The Karla Scherer Foundation
Private foundation · Chicago, IL · EIN 38-2877392 · reported 2023–2025
60grants reported
$5,000median award
$1,000lower quartile
$150smallest grant
$850Ktotal paid
8states reached
3years giving
This foundation funds faith-based organizations. 2 of its 60 reported grants went to churches, ministries or other religious organizations, $10K 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
737 N Michigan Ave Ste 2330
Chicago, IL 60611-2680
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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Scherer Center | Chicago, IL | $110,000 |
| Healthnetwork Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $100,000 |
| Health Network Foundation | Cleveland, OH | $78,797 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $75,000 |
| Project Freedive | Chicago, IL | $51,110 |
| Project Freedive | Chicago, IL | $50,000 |
| Newberry Library | Chicago, IL | $36,000 |
| Planned Parenthood | Chicago, IL | $28,890 |
| Newberry Library | Chicago, IL | $25,000 |
| University of Chicago Scherer Center | Chicago, IL | $25,000 |
| Newberry Library | Chicago, IL | $20,000 |
| Healthnetwork Foundation | Chagrin Falls, OH | $20,000 |
| Illinois Policy Institute | Chicago, IL | $11,850 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Thomas Jefferson Foundation | Charlottesville, VA | $10,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| The Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Illinois Policy Institute | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Hellenic Museum of Michigan | Detroit, MI | $10,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| The Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $10,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Committee of Arts of the Americas | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | Rochester Hills, MI | $5,000 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | Rochester Hills, MI | $5,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Friends of Music Christ Church | Alexandria, VA | $5,000 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind | Rochester Hills, MI | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $5,000 |
| Chicago Shakespeare Theatre | Chicago, IL | $2,500 |
| Third Coast Percussion Nfp | Chicago, IL | $2,000 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $2,000 |
| Kbach Friends of Public Radio Arizona | Tempe, AZ | $1,500 |
| ACLU | Chicago, IL | $1,000 |
| Kbach Friends of Public Radio Arizona | Tempe, AZ | $1,000 |
| Salvation Army | Alexandria, VA | $1,000 |
| Wfmt | Chicago, IL | $1,000 |
| Kbach Friends of Public Radio Arizona | Tempe, AZ | $1,000 |
| Wfmt | Chicago, IL | $1,000 |
| Salvation Army | Alexandria, VA | $1,000 |
| Museum of Chincoteague | Chincoteague Island, VA | $1,000 |
| Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society | Lansing, MI | $1,000 |
| Representus Education Fund | Florence, MA | $1,000 |
| Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation | Saratoga Springs, NY | $1,000 |
| Salvation Army | Alexandria, VA | $1,000 |
| The River School | Washington, DC | $1,000 |
| Wfmt | Chicago, IL | $1,000 |
| Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society | Chicago, IL | $500 |
| Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society | Lansing, MI | $203 |
| Lifeline Theatre | Chicago, IL | $150 |
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