Foundations that fund education in Illinois
These 25 foundations made grants to education in Illinois in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
- $1,000,000 to One Lawndale Childrens Discovery Center, Chicago: Capital
- $581,887 to Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: Program
- $581,887 to Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: Program
How to apply: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org to apply online
Deadlines: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Restrictions: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Polk Bros Foundation Inc
- $250,000 to Chiarts Foundation, Chicago: Arts Access and Learning
- $250,000 to Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago: Education
- $140,000 to Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: Education
How to apply: Application form available from foundation office and website
Deadlines: Continuous
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt under sec 501(c)(3)
Helen V Brach Foundation
- $100,000 to Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago: To provide scholarships, leadership development for school leaders and educators and...
- $100,000 to Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago: For the LU-CHOICE teacher program, the Arrupe Hardship Fund, Nursing student visits to...
- $50,000 to Dominican University, River Forest: For the Brach Hardship Fund the St. Catherine of Siena Center and the Caritas Veritas...
How to apply: Application form, available upon request
Deadlines: December 31 for consideration in year ending March 31
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt under Sect 501c3
Lloyd A Fry Foundation
- $125,000 to Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: For professional learning communities and the priority school pilot
- $63,000 to Kids First Chicago for Education, Chicago: For kids first chicago: building parent understanding of universal curriculum and...
- $50,000 to Advance Illinois Nfp, Chicago: For general operating support
How to apply: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/overview/
Deadlines: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/deadlines/
Restrictions: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/overview/
The Allstate Foundation
- $949,000 to Center for Expanding Leadership and Opportunity Inc, Chicago: A return to service: national youth summit
- $900,000 to Center for Expanding Leadership and Opportunity Inc, Chicago: College service grants: accelerating higher education impact on youth service
- $450,000 to Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation Inc, Chicago: Multi-year grant: infusing youth leadership and design in action civics
How to apply: Letter of proposal
Deadlines: Proposal reviewed as received
Restrictions: Must be within the united states
The Joyce Foundation
- $400,000 to Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: Education & economic mobility
- $355,000 to Advance Illinois, Chicago: Education & economic mobility
- $250,000 to Civic Consulting Alliance, Chicago: Mission fund
How to apply: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
The Renaissance Foundation
- $53,620 to Depaul University, Chicago: Scholarships
- $42,500 to Loyola University Chicago, Chicago: Scholarships
- $29,569 to Dominican University, River Forest: Scholarships
How to apply: *description of the project/program for which support is being requested including the number and the nature of the intended beneficiaries. *anticipated outcomes of the project/program. *details regarding how the recipient organization impacts its community/constituency. *a...
Restrictions: Requests for capital expenses or contributions to capital campaigns are generally not considered.
Grand Victoria Foundation
- $151,500 to Grassroots Collaborative, Chicago: Project Support
- $75,000 to Northern Illinois University Foundation, Dekalb: Project Support
- $75,000 to Erikson Institute, Chicago: Project Support
How to apply: Please see attachment.
Deadlines: Please see attachment.
Restrictions: Please see attachment.
Fidelity Foundation
- $500,000 to National Louis University, Chicago: Technology & equipment
- $380,000 to Youth Guidance, Chicago: Technology & equipment
- $350,000 to One Million Degrees, Chicago: Technology & equipment
How to apply: Https://www.fidelityfoundation.org/applying-and-reporting/letter-of-inquiry/
Restrictions: Http://www.fidelityfoundation.org/grantmaking-guidelines/
Terra Foundation for American Art
- $125,000 to Columbia College Chicago, Chicago: Art education
- $125,000 to Newberry Library, Chicago: Art education
- $110,000 to Depaul University, Chicago: Art education
How to apply: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
Deadlines: Various
Restrictions: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation
- $45,000 to National Louis University, Chicago: support of Learn and Earn in Three
- $40,000 to Loyola University Chicago, Chicago: general operating support of Arrupe College
- $40,000 to One Million Degrees, Chicago: general operating support
How to apply: Please contact for: Application Procedures/Document Checklist
Wp & Hb White Foundation
- $100,000 to Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago: Supplemental support
- $50,000 to Equality Dream Team, Chicago: Challenge grant
- $50,000 to Parenteach Institute, Evanston: Chicago rollout
How to apply: The w.p. & h.b. White foundation provides funding to organizations in the chicago metropolitan area that contribute to the future good of our society, primarily in the areas of education, health, housing and human services, with an emphasis on helping those most in need. There...
Deadlines: The board meets quarterly in march, june, september, and december. Proposals must be received no lat
Restrictions: Grants are basically limited to illinois charities for general operating expenses and specific programs; however, the foundation does not support visual and performing arts, individuals, endowments or fund raising events.
First Bank Chicago Foundation
- $20,000 to Honest Game Foundation, Evanston: General operating support
- $12,500 to College Bound Opportunities, Riverwoods: General operating support
- $7,500 to College of Lake County Foundation, Grayslake: General operating support
How to apply: No specific form
Restrictions: Contributions are made to exempt charitable, religious, educational, and scientific organizations.
The Presser Foundation
- $10,000 to The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana: Graduate music awards
- $3,000 to University of Illinois Foundation, Chicago: Undergraduate scholar awards
- $3,000 to Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington: Undergraduate scholar awards
How to apply: Applications are submitted electronically via the organization's website, www.presserfoundation.org
Deadlines: Proposals must be submitted by november 15.
