The Cushing Family Foundation makes a small number of large, unrestricted grants to mission-driven organizations that work on international health and development, refugee/immigrant integration, and spiritually oriented education/philosophy. Their giving favors general operating support rather than project-specific funding, and they appear comfortable funding both international NGOs and local community service groups. The foundation’s awards suggest an interest in social-issue storytelling, global health in Africa, and community resettlement/rehabilitation efforts.
A $400,000 general-purpose grant to Shine Global Inc in 2024 stands out as the largest recent award from Cushing Family Foundation C/o Robert T Napier Harrison LLP, and it captures the foundation’s preference for flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding. The foundation has backed organizations working in international health and development, refugee and immigrant resettlement, documentary and social-issue media, and spiritually oriented education. Recent grants also show that it is comfortable funding both national organizations and local Chicago-area nonprofits, with awards that range from five-figure support to six-figure commitments. The funder’s portfolio includes repeat support for several organizations over multiple years, which suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than isolated one-time gifts. In addition to social-issue film work, the foundation has supported institutions tied to philosophy and faith-inspired learning, as well as groups serving community needs in housing, food, legal aid, and humanitarian relief. The grants are almost entirely listed as general purposes, indicating a broad operating orientation across a wide mix of grantees.
In documentary and social-issue media, the foundation gave $400,000 in 2024 to Shine Global Inc for general purposes, and it also provided $100,000 in 2023 to the same organization. That pattern points to sustained support for nonprofit media work rather than a one-off project award. In global health and development, it gave $200,000 in 2025 to Amref Health Africa in the USA for general purposes, aligning with its interest in Africa-focused health work. Theosophical and spiritually oriented education also appears in the portfolio: Theosophical Society in America received $250,000 in 2025 for general purposes. The foundation has also funded refugee and immigrant integration work through Bridge Communities Inc, which received $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025. Those repeat grants show a consistent interest in resettlement and related community support.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $31,250. The recent record shows a mix of one-off gifts and recurring support: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Shine Global Inc, The Morton Arboretum, Humanitarian Service Project, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Bridge Communities Inc. The pattern is also strongly oriented toward general-purpose funding. The foundation is a family foundation, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments.
$8.1M
$164.3M
$10.1M
$8.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $31K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$31K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated giving: few (4) relatively large unrestricted grants; prefers general/operating support to established organizations rather than many small awards; mix of international and local beneficiaries.
Notable grantees: Shine Global Inc, Amref Health Africa in the USA, Bridge Communities Inc, Theosophical Society in America
Giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 62% of grants, while the top state by grant count is also IL. Within the recent grants list, Chicago appears frequently, along with Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, and Carol Stream. Outside Illinois, grants also went to organizations in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Boone, Iowa. The recipient-country distribution is entirely domestic, with all 48 grants going to US-based recipients.
Recent grants show support for documentary and social-issue media, global health and development in Africa, refugee and immigrant resettlement services, and spiritually oriented education. It also funds community-serving organizations working on housing, food access, legal aid, animal welfare, and the arts.
Yes. The recent grants listed are all marked for general purposes, including $250,000 to Theosophical Society in America, $200,000 to Amref Health Africa in the USA, and repeated $100,000 grants to Bridge Communities Inc and The Morton Arboretum.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the five-figure range: p25 is $10,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $31,250. Recent awards also include larger six-figure gifts, such as $400,000 to Shine Global Inc and $250,000 to Theosophical Society in America.
Yes. Shine Global Inc appears in 2023 and 2024; The Morton Arboretum appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Humanitarian Service Project appears in 2023 and 2024; Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc appears in 2023 and 2024; Lyric Opera of Chicago appears in 2023 and 2025; and Bridge Communities Inc appears in 2024 and 2025.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 62% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Illinois recipients include organizations in Chicago, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, and Carol Stream.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMREF HEALTH AFRICA IN THE USA | NEW YORK, NY | $3,250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY IN AMERICA | WHEATON, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GLEN ELLYN FOOD PANTRY | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | BOONE, IA | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BEAT THE STREETS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICES | NAPERVILLE, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ONE ACRE FUND | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST PETRONILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BRIDGE COMMUNITIES INC | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DUPAGE PADS | WHEATON, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MISERICORDIA HOME | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TEAM RUBICON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| EVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SHINE GLOBAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN | COON RAPIDS, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ST FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL | WHEATON, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| COLLEGE OF DUPAGE FOUNDATION | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BLOOD CANCER UNITED | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE CARTER CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PROXIMITY 2 HUMANITY | ALBEMARLE, NC | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| VISION TO LEARN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SHOWER UP CHICAGO | SPRING HILL, TN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DION'S CHICAGO DREAM | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DUPAGE SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL (KANE SENIOR COUNCIL) | LOMBARD, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THRESHOLDS | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| BHUTAN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| GROWING HOME CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LEGAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH JUSTICE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT | CAROL STREAM, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CHI-CARE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ERIKA'S LIGHTHOUSE | WINNETKA, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WEST POINT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE FORGE CHARITABLE ADVENTURES | LEMONT, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NAMI CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE JOSSELYN CENTER | NORTHBROOK, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WBEZ CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MARYVILLE ACADEMY | DES PLAINES, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| SAFER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MEALS ON WHEELS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA | WEST CHESTER, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| DULY HEALTH AND CARE CHARITABLE FUND | DOWNERS GROVE, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GENERAL PURPOSES
HELEN KELLER INTERNATIONAL
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ST PETRONILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
DUPAGE PADS
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR)
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
SHINE GLOBAL INC
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ST FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PROXIMITY 2 HUMANITY
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSES
SHOWER UP CHICAGO
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
BHUTAN FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
GROWING HOME CHICAGO
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CHI-CARE CHICAGO
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
WEST POINT SCHOOL OF MUSIC
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
THE FORGE CHARITABLE ADVENTURES
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MARYVILLE ACADEMY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
MEALS ON WHEELS
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES
DULY HEALTH AND CARE CHARITABLE FUND
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSES