The Gies Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 2004 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation was created by Larry and Beth Gies and operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic activities in education, health, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32K
-54.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+29.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$98K
+64.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
While the foundation does not publicly outline specific mission statements or detailed grantmaking priorities, tax filings indicate primary support for:
- Education — the foundation's largest funding area
- Health and diseases/conditions
- Human services
- Family services
- Child welfare
The foundation demonstrates particular interest in educational access and opportunity, with documented support for organizations focused on school leadership development, educational equity, and college preparatory education in the Jesuit tradition.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public website or provide detailed application guidelines. The foundation keeps a low public profile and does not publish clear grantmaking priorities or formal application procedures. Prospective grantees are advised to contact the foundation directly or pursue networking connections, as the foundation appears to have connections to funded organizations through family relationships.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: approximately $181,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, with significant concentration in the Chicago area. Documented funding locations include:
- Illinois: Chicago, Culver, Geneva, Glenwood, Highland Park, St. Charles, Western Springs, Wheaton
- Indiana
- California: Santa Ana
- New York: New York
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia
More than half of the foundation's grantmaking remains in the Chicago region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $31,665
- Total Distributions: $1,076,675
- Total Contributions: $1,200,000
2023:
- Total Assets: $69,211
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Revenue: $219,223
- Total Expenses: $998,895
2023 Financial Summary:
- Revenue: $219,000
- Expenses: $999,000
The foundation maintains modest asset levels relative to its annual giving, indicating it distributes contributions received rather than relying on accumulated endowment growth.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,665 | $69,211 | $848,883 |
| Revenue | $1,202,769 | $219,223 | $58,429 |
| Expenses | $1,240,315 | $998,895 | $1,277,481 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,237,655 | $995,483 | $1,274,033 |
| Net Investment Income | $110 | $38,092 | $54,552 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,025 | $22,848 | $80,335 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Larry W. Gies — Director/President (1 hour per week, no compensation)
- Beth G. Gies — Director/Secretary (4 hours per week, no compensation)
- Brian F. Richards — Director (0.25 hours per week, no compensation)
- Sally Smith — Executive Director (30 hours per week, $120,000 compensation)
Founder Background: Larry Gies graduated with a B.S. from the University of Illinois and earned his MBA from Northwestern University in 1992. He founded Madison Capital Partners in 1994, which evolved into Madison Industries, a holding company that acquires and builds businesses with combined revenues exceeding $5 billion.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gies family has made significant philanthropic commitments beyond the foundation's direct grantmaking:
Larry and Beth Gies made a $150 million gift to the University of Illinois to support the Gies College of Business, focusing on expanding programming and scholar support
Leighton Lecture | CPRBS | Gies College of Business | IllinoisLarry Gies made a $100 million transformational gift to Illinois Athletics
Larry Gies Makes Transformational $100 Million Gift to Illinois AthleticsThese major gifts reflect the family's strong connection to their alma mater and broader educational priorities.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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