funder-graph › Recipients
Who funds First Defense Legal Aid
EIN 01-0729555 · Chicago, IL · NTEE I80
First Defense Legal Aid of Chicago, IL (EIN 01-0729555) was named as a grant recipient by 17 funders in 40 grants paid totaling $937,621 in tax years 2018–2025, as reported on the funders' Forms 990-PF and 990 Schedule I. Each edge was resolved to this EIN at the match tier shown. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03.
Grants received
$937,621
40 grants paid
Funders
17
distinct grantmakers
Tax years
2018–2025
as reported by funders
Funders
| Funder | State | Match | Grants | Total paid | Latest year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Fund Inc 36-3092907 | IL | A | 5 | $159,000 | 2025 |
| Woods Fund of Chicago 36-3917968 | IL | BC | 5 | $155,789 | 2024 |
| The Chicago Community Trust 36-2167000 | IL | A | 4 | $145,000 | 2023 |
| Alphawood Foundation 36-3805338 | IL | B | 4 | $100,000 | 2023 |
| Illinois Equal Justice Foundation 37-1188469 | IL | A | 4 | $95,000 | 2024 |
| Northwestern University 36-2167817 | IL | A | 1 | $50,000 | 2022 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc 13-3615533 | NY | A | 1 | $50,000 | 2023 |
| Field Foundation of Illinois 36-6059408 | IL | BC | 2 | $40,000 | 2021 |
| Morrison Family Foundation 36-4151134 | IL | C | 2 | $35,000 | 2021 |
| Forefront 23-7376023 | IL | A | 1 | $30,000 | 2020 |
| Polk Bros Foundation Inc 36-6108293 | IL | C | 1 | $25,000 | 2021 |
| The Chicago Bar Foundation 36-6109584 | IL | A | 2 | $25,000 | 2021 |
| The Zakat Foundation of America 36-4476244 | IL | A | 2 | $17,180 | 2019 |
| Phalarope Foundation C/O Kozusko Harris Duncan 04-6729068 | OH | C | 1 | $10,000 | 2020 |
| The Irving Harris Foundation 36-6055115 | IL | B | 1 | $500 | 2023 |
| Amazonsmile Foundation 46-2626883 | WA | C | 3 | $127 | 2023 |
| Abbvie Foundation 46-0827839 | IL | C | 1 | $25 | 2018 |
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Grants
The 40 most recent grants naming this organization.
| Tax year | Funder | Recipient | Match | Amount | Type | Purpose | Source filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Crossroads Fund Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202631199349301333 |
| 2024 | Woods Fund of Chicago | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $50,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202533109349101883 |
| 2024 | Crossroads Fund Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $40,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202520579349301517 |
| 2024 | Illinois Equal Justice Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $35,000 | paid | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS. | 202530159349300678 |
| 2023 | Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $50,000 | paid | GENERAL | 202433159349300308 |
| 2023 | Woods Fund of Chicago | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $35,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202423129349102422 |
| 2023 | Illinois Equal Justice Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS. | 202420449349300647 |
| 2023 | The Chicago Community Trust | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | General Operating Support | 202442279349302684 |
| 2023 | Crossroads Fund Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202441359349313384 |
| 2023 | Alphawood Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202410169349100241 |
| 2023 | The Irving Harris Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $500 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202433199349101213 |
| 2023 | Amazonsmile Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $27 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202540919349100629 |
| 2022 | Northwestern University | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $50,000 | paid | Support for alumni fellowship | 202301989349301715 |
| 2022 | Crossroads Fund Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $39,000 | paid | General operations | 202300549349300745 |
| 2022 | Woods Fund of Chicago | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $35,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202333139349103008 |
| 2022 | The Chicago Community Trust | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | General operating support | 202432279349301703 |
| 2022 | The Chicago Community Trust | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | General operating support | 202312279349301591 |
| 2022 | Alphawood Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202340129349100774 |
| 2022 | Alphawood Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202340129349100774 |
| 2022 | Amazonsmile Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $5 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202313119349100141 |
| 2021 | Polk Bros Foundation Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $25,000 | paid | Strong Communities | 202240189349100009 |
| 2021 | Crossroads Fund Inc | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $25,000 | paid | General operations | 202200339349301230 |
| 2021 | Illinois Equal Justice Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $25,000 | paid | To provide legal information to people impacted by the criminalization of cannabis. | 202143379349300419 |
| 2021 | Alphawood Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202132739349100008 |
| 2021 | Morrison Family Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $20,000 | paid | General Operating Support | 202201299349101325 |
| 2021 | Field Foundation of Illinois | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | B | $15,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING TO SUPPORT NEW PROGRAM EXPANSION | 202200679349100315 |
| 2021 | The Chicago Bar Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $12,500 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202210569349301351 |
| 2020 | Forefront | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $30,000 | paid | CAPACITY BUILDING/GENERAL SUPPORT | 202111349349302526 |
| 2020 | Woods Fund of Chicago | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $25,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202113019349101501 |
| 2020 | Field Foundation of Illinois | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $25,000 | paid | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGN | 202130219349100103 |
| 2020 | Morrison Family Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $15,000 | paid | General Operating Support | 202111249349100231 |
| 2020 | Woods Fund of Chicago | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $10,789 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 202113019349101501 |
| 2020 | Phalarope Foundation C/O Kozusko Harris Duncan | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $10,000 | paid | General | 202133159349100343 |
| 2020 | Amazonsmile Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $95 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202113199349100901 |
| 2019 | The Chicago Bar Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $12,500 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 201912879349301416 |
| 2019 | Illinois Equal Justice Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $5,000 | paid | To create legal informatin packets and conduct know your rights presentations regarding the civil and legal rights of those who have interacted with law enforcement | 201932769349300408 |
| 2019 | The Zakat Foundation of America | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $4,740 | paid | LEGAL AID | 202041609349300239 |
| 2018 | The Chicago Community Trust | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $55,000 | paid | FOR 2018-2019 EMPOWERMENT FOR PEACE GRANT RENEWAL FOR STREET LAW PEER EDUCATION ON WHAT TO DO WHEN IN CONTACT WITH POLICE, AS THEY CANVAS TO IDENTIFY & ENGAGE NEW STOP MEMBERS. | 201932249349300348 |
| 2018 | The Zakat Foundation of America | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | A | $12,440 | paid | Legal Aid | 201931359349311688 |
| 2018 | Abbvie Foundation | First Defense Legal Aid Chicago, IL | C | $25 | paid | Matching Grant | 201931339349102918 |
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Recipient matching for this dataset version has not yet completed its independent precision check. Tier A rows carry the EIN the filer reported; tiers B–D are inferred and should be read as leads until the check is published on the methodology page.
Derived from IRS Form 990-PF and Form 990 Schedule I e-file XML filed by the funders shown; this organization's identity from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03. The rows as Parquet: manifest.
The same organization elsewhere in the program: exempt status and filing health · federal awards · grant guidance · open opportunities.
This is informational only, derived from public data on the dates shown. It is not an eligibility determination, and not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Verify against the official source before relying on it.