Field Foundation of Illinois
- $100,000 to Public Narrative, Chicago: Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization
- $75,000 to Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Chicago: Capacity - funding to increase to the organization's capabilities or effectiveness
- $50,000 to Investigative Project on Race and Equity, Chicago: Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization
How to apply: Https://www.grantinterface.com/home/logon?urlkey=fieldfoundation
Deadlines: Https://fieldfoundation.org/how-to-apply/submission-process/
Restrictions: Https://fieldfoundation.org/generalguidelines/
The Albert Pick Jr Fund
- $20,000 to Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education, Chicago: General & Unrestricted
- $20,000 to Chicago Debate Commission, Chicago: General & Unrestricted
- $20,000 to Target Hope, Matteson: STEM Initiative
How to apply: Forms available on our website
Deadlines: See guidelines on our website
Restrictions: Limitations are detailed on our website-refer to our guidelines
Ann O'donnell Trumbull Perpetual Charitable Trust
- $10,000 to Lewis University, Romeoville: Tuition
- $9,000 to Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnnais: Tuition
- $7,500 to Rockford University, Rockford: Tuition
How to apply: Resume
Hobsonlucas Family Foundation
- $500,000 to After School Matters, Chicago: General donation
- $250,000 to The Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago: General donation
- $210,734 to After School Matters, Chicago: General donation
How to apply: Letter with information regarding request.
Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions or limitations on awards.
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation
- $100,000 to Columbia College Chicago, Chicago: Activities of the organization to which money was donated
- $80,000 to Project Lifeline, Glencoe: Activities of the organization to which money was donated
- $50,000 to The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago: Activities of the organization to which money was donated
How to apply: Written, no specific requirements
John Templeton Foundation
- $916,093 to Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago: The indian country private sector project
- $258,688 to Wheaton College, Wheaton: The open science of religion project
- $204,970 to Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Chicago: Life history, emergence and long-term trends in ecological systems
How to apply: A detailed description of a grantee's proposed charitable activities is included in the john templeton foundation's online application form. The form requires that all applicants provide a description of the proposed activities, why they are important and how they relate to our...
Deadlines: Submission deadlines as explained on the foundations website at www.templeton.org.
Restrictions: Awards should advance the charitable, scientific, educational, literary, and religious purposes of the foundation's funding areas. The funding areas include character virtue development, individual freedom and free markets, life sciences,...
Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund
- $39,782 to Lewis University, Romeoville: Education
- $20,000 to Knox College, Galesburg: Education
- $20,000 to Lake Forest College, Lake Forest: Education
How to apply: Occ post graduate program - fafsa eligible, an application, occ transcript, teacher recommendations and an essay are required. Chicago public schools - fafsa eligible, an application, high school transcript, teacher and counselor recommendations, an essay and a student aid...
Deadlines: Spring of each year
Restrictions: Successful oakton community college wentcher scholar graduates, fafsa-eligible students. Chicago public schools seniors, fasfa-eligible
Naperville Rotary Charities Inc
- $35,000 to College of Dupage Foundation, Glen Ellyn: Scholarships for 2024
- $10,000 to North Central College, Naperville: Scholarship
- $5,500 to Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, Naperville: Board designated fund
How to apply: Cover letter; ein and charity name; proof of 501c3 status; amount and purpose for which funding is requested; contact information
Restrictions: There are no limitations on awards by georaphical area, charitable fields or kinds of institutions provided recipients are 501 (c) (3) organizations that provide for (i) education, (ii) relief of the poor or underpriveleged, or (iii) other...
Enchanted Backpack
- $19,525 to Chicago Hope Academy, Chicago: In-kind donation of clothing and home goods
- $3,721 to Primo Center for Women & Children, Chicago: In-kind donation of clothing and home goods
- $3,610 to Josephinum Academy, Chicago: In-kind donation of clothing and home goods
How to apply: Contact the foundation office for application requirements.
Deadlines: No submission deadlines.
Restrictions: Eligibility requirements are a minimum of 50% of the children need to be part of a free or reduced lunch program or an equivalent "in need" federal or state program and the school or organization must be focused on serving children in one...
Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Inc
- $363,000 to Council of Medical Specialty Societies, Chicago: To establish and support an alliance to coordinate, align and connect the clinical and...
- $240,000 to Council of Medical Specialty Societies, Chicago: To support a doris duke racial equity in clinical equations civic science fellow in a...
- $50,000 to Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana: To enhance family well-being and inform child welfare policy through the evaluation of...
How to apply: See part xiv, grants process statement
Deadlines: See part xiv, grants process statement
Restrictions: See part xiv, grants process statement
Wk Kellogg Foundation
- $400,000 to Little Black Pearl Workshop, Chicago: Promise of an Equitable Future
- $200,000 to National Center for Teacher Residencies, Chicago: Early Care and Education
- $20,000 to High Jump, Chicago: Matching Grant
How to apply: See "how to apply" at www.wkkf.org/grantseekers/#how-to-apply
Deadlines: Proposals for grants may be submitted at any time through the website, www.wkkf.org
Restrictions: See "our priorities" (what we fund) on our website, www.wkkf.org/what-we-fund/
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