation gave $225,000 to Housing Opportunity Development Corporation in Skokie to support affordable housing for low- and moderate-income citizens, and it supported Habitat for Humanity Lake County with grants of $150,000 in 2023 and $200,000 in 2025 for housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income households. It also funds community development work tied to economic opportunity. In 2025, Renew Communities Nfp received $200,000 to increase jobs, provide attainable home ownership for those in need, and build career pathways for students. Disability services are another clear area: Clearbrook received $200,000 to support adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can live their fullest lives possible.
Nsh Inc’s typical grant size is $200,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile, which points to a very tight distribution around a standard award level. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same recipient across multiple years: Habitat for Humanity Lake County appeared in both 2023 and 2025. The foundation is not a donor-advised fund or individual-giving vehicle; it operates as a foundation and makes program-related investments. Its grants in the recent sample were all directed to Illinois recipients.
$975K
$4M
$183K
$902K
Most grants fall between $200K and $200K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$200K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$200K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in IL.
JAN MARSDEN-JOHNSON
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Concentrated giving: a small number of large grants (most $200k–$350k), repeat funding to core local partners (e.g., Habitat for Humanity), focused on program and capacity support rather than broad national grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Habitat for Humanity Lake County, Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, Renew Communities NFP, Clearbrook
Nsh Inc gives locally, with all recent grants landing in Illinois and 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recipient cities in the recent record include Skokie, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, and Lake Forest. The pattern centers on northern Illinois rather than a broad multi-state footprint, with Lake County organizations showing up more than once.
Recent grants went to housing organizations, a community development nonprofit, and a disability services provider. Examples include Housing Opportunity Development Corporation for affordable housing, Renew Communities Nfp for jobs and home ownership pathways, and Clearbrook for services for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Its typical grant size is $200,000. The p25, median, and p75 are all $200,000, so the recent awards cluster tightly at that level.
In the recent grant list, all 5 grants went to US recipients, and every recipient was in Illinois. The listed recipient cities are Skokie, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, and Lake Forest.
Yes. Habitat for Humanity Lake County received grants in both 2023 and 2025, first for $150,000 and then for $200,000, showing repeat support across years.
Affordable housing, homeownership, jobs and career pathways, and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities all appear in the recent grants. Those themes are reflected in awards to Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, Renew Communities Nfp, Clearbrook, and Habitat for Humanity Lake County.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LAKE COUNTY | WAUKEGAN, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT HABITAT IN ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND PRESERVE THE STOCK OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. |
| CLEARBROOK | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CLEARBROOK FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR FULLEST LIVES POSSIBLE. |
| RENEW COMMUNITIES NFP | LAKE FOREST, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT RENEW COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE JOBS, PROVIDE ATTAINABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR THOSE IN NEED, AND BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS. |
| HOUSING OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | SKOKIE, IL | $225,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW/MODERATE INCOME CITIZENS |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LAKE COUNTY | WAUKEGAN, IL | $150,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT HABITAT IN ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND PRESERVE THE STOCK OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. |
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LAKE COUNTY
$200,000TO SUPPORT HABITAT IN ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND PRESERVE THE STOCK OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
CLEARBROOK
$200,000TO SUPPORT CLEARBROOK FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR FULLEST LIVES POSSIBLE.
RENEW COMMUNITIES NFP
$200,000TO SUPPORT RENEW COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE JOBS, PROVIDE ATTAINABLE HOME OWNERSHIP FOR THOSE IN NEED, AND BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS.
HOUSING OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$225,000TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW/MODERATE INCOME CITIZENS
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY LAKE COUNTY
$150,000TO SUPPORT HABITAT IN ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND PRESERVE THE STOCK OF HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.