Greer Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; the realistic first step is to find a route to being invited.
- If your work fits its listed interests, such as domestic violence, disadvantaged youth, basic needs, job training, health and wellness, education and scholarships, or ecological protection, make that fit clear in any approach.
- Its grants are mostly modest: half of its 39 grants to organisations were about $60,500 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $225,000, with the largest about $360,000, so a modest request sits closest to its usual pattern.
- Its filing shows grants mainly in Illinois and Pennsylvania, but no geographic focus is stated, so treat that as where it has funded rather than as a rule on who may apply.
- In its latest filing, 19% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so existing relationships carry weight, though this is a share of dollars, not of grants.
Overview
Greer Foundation is a US private foundation based in Alsip, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Greer Foundation supports organisations committed to helping people improve their lives and works with them to strengthen systems and services. Its funding interests include domestic violence, disadvantaged youth, basic needs, emergency assistance and job training, health and wellness, and education and scholarships. Its mission also encompasses tackling the root causes of violence, poverty and social injustice, protecting the earth’s ecology, effective healthcare—including psychological health and alternative medicine—and indigenous spiritual and healing practices. Its scholarship programmes support educational opportunities for minority and economically disadvantaged youth who might otherwise lack access to higher education. Grants for these programmes go to higher educational institutions and nonprofit organisations offering scholarships for college, trade school or certificate programmes focused on STEM; grantee organisations administer the programmes and select eligible students.
Themes
- Domestic violence
- Disadvantaged youth
- Basic needs
- Job training
- Health and wellness
- Education and scholarships
- Ecological protection
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois and Pennsylvania.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 19% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 39 grants to organisations were about $60,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks organisations committed to helping people improve their lives.
- It works with organisations to improve systems and services so they can help more people and reach their goals.
- For scholarship grants, it supports higher educational institutions and nonprofit organisations offering scholarships focused on STEM.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 19% of grant dollars went to organisations Greer Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 6 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $47,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lehigh University Chicago Scholars · 2024 Scholarships$317,5002024 tax year
- Chicago Lights · 2024 Scholarships$85,0002024 tax year
- National Philanthropic Trust · Unrestricted charitable gift$75,0002024 tax year
- Fourth Presbyterian Church · 2024 - Fall Grant - Replogle Center$20,0002024 tax year
- DePaul University · 2024 Scholarships$15,0002024 tax year
- Columbia University · Unrestricted charitable gift$1,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Catalina Mendoza — Administrative Associate
- Lisa Sanchez — Executive Director
- Carl C Greer — Trustee, As Required
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,634,961 | $2,392,383 | $26,017,233 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $734,923 | $401,000 | $33,042,775 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $876,355 | $513,500 | $35,166,568 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Greer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Applying to Greer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required