About Cme Group Foundation
CME Group Foundation concentrates its giving on education, using large, targeted grants to expand student opportunities. The foundation funds both postsecondary scholarships (delivered through a national intermediary) and hands-on K–12 computer science programs in Chicago, showing a blend of national scholarship work and local STEM investment. Grants are sizable and strategic rather than numerous, often routed through established program partners to reach students directly.
Focus Areas
Undergraduate and vocational scholarships administered through Scholarship America (CME Group Scholarship Program)K–12 after‑school computer science / STEM clubs in Chicago Public SchoolsImproving STEM access for underserved Chicago students through school-foundation partnershipsCapacity-building via established intermediaries and education foundations
Who They Fund
Chicago Public Schools students (pre-K — 12)early learners and kindergarten-aged children (low-income)first-generation & low-income college students / community college students
About Cme Group Foundation
A $634,000 grant to Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation for CPS computer science after-school clubs signals the center of Cme Group Foundation’s education strategy: targeted support for Chicago students, especially in STEM and school-based learning. The foundation pairs that local work with a national scholarship program administered through Scholarship America, including a $600,000 award in 2025 for the CME Group Foundation Scholarship Program. That combination points to a funder that uses a small number of large grants to move resources through established intermediaries rather than scattering many small awards. Its recent grants also show an interest in capacity and pathway-building, not just direct programming. City Colleges of Chicago Foundation received support for The Chicago Roadmap, while Chicago Public Education Fund was funded for Chicago Leads and Fund 5. Other awards support organizations working on robotics, early learning, teacher preparation, leadership development, and college access. The foundation’s grantmaking is largely Illinois-based, but the portfolio includes select grants outside the state, including to Scholarship America in Minnesota and to the George W. Bush Foundation in Texas.
What Cme Group Foundation Funds
Computer science is a clear throughline. In 2025, Cme Group Foundation gave $125,000 to Children First Fund the Chicago Public Schools Foundation for Robotics OST Connecting to Our Community, alongside its larger CPS computer science after-school clubs grant. Early learning is another recurring area: Chicago Public Library Foundation received $100,000 for the 2023-2025 Early Learning & School Readiness Initiative at Chicago Public Library, and another $100,000 for Closing Chicago’s Opportunity Gap: The 2020-2025 Early Childhood Learning Initiative at Chicago Public Library. The foundation also backs college and career pathways. City Colleges of Chicago Foundation received $200,000 for The Chicago Roadmap, and The Chicago Community Foundation received $100,000 for Progressive Pathways for Postsecondary Success. In educator and leadership development, Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois received $100,000 for UIUC CS Teacher Endorsement Support, while Archdiocese of Chicago received $100,000 for Principal Preparation, Development, and Formation.
How Cme Group Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent portfolio also includes six-figure awards. The foundation gives through a regular funder structure and does not make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not part of the listed programs. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including Scholarship America, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago Public Library Foundation, and The Barack Obama Foundation, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Funding is organized through established programs such as General Grants, K-12 Education Grants, Early Childhood Education Grants, and the CME Group Foundation Scholars Program.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$12.8M
Total Assets
$63.8M
Total Revenue
$11.2M
Total Expenses
$7.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Regional12 states funded
About 77% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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