The Magic Charitable Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Magic Charitable Foundation is a private foundation in Mettawa, Illinois. In tax year 2025 it gave $132,000 in 28 grants; the typical grant was $4,250 and the largest $11,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$132,000
- Number of grants28
- Typical grant$4,250
- Largest grant$11,000
- Assets$2.5 million
- New grantees44%
Giving in 2025 was up from $124,000 the year before.
44% 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 year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $100,000 | 30 | $2.5 million |
| 2024 | $124,000 | 24 | $2.6 million |
| 2025 | $132,000 | 28 | $2.5 million |
How to apply
The Magic Charitable Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What The Magic Charitable Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 11 states, the most to Illinois.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 13 | $59,500 |
| Virginia | 2 | $20,000 |
| District of Columbia | 2 | $13,000 |
| New York | 4 | $10,500 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $8,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $5,000 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $4,500 |
| Arizona | 1 | $3,000 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $3,000 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | $3,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Alliance on Mental Illness | To build better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. | $11,000 |
| American Red Cross | To prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. | $10,000 |
| The Margo Fowler Family Foundation | To assisting people with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and other rare neurodegenerative disorders by providing education and support services for individuals and families affected by these diseases; funding research for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and cures; and raising awareness through advocacy and promotional efforts. | $10,000 |
| The Conservation Fund | To create innovative solutions that drive nature-based action for climate protection, sustainable economies, and vibrant communities. | $9,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospita | To advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. | $8,000 |
| Ann Robert H Lurie Children's Hospi | To deliver exceptional, kid-friendly care to every child who needs it and to build safer spaces where children can grow up and thrive. | $7,000 |
| St Francis de Sales Catholic School | To promote educational excellence in a Catholic environment and offer opportunities for students to attain their full potential. | $5,000 |
| BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding Ed C | To bring hope, joy and unlimited possibilities through the healing power of the horse. | $5,000 |
| Individual | $5,000 | |
| Project Heal | To breakdown systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers to eating disorder healing. | $5,000 |
| YWCA EvanstonNorth Shore | To eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. | $5,000 |
| Individual | To provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care. | $4,500 |
| Feed My Starving Children | To feed starving children in body and spirit and to work together with organizations and ministries across the globe to end hunger. | $4,500 |
| The Les Turner ALS Foundation | To provide the most comprehensive care and support to people living with ALS and their families and to advance scientific research for the prevention, treatment and cure of ALS. | $4,500 |
| Alzheimer's Association | To end Alzheimer's and all other dementia-by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. | $4,000 |
| The Water Project | To provide reliable water projects to communities in sub-Saharan Africa who suffer from a lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation. | $3,000 |
| Carmel Catholic High School | To empower students to be servant leaders filled with zeal for faith and scholarship. | $3,000 |
| Center for Biological Diversity | To work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive. | $3,000 |
| Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Viole | To end gun violence. | $3,000 |
| Chicago Cubs Charities | To mobilize the power of sport to champion youth, families and communities. | $3,000 |
| Megan Butz Legacy of Hope | To strengthen the lives of at-risk youth and young adults so they may be mentally healthy and receive needed mental health programming and support. | $3,000 |
| Neuroimmune Foundation | To improve outcomes for individuals with Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Syndrome Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), as well as infectious, post-infectious, and autoimmune encephalitis. | $3,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Lake County | To provide simple, decent and affordable homes that hard-working, low-income families can own. | $2,500 |
| American Cancer Society | To improve the lives of people with cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. | $2,500 |
| Individual | $2,500 | |
| Michael J Fox Fndtn-Parkinson's Res | To finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. | $2,000 |
| The Breast Cancer Research Foundati | To prevent and cure breast cancer by advancing the world's most promising research. | $2,000 |
| Cancer Research Institute | To fuel therapies and scientific breakthroughs that provide fresh hope to cancer patients. | $2,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Monica Nicholas
- Michael J Nicholas
- David M Nicholas
- Erin L Trella
- Kelly C Luby
Questions people ask
Does The Magic Charitable Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Magic Charitable Foundation give?
$132,000 in tax year 2025, across 28 grants, with a typical grant of $4,250.
Who runs The Magic Charitable Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Monica Nicholas (President), Michael J Nicholas (Treasurer), David M Nicholas (Secretary) and Erin L Trella (Director) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does The Magic Charitable Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly health, science and research and human services.