The William R Johnson Family Foundation focuses on local, faith-aligned social services and youth-serving programs in the Chicago/Lake County area, frequently supporting Catholic and other Christian schools, parishes, and community nonprofits. Grants target basic needs (food pantries, soup kitchens), youth residential and prevention services (substance-use prevention, teen court, at-risk youth programs), and a smaller set of health/emergency initiatives and international disaster relief. Many grantees are repeat recipients and the foundation favors program- or general-support gifts to operationally focused organizations rather than large capital campaigns.
A 2024 grant of $21,600 to Danny Did Foundation for general purpose and unrestricted support helps define the William R Johnson Family Foundation C/o Karen Gillespie’s style: practical, local giving to organizations serving families, youth, and basic needs in suburban Chicago and Lake County. The foundation also backed Nicasa Behavioral Health with $21,000 for teen court and general purposes, and supported Mercy Home for Boys and Girls of Chicago with $20,000 for its youth residential program. Those grants sit alongside repeated gifts to schools, parishes, food pantries, and youth-service nonprofits, showing a preference for operational support as well as program funding. Catholic and Christian institutions appear often, including schools and faith-based community organizations, but the portfolio is broader than education alone. It also reaches into youth prevention, residential care, hunger relief, emergency assistance, and selective humanitarian aid. Several organizations receive support in multiple years, suggesting a relationship-based pattern rather than isolated one-time awards. The foundation’s giving is local in scope, with most grants staying within Illinois.
Youth services are a central thread. The foundation gave $15,000 to Omni Youth Services for a substance use prevention program and $10,000 to South Shore Drill Team for an at-risk youth program. It also supported Mercy Home for Boys and Girls of Chicago with $20,000 for a youth residential program, reflecting interest in both prevention and placement-based youth care. Basic-needs work appears as well. Christian Outreach for Lutherans received $10,000 for the Lake County food pantry, and Fraternite Notre Dame received $10,000 for its soup kitchen in Chicago. Education and school support is another recurring area: St Joseph School received $15,000 for a security upgrade, while Carmel Catholic High School received $15,000 for scholarships. The foundation also backed Night Ministry with $10,000 for a pregnant/parenting program, showing support for services to young parents.
Typical awards cluster tightly around $10,000: the median grant is $10,000, with p25 at $7,125 and p75 also at $10,000. That pattern indicates a steady, mid-sized grantmaking approach with relatively limited spread. The recent record shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including Danny Did Foundation, Nicasa Behavioral Health, Night Ministry, Christian Outreach for Lutherans, South Shore Drill Team, Fraternite Notre Dame, Omni Youth Services, and St Joseph School. The foundation is structured as a family foundation and also funds individuals. It does not make program-related investments.
$268K
$4.1M
$542K
$323K
Most grants fall between $7K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Moderately sized, distributed annual grants with many repeat 2x payments; emphasis on unrestricted or program support to familiar, local faith-based and youth-focused organizations rather than one-off large endowments.
Notable grantees: NICASA Behavioral Health, Mercy Home for Boys and Girls of Chicago, St. Joseph School / St. Joseph Catholic Academy, Christian Outreach for Lutherans, Libertyville Foundation
Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 83% of grants to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of IL. Chicago appears repeatedly, alongside suburban and Lake County communities such as Round Lake, Waukegan, Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, and Mundelein. Outside Illinois, the foundation’s recent grants include recipients in New York, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and one grant to Doctors Without Borders for Ukraine and Palestine aid. The country distribution is otherwise fully domestic across the recent grants set.
The recent grants point to faith-aligned schools and community nonprofits, food pantries, youth residential and prevention programs, and some health or emergency services. Examples include St Joseph School for a security upgrade, Christian Outreach for Lutherans for a Lake County food pantry, and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls of Chicago for a youth residential program.
The foundation’s grants are usually around $10,000. The median grant is $10,000, with the 25th percentile at $7,125 and the 75th percentile also at $10,000, showing a tight distribution around that level.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Danny Did Foundation, Nicasa Behavioral Health, Night Ministry, Christian Outreach for Lutherans, South Shore Drill Team, Fraternite Notre Dame, Omni Youth Services, and St Joseph School. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time awards.
