Chicago & Great Lakes

The Chicago-based Skender engages in philanthropy to support the communities where it operates. Here are some insights into the Skender Foundation’s grantmaking and what it supports in the Chicago area.

The Brian and Julie Simmons Foundation has no website but may be open to receiving unsolicited funding requests from local nonprofits in Chicago.

Amid ongoing backlash against equity and social justice efforts, guest author and Woods Fund Chicago Board Chair L. Anton Seals lays out why progressive funders have a responsibility to open up their pocketbooks.

Woods Fund Chicago was one of the first foundations in the city to center racial equity. We chat with its president about the importance of giving young people a voice, a new fund supporting the migrant community, and more.

Michael and Cari Sacks are philanthropists based in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. Here’s what we know so far about the Sacks Family Foundation and its local commitments.

Steven Sarowitz started the Wayfarer Foundation to support spiritually rooted and justice-oriented nonprofits. We take a closer look at the grantmaker, part of Steven and Jessica Sarowitz’s plan to donate $1 billion in their lifetimes.

Among Chicago’s prominent philanthropic power couples are Patrick and Shirley Ryan, who gained substantial wealth through the insurance industry and made the single-largest gift in Northwestern University’s history.

Despite a growing body of evidence that men and boys are struggling, particularly in communities of color, there’s not much funding out there in support of fathers. Here’s a rare example of a big, multi-year donation.

Although the J. Christopher and Anne N. Reyes Foundation is headquartered in Florida, this funder focuses much of its grantmaking on the city of Chicago. Here are the top things to know about its Chicago-area giving.

Pandemic-related learning loss threatens to widen the achievement gap. Arnold Ventures and other funders are backing an ambitious research project to determine if and how high-intensity tutoring can help.

Funded by Mark and Kimbra Walter, Chicago Beyond draws upon the work of veteran principal Liz Dozier. The group is investing millions in community-led initiatives, while challenging top-down dynamics in K-12 philanthropy.

Real estate investor John Schreiber and his wife Kathleen are long-time Chicago philanthropists. A recent $25 million gift underscores a more recent priority for the couple: early childhood, including conditions before birth.

Dr. Jeffreen Hayes heads the Chicago-based arts organization and grantmaker Threewalls. We chatted with her to discuss her career trajectory, why she’s optimistic about the state of philanthropy, and more.

The Obama Foundation is in the process of raising $1.6 billion — and starting to roll out some big programs. Here, we outline who’s backing the foundation, who’s running the show, and what it’s funding so far.

James Stone is one of a growing number of wealthy donors highly concerned about inequality. The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation is supporting research examining the forces that create and perpetuate it.

The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation is a Chicago-based funder interested in community safety, the arts and education. Here’s how it gives and what sets it apart from other Pritzker philanthropies.

With roots in Chicago, the Logan brothers — Richard, Jonathan and Daniel — all have their own foundations. They’re each carrying on and evolving a long legacy of giving that began with their late parents, David and Reva Logan.

Part of an ongoing effort to be more equitable, MacArthur is transitioning to a participatory regranting partnership to support Chicago’s small to midsized arts organizations. How will grantees be impacted?

Here are some details about how the Frank E. Payne and Seba B. Payne Foundation awards grants in its home city of Chicago.

Robin and Jack Lavin created the Osa Foundation in 2005, and they exclusively focus on education in Chicago. Here’s what local grantseekers should know about this funder and seeking support.

The Chicago Foundation for Women has three giving circles and three giving councils. In this article, we’re taking a close look at all of them to guide Chicago grantseekers.

While Alex Ross’s New Coast Foundation does not have a website and maintains a low public profile, here is what we know about this funder and how it gives locally in Chicago.

Long-beleaguered and previously bankrupt, the storied Chicago Sun-Times has gotten a new lease on life by merging with a nonprofit public media company. Here’s how philanthropy helped make that happen.

During COVID, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies created an innovative network to provide support and community for Black school principals. Now, that network has a new home and brand new leadership.

The past two years have brought new challenges for STEM education fundraisers, and have highlighted existing ones, including the need to reach under-represented groups. Several fundraisers weigh in on the state of the field.

The Colburn family are frequent donors to the arts, among other causes. Here’s an overview of how their philanthropic vehicle, the Negaunee Foundation, gives locally in Chicago.

Ellen Alberding leads the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation. We caught up with Alberding to discuss her career, why she’s optimistic about philanthropy, and the ubiquitous phenomenon of cats drifting into Zoom calls.

The Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust is accessible to local nonprofits and supports a variety of Chicago causes. Here are some things to know about this grantmaker.

With philanthropic backing, EducationSuperHighway helped get the majority of U.S. classrooms online. Now, it’s working to close the wider broadband gap, with funding from Laurene Powell Jobs, Ken Griffin and others.

3Arts provides support to women artists, artists of color, and deaf and disabled artists in the Chicago metropolitan area. Here’s what you need to know about this particularly forward-thinking arts grantmaker.