Mary Lou Downs Foundation
Private foundation · Chicago, IL · EIN 36-3797797 · reported 2023–2025
128grants reported
$4,000median award
$3,500lower quartile
$2,000smallest grant
$715Ktotal paid
10states reached
3years giving
This foundation funds faith-based organizations. 9 of its 128 reported grants went to churches, ministries or other religious organizations, $28K in total. That is what it paid, not what it says in a policy.
Gives every year. This foundation reported grants in 2023, 2024, 2025. A funder that shows up year after year is worth a letter even if this year is a no.
Where to write
180 N Lasalle St
Chicago, IL 60601-2501
Address as registered with the IRS. Most foundations this size have no website and no application form, which is not a dead end: a short letter to this address is the whole process, and almost nobody sends one.
Who they funded
| Recipient and stated purpose | Where | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wings Program Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $14,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Memphis, TN | $14,000 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor of Palatine EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $14,000 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $14,000 |
| Hephzibah Children's Assn EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Oak Park, IL | $14,000 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $14,000 |
| Larabida Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $14,000 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Staten Island, NY | $14,000 |
| The Center of Concern EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Des Plaines, IL | $13,000 |
| Shelter Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Arlington Heights, IL | $13,000 |
| Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $12,000 |
| Life Span EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Desplaines, IL | $11,000 |
| Wings Program Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $11,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Memphis, TN | $11,000 |
| Life Span EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Desplaines, IL | $11,000 |
| Wings Program Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $11,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Memphis, TN | $11,000 |
| House of the Good Shepherd EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| The Center of Concern EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Des Plaines, IL | $9,000 |
| Shelter Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Arlington Heights, IL | $9,000 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor of Palatine EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $9,000 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $9,000 |
| Hephzibah Children's Assn EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Oak Park, IL | $9,000 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $9,000 |
| Larabida Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $9,000 |
| House of the Good Shepherd EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $9,000 |
| Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $9,000 |
| Life Span EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Desplaines, IL | $8,000 |
| The Center of Concern EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Des Plaines, IL | $8,000 |
| Shelter Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Arlington Heights, IL | $8,000 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor of Palatine EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $8,000 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $8,000 |
| Hephzibah Children's Assn EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Oak Park, IL | $8,000 |
| Shriner's Hospital for Children EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $8,000 |
| Larabida Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $8,000 |
| House of the Good Shepherd EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $8,000 |
| Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $8,000 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Washington, DC | $7,000 |
| Maryville Academy EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Des Plaines, IL | $7,000 |
| Ntl Multiple Sclerosis Society EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $6,000 |
| Wounded Warrior Project EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Topeka, KS | $6,000 |
| Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Cincinnati, OH | $6,000 |
| The Anti-Cruelty Society EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $6,000 |
| Home for Our Troops EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Taunton, MA | $6,000 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Staten Island, NY | $5,000 |
| Ntl Multiple Sclerosis Society EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $4,500 |
| USO of Illinois EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $4,500 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Washington, DC | $4,500 |
| Wounded Warrior Project EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Topeka, KS | $4,500 |
| Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Cincinnati, OH | $4,500 |
| Maryville Academy EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Des Plaines, IL | $4,500 |
| The Anti-Cruelty Society EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $4,500 |
| Home for Our Troops EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Taunton, MA | $4,500 |
| Connections for Abused Women & Their Children EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $4,000 |
| Family Service Center EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Wilmette, IL | $4,000 |
| The Child's Voice EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Wood Dale, IL | $4,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Oak Brook, IL | $4,000 |
| Journeys the Road Home EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Palatine, IL | $4,000 |
| Turning Point Inc EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Woodstock, IL | $4,000 |
| Mercy Home for Boys & Girls EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE | Chicago, IL | $4,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 128 reported grants.
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