The Cook Family Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to Midwestern higher‑education and medical institutions, with a strong emphasis on scholarships, medical education and patient‑navigation programs. They also support prominent local cultural institutions and occasional capital giving to faith communities, favoring multi‑hundred‑thousand dollar commitments over many small grants. Recipients are often flagship universities and civic institutions in the Chicago/ Midwest region, and some grantees receive repeat or multi‑part grants tied to specific programs or scholarships.
A $750,000 commitment to Kellogg Veterans Scholarships at Northwestern University stands out in the Bobbie and Stanton Cook Family Foundation’s recent giving. The foundation pairs that scale with targeted support for medical education, scholarships, patient-navigation work, mental health services, food access, disability services, and select capital projects. Its largest recent grants go to Chicago-area and Midwest institutions, especially universities, hospitals, and community nonprofits with clearly defined programs. Recent awards show a preference for named initiatives rather than broad, undirected support. Northwestern University received a combined grant supporting Feinberg School of Medicine and the veterans scholarship program, while the University of Chicago Medical Center was funded for the Cancer Pavilion and the Liaisons in Care program. The foundation also backs scholarship pathways in health fields, including veterinary medicine and undergraduate support tied to healthcare careers. Beyond higher education and health care, the foundation funds community-serving organizations with program-specific gifts. Examples include mental health services at Northwestern Settlement and The Josselyn Center, prepared meals through the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and adaptive services at Envision Unlimited. A smaller set of grants reaches cultural and faith institutions, showing a mix of recurring institutional support and focused capital giving.
Scholarships and professional education are a major thread. The foundation gave $300,000 to Iowa State University Foundation for the Gentle Doctor Opportunity Scholarship and another $100,000 to the University of Illinois Foundation for the Stanton Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund. Health-related giving appears in both education and patient support. In 2025, Northwestern University received $100,000 for Feinberg School of Medicine, and the University of Chicago Medical Center received $300,000 for the Cancer Pavilion. For mental health and community support, the foundation funded The Josselyn Center with $100,000 for the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Northwestern Settlement with $110,000 for the Family Cares Community Mental Health Center. Food security also appears in the grant list: the Greater Chicago Food Depository received $100,000 for its Prepared Meals Program. Disability services are another visible area, with Envision Unlimited receiving $100,000 for a Giving Tuesday/CILA capital campaign and adaptive cycling.
$2.7M
$19.7M
$4M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $40K and $100K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$40K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, high‑value grants primarily to a small set of institutional grantees; several repeat or multi‑part gifts to the same organizations; funding is program‑ or scholarship‑specific (scholarships, liaison programs, capital) rather than many small community grants.
Notable grantees: Northwestern University, University of Chicago Medical Center, Iowa State University Foundation, Museum of Science & Industry, Kenilworth Union Church
Typical grants cluster around mid-five figures to six figures, with a p25 of $40,000, median of $75,000, and p75 of $100,000. The recent record also includes several larger, targeted awards, including $850,000 to Northwestern University and $350,000 to the Museum of Science & Industry. The same recipients can appear across multiple years, often attached to the same named program or scholarship. Northwestern University, the University of Chicago Medical Center, Iowa State University Foundation, Northwestern Settlement, Envision Unlimited, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository each show repeat grants. This is a family foundation, and its grants are largely program-specific, scholarship-focused, or capital-related. It also funds individuals, and the pattern suggests direct, designated support rather than open-ended general giving.
Giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 65% of grants, while the overall scope is regional. Chicago appears frequently, including awards to the University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern Settlement, Envision Unlimited, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Evanston and Northfield also recur in the recent list through Northwestern University and The Josselyn Center. Outside Illinois, the foundation gives in Iowa through Iowa State University Foundation in Ames, and in New Mexico through recipients in Española, Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Conservation Trust. All recent grants in the dataset were made to U.S. recipients.
The grant list shows a strong emphasis on scholarships, medical education, patient-navigation programs, mental health services, food assistance, disability services, and selected capital projects. Recent examples include scholarship funds at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Foundation, medical support at the University of Chicago Medical Center, and service grants to community nonprofits in Chicago and beyond.
Yes. Northwestern University, the University of Chicago Medical Center, Iowa State University Foundation, Northwestern Settlement, Envision Unlimited, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, The Josselyn Center, and University of Illinois Foundation all appear more than once in the recent grants list, often tied to the same named program or scholarship.
The distribution centers on $75,000, with a p25 of $40,000 and a p75 of $100,000. The list also includes larger outliers, such as $850,000 to Northwestern University and $350,000 to the Museum of Science & Industry.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, accounting for 65% of grants. Chicago is the most visible city in the recent data, alongside Evanston and Northfield in Illinois and Ames in Iowa.
