Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation
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About Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation
Provides services to schools and nonprofits, engages in philanthropic programs centered on social equality, and participates in entrepreneurial endeavors; transmits educational video programs and supports educational technology initiatives.
Focus Areas
educationeducational technologysocial equalitynonprofit support
Who They Fund
internet users/general publicdigital rights and civil liberties organizationspolicy and advocacy groups focused on telecom regulationtechnology policy researchers and advocates
Funding Style
core supportunrestricted/general operating supportadvocacy/platform policy funding
About Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation
Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation Inc’s recent grantmaking shows a split between Illinois-based civic and education work and national digital-rights funding. In the 2023–2025 grant list, the foundation repeatedly backed organizations tied to social equality, public-interest media, and technology policy, including multiple awards to United Working Families in Chicago and to Center for Media Justice in Oakland. Its stated program areas also include education, educational technology, social equality, and nonprofit support, which aligns with grants to groups working in schools, community media, and policy advocacy. The foundation describes itself as providing services to schools and nonprofits and supporting educational technology initiatives, while also participating in philanthropic programs centered on social equality. Recent awards range from local Chicago organizations to national advocacy groups, showing a portfolio that combines place-based support with issue-based grantmaking. The presence of both core support and named issue grants suggests the foundation funds operating work as well as targeted policy efforts, especially where education, civic participation, and internet freedom intersect.
What Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation Funds
In education and instructional technology, Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation Inc gave $90,000 to TalkingPoints in 2024 for core support. The foundation also backed Chicago Filmmakers with $145,000 in 2023 for core support, connecting its grantmaking to educational media and nonprofit capacity. Social equality is another visible thread: the foundation awarded $75,000 in 2023 to Asian American Midwest Progressives for core support, and $67,650 in 2023 to Blackroots Alliance for core support, both based in Chicago. On the public-policy side, it made an $85,000 2023 grant to Center for Media Justice for net neutrality, and a $65,000 2024 grant to Free Press for core support. The portfolio also includes civic and organizing work, such as $60,000 in 2024 to Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation for core support.
How Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation Gives
Typical grant size clusters in the mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $25,000, median is $46,335, and p75 is $50,380. The recent-grants list includes repeated awards to the same organizations across years, including United Working Families, Chicago Filmmakers, Center for Media Justice, Blackroots Alliance, Equity & Transformation, Splinter Art and Community Fund, Center for Nuleadership on Urban Solutions, and Demand Progress Action. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The funder is classified as a regular funder, and it also makes program-related investments. Most awards are listed as core support, with some issue-specific grants such as net neutrality.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$18.4M
Total Revenue
$7M
Total Expenses
$6.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $50K, with a median of $46K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$46K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
National11 states funded
About 3% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
BRENDA SEARS
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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