The Sidley Austin Foundation
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 20-3980527 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$4M
Organizations funded293
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$16.9M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $1,250 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
79% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Counsel | Los Angeles, CA | General support | $517,408 |
| Legal Aid Society | New York, NY | General support | $393,750 |
| Legal Aid Chicago | Chicago, IL | General support | $150,000 |
| Kaboom Inc | Bethesda, MD | General support | $101,500 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Northwestern University | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| University of Miami | Miami, FL | General support | $100,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia | Washington, DC | General support | $90,000 |
| NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc | New York, NY | General support | $75,000 |
| Business Council for International Understanding Inc | New York, NY | General support | $75,000 |
| Commercial Club Civic Committee Charitable Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $60,000 |
| Kind Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Chicago, IL | General support | $50,000 |
| Hnba Via - Vision in Action - Fund | Washington, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| Kaboom Inc | Bethesda, MD | General support | $49,000 |
| Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Inc | Chicago, IL | General support | $45,000 |
| Equal Justice Works | Washington, DC | General support | $41,000 |
| Equal Justice Works | Washington, DC | General support | $41,000 |
| Childrens Law Center Incorporated | Washington, DC | General support | $40,000 |
| American Law Institute | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $40,000 |
| Kaboom Inc | Bethesda, MD | General support | $36,250 |
| The District of Columbia Bar Foundation | Washington, DC | General support | $32,500 |
| National Veterans Legal Services Program Inc | Arlington, VA | General support | $30,000 |
| Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $30,000 |
| Sharsheret Inc | Teaneck, NJ | General support | $30,000 |
| Dallas Bar Association Community Service Fund | Dallas, TX | General support | $25,500 |
| Chicago Council on Global Affairs | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $25,000 |
| United Way of New York City | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Lawyers Alliance for New York | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| District of Columbia Access to Justice Foundation | Washington, DC | General support | $25,000 |
| Youth Renewal Fund | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $25,000 |
| Rand Corporation | Santa Monica, CA | General support | $25,000 |
| Texas Lawbook Foundation | Dallas, TX | General support | $25,000 |
| Breaking Ground Housing Development Fund Corporation | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Chicago Bar Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| The American Friends of Jamaica | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Kaboom Inc | Bethesda, MD | General support | $25,000 |
| Brooklyn Academy of Music Inc | Brooklyn, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| New York Cares Inc | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Lawyers for Good Government Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $20,000 |
| Legal Aid at Work | San Francisco, CA | General support | $20,000 |
| Streetwise Partners Incorporated | New York, NY | General support | $20,000 |
| Bread for the City Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $20,000 |
| Give2asia | San Francisco, CA | General support | $20,000 |
| Prep for Prep | New York, NY | General support | $16,500 |
| Human Rights First | Washington, DC | General support | $15,000 |
| American Brain Tumor Association | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| Her Justice Inc | New York, NY | General support | $15,000 |
| Law Center for Better Housing | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| The Young Center for Immigrant Childrens Rights | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| Bread for the City Inc | Washington, DC | General support | $15,000 |
| Cabrini-Green Legal Aid Clinic Inc | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| American Heart Association Inc | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| Hispanic Society of America | New York, NY | General support | $15,000 |
| The Nalp Foundation for Law Career Research and Education | Palm Springs, CA | General support | $15,000 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | General support | $15,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 293 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Lawbook Foundation | Dallas, TX | General support | $125,000 |
| Wesleylife Foundation | Johnston, IA | General support | $15,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,032,509 | 295 |
| 2024 | $3,766,483 | 315 |
| 2023 | $4,247,603 | 369 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 12, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202601329349103320
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 20-3980527
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.