No. While Illinois receives most of the grants, the recent list also includes recipients in Ames, Iowa, and several New Mexico locations, including Española and Santa Fe. All grants in the dataset went to U.S. organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $825,000 | 2026 | MARY BETH RICHARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($75K)KELLOGG VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS ($750K) |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $350,000 | 2026 | FAB LAB EQUIPMENT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $275,000 | 2026 | SSHC DIGITAL INITIATIVE |
| THE FOOD DEPOT | SANTA FE, NM | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTHWESTERN SETTLEMENT | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | FAMILY CARES COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | AMES, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | STANTON COOK SCHOLARSHIP IN VETERINARY MEDICINE |
| ENVISION UNLIMITED | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | URBANA, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | STANTON COOK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CULINARY CARE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | PREPARED MEALS PROGRAM |
| THE JOSSELYN CENTER | NORTHBROOK, IL | $80,000 | 2026 | MISSION FUND ($40K)GREEN CARD SPONSORSHIP ($40K) |
| HIGH COUNTRY NEWS | PAONIA, CO | $60,000 | 2026 | INTERN AND FELLOW PROGRAM |
| VETERAN BUSINESS PROJECT | PARK RIDGE, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | VBP LIVING BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | YOU GIVE THEY LIVE MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM |
| THE LEELANAU SCHOOL | GLEN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | LEELANAU GIVING FUND |
| SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER & HUMANE SOCIETY | SANTA FE, NM | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CANCER FOUNDATION FOR NEW MEXICO | SANTA FE, NM | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| SANTA FE CONSERVATION TRUST | SANTA FE, NM | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| WTTW | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | BRITISH PROGRAMMING ($15K)CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ($10K) |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $25,000 | 2026 | NEW MEXICO PBS GENERAL FUND |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | CENTER FOR REVITALIZATION OF AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS FUND |
| BRIGHTPOINT | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | CHOOSE TO CHANGE PROGRAM |
| ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST | SANTA FE, NM | $20,000 | 2026 | VETERANS PROGRAMMING |
| ARGOS ACADEMY | ARGOS, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $850,000 | 2025 | FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ($100K)KELLOGG VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS ($750K) |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | CANCER PAVILION |
| NORTHWESTERN SETTLEMENT | CHICAGO, IL | $110,000 | 2025 | FAMILY CARES COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | URBANA, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | STANTON COOK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| ESPANOLA HUMANE | ESPANOLA, NM | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | AMES, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | STANTON COOK SCHOLARSHIP IN VETERINARY MEDICINE |
| ENVISION UNLIMITED | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| THE FOOD DEPOT | SANTA FE, NM | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THE JOSSELYN CENTER | NORTHFIELD, IL | $80,000 | 2025 | BIPOC SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $80,000 | 2025 | PREPARED MEALS PROGRAM |
| CULINARY CARE | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| HIGH COUNTRY NEWS | PAONIA, CO | $60,000 | 2025 | INTERN AND FELLOW PROGRAM |
| THE LEELANAU SCHOOL | GLEN ARBOR, MI | $50,000 | 2025 | LEELANAU GIVING FUND |
| SANTA FE CONSERVATION TRUST | SANTA FE, NM | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| NAMI OF MCHENRY COUNTY ILLINOIS | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | DROP-IN CENTER AND LIVING ROOM PROGRAM |
| SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER & HUMANE SOCIETY | SANTA FE, NM | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST | SANTA FE, NM | $40,000 | 2025 | VETERANS PROGRAMMING |
| VETERAN BUSINESS PROJECT | PARK RIDGE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | VALOR TO VENTURE PROGRAM |
| LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS | OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING |
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| BRIGHTPOINT | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | CHOOSE TO CHANGE PROGRAM |
| IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | AMES, IA | $300,000 | 2024 | STANTON COOK SCHOLARSHIP IN VETERINARY MEDICINE |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $260,000 | 2024 | LIAISONS IN CARE PROGRAM |
MARY BETH RICHARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($75K)KELLOGG VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS ($750K)
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY
$350,000FAB LAB EQUIPMENT
NORTHWESTERN SETTLEMENT
$100,000FAMILY CARES COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
STANTON COOK SCHOLARSHIP IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
CULINARY CARE
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
VETERAN BUSINESS PROJECT
$50,000VBP LIVING BUSINESS SCHOOL
THE LEELANAU SCHOOL
$50,000LEELANAU GIVING FUND
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
WTTW
$25,000BRITISH PROGRAMMING ($15K)CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ($10K)
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$20,000CENTER FOR REVITALIZATION OF AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS FUND
ARGOS ACADEMY
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ($100K)KELLOGG VETERANS SCHOLARSHIPS ($750K)
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY
$350,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
NORTHWESTERN SETTLEMENT
$110,000FAMILY CARES COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
ESPANOLA HUMANE
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CULINARY CARE
$75,000GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
THE LEELANAU SCHOOL
$50,000LEELANAU GIVING FUND
NAMI OF MCHENRY COUNTY ILLINOIS
$50,000DROP-IN CENTER AND LIVING ROOM PROGRAM
VETERAN BUSINESS PROJECT
$25,000VALOR TO VENTURE PROGRAM
STAFF AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING