Chicago White Sox Charities focuses on health (especially cancer research and pediatric cancer care), Chicago-area community development tied to sports and youth opportunities, and disaster/food relief. They fund a mix of large institutional endowments and program support for local hospitals, sport-linked community funds, education and early-intervention nonprofits, and a smaller set of national humanitarian organizations. Recurrent grantees and gift designations (endowments, awards, event proceeds) indicate a preference for sustainable, high-profile investments that link the team brand to health and community impact in the Chicago region.
Chicago White Sox Charities Inc. makes its most distinctive commitments through named endowments and collaboration awards, including a $1,000,000 gift to the Dalmation Dream Foundation to establish the Nina Nicolai Dream Endowment and another $1,000,000 grant to Stand Up to Cancer for the Nina Nicolai Innovation in Collaboration Award. That pattern shows a funder willing to place large resources behind long-term structures as well as recognition-based giving. In the same period, the foundation also backed Chicago health institutions with substantial general support, including Rush University Medical Center, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern Memorial Foundation, each at $500,000. Their grantmaking links the White Sox brand to cancer research, pediatric cancer care, and Chicago-area community impact, while also reaching sports-connected civic funds and organizations serving youth, families, and patients. The recent record includes support for the White Sox Community Fund, the Chicago Sports Alliance Fund through the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and hospitals and community nonprofits in Chicago and beyond. Across the grants list, the foundation combines high-dollar institutional support with targeted awards tied to specific campaigns, funds, or events.
Cancer-related giving is a core theme. Chicago White Sox Charities Inc. gave $52,500 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago to support the Lurie comprehensive cancer center, and $25,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation for general support in 2024, followed by another $25,000 in 2025. They also directed $138,699 to the Lymphoma Research Foundation as proceeds from the Hendriks shirt campaign. Beyond oncology, the foundation supports Chicago youth academic work: Citizens Education Fund Operation Push received $205,000 for general support, and Push for Excellence received $100,000 to support academic excellence for Chicago-area youth. Food-security and emergency relief appear as well, including $25,000 to Greater Chicago Food Depository for healthy student food markets and $40,000 to World Central Kitchen for general support. The grant record also includes $40,250 to Feeding the Children Everywhere for a large-scale volunteer event.
$2.6M
$7.2M
$3M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $23K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$23K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Combination of a few very large, high-profile gifts (endowments/awards) and multiple mid-sized grants; concentrated geographic focus on Chicago-area institutions with repeated support to core local partners, plus selective national humanitarian recipients tied to emergencies or awareness campaigns.
Notable grantees: DALMATION DREAM FOUNDATION (Nina Nicolai Dream Endowment), STAND UP TO CANCER, White Sox Community Fund / Chicago Sports Alliance, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Typical awards cluster around mid-five figures, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $22,500, and a p75 of $40,438. The portfolio includes both one-time gifts and repeated support: White Sox Community Fund appears across multiple years, as do Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Lurie Children’s. The foundation is a public charity, not a vehicle for individual grants or program-related investments. The recent record also shows varied grant designations, including general support, endowments, awards, event proceeds, and campaign-linked gifts, alongside a mix of operating support and more directed project funding.
Giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 73% of grants. Chicago is the main recipient city, with recent grants to Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Citizens Education Fund Operation Push, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. Other Illinois recipients include Highland Park, Urbana, and Chicago suburbs served by special-needs providers. Outside Illinois, the foundation’s recent grants remain in the United States and include Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Longwood, Baltimore, and Santa Monica. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic.
The grant record centers on cancer research and pediatric oncology, Chicago-area youth and education, local health systems, and food or humanitarian relief. Named recipients include Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Citizens Education Fund Operation Push, and World Central Kitchen.
No. Illinois receives 73% of grants, but the recent list also includes recipients in California, New York, Washington, Florida, Maryland, and other U.S. locations. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic, with all grants going to U.S. organizations.
Repeated recipients include the White Sox Community Fund, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Those organizations appear in more than one grant year or with more than one designation.
The recent record shows general support, endowments, awards, and event-linked gifts. Examples include the Nina Nicolai Dream Endowment, the Nina Nicolai Innovation in Collaboration Award, and proceeds from the Hendriks shirt campaign, alongside unrestricted support for hospitals and community funds.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHITE SOX COMMUNITY FUND | — | $532,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | — | $500,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | — | $500,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | — | $500,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| WHITE SOX COMMUNITY FUND-CHICAGO SPORTS ALLIANCE | — | $200,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | — | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ROC SOLID FOUNDATION INC | — | $30,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES | — | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | — | $25,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ROAD HOME PROGRAM RUSH | — | $21,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHARITIES CNI | — | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS (WITS) | — | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CASA OF COOK COUNTY | — | $20,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ST JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH | — | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICES | — | $15,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| INSTITUTO DEL PROGRESO LATINO | — | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF ILLINOIS (FISK BOBBLE) | — | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| ADVOCATE HEALTH & HOSPITALS | — | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME | — | $10,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| CHAPEISTREET CHURCH | — | $8,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| THE ORANGE TENT PROJECT | — | $8,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| PRO LABORE DEI INC | — | $8,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER ASSEMBLIES | — | $8,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| ANDREW WEISHAR FOUNDATION | — | $8,500 | 2025 | General Support |
| JWEGSTRONG FOUNDATION | — | $6,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| MINNIE MINOSO ACADEMY | — | $5,850 | 2025 | General Support |
| DALMATION DREAM FOUNDATION | Santa Barbara, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | To establish the Nina Nicolai Dream Endowment |
| STAND UP TO CANCER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | To establish the Nina Nicolai Innovation in Collaboration Award |
| Robert R McCormick Foundation | CHICAGO, IL | $620,000 | 2024 | General support and Chicago Sports Alliance Fund |
| CITIZENS EDUCATION FUND OPERATION PUSH | Chicago, IL | $205,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $138,699 | 2024 | General support representing proceeds from Hendriks shirt campaign |
| University of Illinois Foundation | Urbana, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | General support |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS FOUNDATION (WIRTZ) | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| FEEDING THE CHILDREN EVERYWHERE | LONGWOOD, FL | $40,250 | 2024 | Donation to support large scale volunteer event |
| SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Working in the Schools | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | General support |
| JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| ST JAMES SOCIAL CARE | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| DIGS WITH DIGNITY | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | Sox Give Grant Program |
| MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| Rush University Medical Center | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | Road Home Program |
| SHORE COMMUNITY SERVICES | SKOKIE, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| GILDA'S CLUB CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | General Support |
| HOPE ANIMAL RESCUES | GODFREY, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | General Support |
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$500,000General Support
General Support
CASA OF COOK COUNTY
$20,000General Support
ST JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH
$15,000General Support
CHAPEISTREET CHURCH
$8,500General Support
THE ORANGE TENT PROJECT
$8,500General Support
PRO LABORE DEI INC
$8,500General Support
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER ASSEMBLIES
$8,500General Support
ANDREW WEISHAR FOUNDATION
$8,500General Support
JWEGSTRONG FOUNDATION
$6,000General Support
MINNIE MINOSO ACADEMY
$5,850General Support
To establish the Nina Nicolai Dream Endowment
To establish the Nina Nicolai Innovation in Collaboration Award
General support and Chicago Sports Alliance Fund
CITIZENS EDUCATION FUND OPERATION PUSH
$205,000General Support
General support representing proceeds from Hendriks shirt campaign
Donation to support large scale volunteer event
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM
$25,000General Support
ST JAMES SOCIAL CARE
$15,000General Support
DIGS WITH DIGNITY
$15,000Sox Give Grant Program
HOPE ANIMAL RESCUES
$10,000General Support