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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 36-6068835

Square One Foundation

A private foundation in Chicago, IL. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 77 grants and $7.2 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $7,200,500

    Grants listed
    77
    Assets, end of year
    $76,454,986

  • Tax year 2023

    $5,194,418

    Grants listed
    73
    Assets, end of year
    $94,180,706

  • Tax year 2022

    $4,810,200

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $89,757,341

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,515,000

    Grants listed
    28
    Assets, end of year
    $86,701,458

  • Tax year 2020

    $1,921,500

    Grants listed
    37
    Assets, end of year
    $74,781,524

  • Tax year 2019

    $717,918

    Grants listed
    31
    Assets, end of year
    $66,954,157

  • Tax year 2018

    $1,018,276

    Grants listed
    31
    Assets, end of year
    $59,826,304

Grants paid in 2024

77 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Jewish United Fund (JUF)Chicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $1,500,000
  2. University of ChicagoChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $590,000
  3. William J Brennan Jr Center for Justice IncNew York, NY

    General Purpose

    $300,000
  4. National Louis UniversityWheeling, IL

    General purpose

    $207,500
  5. The Election CenterKaty, TX

    General purpose

    $200,000
  6. City BureauChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $137,500
  7. Palenque LSNAChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $135,000
  8. Civic News CompanyNew York, NY

    General purpose

    $127,500
  9. Chicago United for EquityChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $100,000
  10. KidsFirst ChicagoChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $100,000
  11. Wisconsin Conservation VOICESMadison, WI

    General purpose

    $100,000
  12. Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil RightsChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $95,000
  13. South Side WeeklyChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $92,500
  14. Block Club ChicagoChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $85,000
  15. Community Organizing and Family Issues COFIChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $85,000
  16. Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation IncChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $85,000
  17. Academy for Urban School LeadershipChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $82,500
  18. Equity and TransformationBerwyn, IL

    General purpose

    $82,500
  19. Latino Policy ForumChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $82,500
  20. Reform for IllinoisEvanston, IL

    General purpose

    $82,500
  21. The Chicago Community TrustChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $82,500
  22. Blackroots AllianceChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $80,000
  23. Chicago Votes Education FundChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $80,000
  24. Common Cause Education FundWashington, DC

    General purpose

    $77,500
  25. Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $77,500
  26. Communities Foundation of TexasDallas, TX

    General purpose

    $76,500
  27. Economic Security Project IncNew York, NY

    General purpose

    $75,000
  28. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee RightChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $75,000
  29. Tides FoundationLos Angeles, CA

    General purpose

    $75,000
  30. Advance Illinois NFPChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $70,000
  31. Beyond Legal AidChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $70,000
  32. HANA CenterChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $70,000
  33. Citizen Advocacy CenterElmhurst, IL

    General purpose

    $67,500
  34. Illinois Environmental Council Education FundSpringfield, IL

    General purpose

    $67,500
  35. Apna GharChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $67,500
  36. Coalition for a Better Chinese CommunityChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $65,000
  37. Xchange ChicagoChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $65,000
  38. Center for Budget and Tax AccounntabilityChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $62,500
  39. Tiny News CollectiveChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $62,500
  40. Asian Americans Advancing JusticeChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $60,000
  41. Communities UnitedChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $60,000
  42. EmbarcChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $60,000
  43. NewRoot Learning instituteChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $60,000
  44. Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)Chicago, IL

    General purpose

    $60,000
  45. Accelerate InstituteChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $55,000
  46. Enlace ChicagoChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $55,000
  47. Injustice WatchChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $55,000
  48. Invisible InstituteChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $55,000
  49. Lugenia Burns Hope CenterChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $55,000
  50. Modern Classrooms ProjectWashington, DC

    General purpose

    $55,000
  51. Educators for ExcellenceNew York, NY

    General Purpose

    $55,000
  52. Raise Your Hand for Illinois EducationChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $52,500
  53. Southsiders Organized for Unity and LiberationChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $52,500
  54. Chicago Foundation for WomenChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $50,000
  55. The Gray Matter ExperienceChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $50,000
  56. Education Pioneers IncBoston, MA

    General Purpose

    $50,000
  57. New Teacher CenterSacramento, CA

    General Purpose

    $50,000
  58. University of Illinois FoundationChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $50,000
  59. Teachers Supporrting TeachersChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $48,000
  60. Jane Addams Resource COPRPORATIONChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $45,000
  61. Northern Illinois University FoundationDekalb, IL

    General purpose

    $45,000
  62. Chicago Freedom SchoolChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $45,000
  63. Partnership for College CompletionChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $40,000
  64. Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair CourtsChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $40,000
  65. Teach PlusBoston, MA

    General Purpose

    $40,000
  66. Braven INCORPORATEDChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $35,000
  67. Crossroads FundChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $25,000
  68. Environmental Law and Policy Center OF THE MIDWESTChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $25,000
  69. Shriver Center on Poverty and LawChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $25,000
  70. CHANGE IllinoisChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $25,000
  71. Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (CAFE GrChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $25,000
  72. Common Counsel FoundationOakland, CA

    General purpose

    $20,000
  73. Southern Poverty Law Center INCMontgomery, AL

    General purpose

    $20,000
  74. ForefrontChicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $10,000
  75. Community Partners for Affordable HousingLibertyville, IL

    General purpose

    $5,000
  76. Asset Funders Network (AFN)Chicago, IL

    General Purpose

    $3,500
  77. Surge InstituteChicago, IL

    General purpose

    $2,500

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education20 grants $2,232,50055% of the total
  2. Civil rights6 grants $417,50010% of the total
  3. Philanthropy and grantmaking5 grants $276,5007% of the total
  4. Community development4 grants $270,0007% of the total
  5. Human services4 grants $227,5006% of the total
  6. Environment3 grants $192,5005% of the total
  7. 5 other causes8 grants $432,50011% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois63 grants $6,006,500
  2. New York3 grants $430,000
  3. Texas2 grants $276,500
  4. California3 grants $145,000
  5. District of Columbia2 grants $132,500
  6. Wisconsin1 grant $100,000
  7. Massachusetts2 grants $90,000
  8. Alabama1 grant $20,000

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Priscilla KerstenPRESIDENT Hours 2Pay $0
  • Benjamin KerstenVICE PRESIDENT Hours 0Pay $0
  • Steven A KerstenSECRETARY TREASURY Hours 0Pay $0

The return

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