Its giving is local, with 83% of grants going to recipients in Illinois. Recent recipient locations include Chicago, Round Lake, Waukegan, Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, and Mundelein, plus a smaller number of grants outside Illinois.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICASA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH | ROUND LAKE, IL | $26,000 | 2026 | TEEN COURT AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DANNY DID FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $22,576 | 2026 | HEARTS AND HUGS PROGRAM; GENERAL RESEARCH |
| EVANS SCHOLAR | GLENVIEW, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CARMEL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | MUNDERLEIN, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | CORSAIR CENTER, CDN; TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| TOBY KEITH FOUNDATION | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LOYOLA ACADEMY | WILMETTE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| FRATERNITE NOTRE DAME | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SOUP KITCHEN |
| OMNI YOUTH SERVICES | BUFFALO GROVE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAM |
| MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM |
| COOL MINISTERIES | WAUKEGON, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| CHRISTMAS STORE OF CLEVELAND CO | NORMAN, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFTS |
| VINCE LOMBARDI CANCER FOUNDATION | BROOKFIELD, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS | WAUKEGAN, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| SOUTH SHORE DRILL TEAM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAM |
| CORNERSTONE EDUCATONAL SERVICES | LONG GROVE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM |
| NIGHT MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | PREGNANT/ PARENTING PROGRAM |
| FRANCISCAN OUTREACH | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| WHEELING HELPING HANDS | WHEELING, IL | $6,526 | 2026 | SHARE THE LOVE FOOD PANTRY |
| MIDWEST THERAPEUTIC RIDING | UNION GROVE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | THERAPEUTIC RIDING SERVICES |
| ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE | MOUNT PROSPECT, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | CAMP "I AM ME" |
| ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC ACADEMY | KENOSHA, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE AND UNRESTRICTED |
| LIBERTYVILLE FOUNDATION | LIBERTYVILLE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT |
| LIV FOR A CURE | LIBERTYVILLE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| A & S PITTIE RESCUE INC | CARY, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | RESCUE ANIMAL CARE |
| SKYLAR'S SCHOLARSHIPS | MAPLE GROVE, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CANINES 4 COMFORT | ROUND LAKE, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | SUPPORT LIBERTYVILLE SHOP WITH A COP 2025 PROGRAM |
| ST VINCENT DEPAUL KENOSHA | KENOSHA, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| THE SHARING CENTER | TREVOR, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY |
| THE HELPING PAW PROJECT | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | ANIMAL CARE |
| CARMEL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | MUNDERLEIN, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CORSAIR CENTER, CDN; TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| DANNY DID FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $22,700 | 2025 | HEARTS AND HUGS PROGRAM; GENERAL RESEARCH |
| NICASA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH | ROUND LAKE, IL | $21,000 | 2025 | TEEN COURT AND GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TOBY KEITH FOUNDATION | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JOSEPH SCHOOL | LIBERTYVILLE, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | SECURITY UPGRADE |
| WHEELING HELPING HANDS | WHEELING, IL | $10,759 | 2025 | SHARE THE LOVE FOOD PANTRY |
| ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE | MOUNT PROSPECT, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CAMP "I AM ME" |
| NIGHT MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | PREGNANT/ PARENTING PROGRAM |
| VINCE LOMBARDI CANCER FOUNDATION | BROOKFIELD, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHRISTIAN OUTREACH FOR LUTHERANS | WAUKEGAN, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | LAKE COUNTY FOOD PANTRY |
| CORNERSTONE EDUCATONAL SERVICES | LONG GROVE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS | WAUKEGAN, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD PANTRY |
| SOUTH SHORE DRILL TEAM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAM |
| EVANS SCHOLAR | GLENVIEW, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM |
| FRATERNITE NOTRE DAME | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | SOUP KITCHEN |
| LOYOLA ACADEMY | WILMETTE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| OMNI YOUTH SERVICES | BUFFALO GROVE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAM |
| FRANCISCAN OUTREACH | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | FOOD PANTRY |
| CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $6,500 | 2025 | LONG TERM CARE UNIT |
| ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC ACADEMY | KENOSHA, WI | $6,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE AND UNRESTRICTED |
NICASA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
$26,000TEEN COURT AND GENERAL PURPOSES
EVANS SCHOLAR
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CARMEL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000CORSAIR CENTER, CDN; TUITION ASSISTANCE
TOBY KEITH FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LOYOLA ACADEMY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FRATERNITE NOTRE DAME
$10,000SOUP KITCHEN
OMNI YOUTH SERVICES
$10,000SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAM
MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OF CHICAGO
$10,000YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM
COOL MINISTERIES
$10,000FOOD PANTRY
CHRISTMAS STORE OF CLEVELAND CO
$10,000HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFTS
VINCE LOMBARDI CANCER FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS
$10,000FOOD PANTRY
SOUTH SHORE DRILL TEAM
$10,000AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAM
CORNERSTONE EDUCATONAL SERVICES
$10,000FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM
WHEELING HELPING HANDS
$6,526SHARE THE LOVE FOOD PANTRY
MIDWEST THERAPEUTIC RIDING
$5,000THERAPEUTIC RIDING SERVICES
ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE
$5,000CAMP "I AM ME"
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE AND UNRESTRICTED
LIBERTYVILLE FOUNDATION
$5,000MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
LIV FOR A CURE
$5,000RESEARCH
A & S PITTIE RESCUE INC
$2,500RESCUE ANIMAL CARE
SKYLAR'S SCHOLARSHIPS
$2,500SCHOLARSHIPS
CANINES 4 COMFORT
$2,500SUPPORT LIBERTYVILLE SHOP WITH A COP 2025 PROGRAM
ST VINCENT DEPAUL KENOSHA
$2,500FOOD PANTRY
THE SHARING CENTER
$2,500FOOD PANTRY
THE HELPING PAW PROJECT
$2,500ANIMAL CARE
CARMEL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$25,000CORSAIR CENTER, CDN; TUITION ASSISTANCE
NICASA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
$21,000TEEN COURT AND GENERAL PURPOSES
TOBY KEITH FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL
$15,000SECURITY UPGRADE
WHEELING HELPING HANDS
$10,759SHARE THE LOVE FOOD PANTRY
ILLINOIS FIRE SAFETY ALLIANCE
$10,000CAMP "I AM ME"
VINCE LOMBARDI CANCER FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH FOR LUTHERANS
$10,000LAKE COUNTY FOOD PANTRY
CORNERSTONE EDUCATONAL SERVICES
$10,000FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM
CATHOLIC CHARITIES LAKE COUNTY ILLINOIS
$10,000FOOD PANTRY
SOUTH SHORE DRILL TEAM
$10,000AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAM
EVANS SCHOLAR
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS OF CHICAGO
$10,000YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM
FRATERNITE NOTRE DAME
$10,000SOUP KITCHEN
LOYOLA ACADEMY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
OMNI YOUTH SERVICES
$10,000SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PROGRAM
CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED
$6,500LONG TERM CARE UNIT
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$6,500GENERAL PURPOSE AND UNRESTRICTED