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Foundations / Illinois

The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation

Accepts applications Chicago, Illinois · EIN 611405669

The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2025 it gave $2.1 million in 37 grants; the typical grant was $20,000 and the largest $525,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $1.5 million the year before.

43% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$1.7 million40$54.3 million
2024$1.5 million32$113 million
2025$2.1 million37$153 million

How to apply

ContactChristopher L or Susan Gust the CHR
141 W Jackson Blvd Ste 1310, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone or email(312) 391-6354
What to submitWritten requests -- to include purpose and use of funds

As written in the foundation's IRS filing for tax year 2025. Details may have changed since.

Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica

What The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 8 states, the most to Illinois.

StateGrantsAmount
Illinois29$1.4 million
Massachusetts2$565,529
Colorado1$50,000
New York1$20,000
Alabama1$10,000
Michigan1$10,000
Tennessee1$10,000
Pennsylvania1$5,000

Grants paid in 2025

All 37 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
St Ignatius College Prep
Chicago, IL
General purpose/baseball & hockey program$525,000
Team Impact
Quincy, MA
General purpose$300,000
Concussion Legacy Foundation
Boston, MA
General purpose$265,529
Mission of Our Lady of Angels Church
Chicago, IL
General purpose/supplies for church$164,539
Shirley Ryan Abilitylab (Fka Rehab Instiute of Chicago)
Chicago, IL
General purpose$138,040
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Chicago, IL
General purpose$100,000
Chicago Mission Hockey
Chicago, IL
General purpose$52,500
International Sports Corp
Chicago, IL
General purpose$50,000
Nourishing Hope (Fka Lakeview Food Pantry)
Chicago, IL
General purpose$50,000
The Night Ministry
Chicago, IL
General purpose$50,000
USA Hockey Foundation
Colorado Springs, CO
General purpose$50,000
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugee Rights
Chicago, IL
General purpose$25,000
Have Dreams
Park Ridge, IL
General purpose$25,000
Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation
Chicago, IL
General purposegeneral purpose$25,000
Aspiritech
Evanston, IL
General purpose$20,000
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago, IL
General purpose$20,000
Chicago Public Media
Chicago, IL
General purpose$20,000
Doctors Without Borders
New York, NY
General purpose$20,000
Hephazibah Children's Association
Oak Park, IL
General purpose$20,000
Meals on Wheels
Chicago, IL
General purpose$20,000
North Chicago Public Education Foundation
North Chicago, IL
General purpose$20,000
Center for Independent Futures
Evanston, IL
General purpose$10,000
Haiti Nursing Foundation
Ann Arbor, MI
General purpose$10,000
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Chicago, IL
General purpose$10,000
Southern Poverty Law Center
Montgomery, AL
General purpose$10,000
St Judes Childrens Hospital
Memphis, TN
General purpose$10,000
Care for Friends
Chicago, IL
General purpose$10,000
Chicago Public Schoolsrobert L Grimes Elementary School
Chicago, IL
Teacher training/support$8,000
Open Heart Magic
Chicago, IL
Berlin marathon fundraising$5,397
Bernie's Book Bank
Lake Bluff, IL
General purpose$5,000
Pittsburg Stars Hockey
New Kensington, PA
General purpose$5,000
Chicagoland Private Equity Hockey Charities
Crystal Lake, IL
General purpose$3,078
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, IL
General purpose/nurse appreciation$1,000
Viewing Our Children As Emerging Leaders (Vocel)
Chicago, IL
General purpose$1,000
Sopel Foundation for Dyskexia
North Barrington, IL
General purpose$800
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Chicago, IL
General purpose$523
Wings Program for Prevention of Domestic Violence
Chicago, IL
General purpose$500

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation accept grant applications?

Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.

How much does The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation give?

$2.1 million in tax year 2025, across 37 grants, with a typical grant of $20,000.

Who runs The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists Christopher L Gust (Director), M Susan Gust (Director) and Diane Edmundson (Director).

What does The Christopher L & M Susan Gust Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education, faith communities and food and hunger.

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