The Donald R Wilson Jr Family Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving in the Chicago area, with large, multi-year gifts to major local institutions. Its funding is heavily weighted toward higher education at the University of Chicago and pediatric healthcare at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. The foundation favors a small number of high-value grants rather than broad, diversified giving.
Highly concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants (repeated payments to the same institutions), primarily directed to flagship Chicago organizations rather than many small grantees.
Donald R Wilson Jr Family Foundation’s recent giving is defined by very large, repeated support to the University of Chicago, including a $3,584,303 grant in 2024 and a $3,100,000 grant in 2025 for general support. That pattern sits alongside substantial funding for Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago, showing a clear preference for a small set of Chicago institutions rather than a broad portfolio of many grantees. The foundation also appears in project-specific giving at the university, where it awarded $25,000 for Carbon Vault in 2023, indicating interest in a named initiative as well as general institutional support. Across the recent grants list, the foundation’s grantmaking centers on higher education, pediatric healthcare, and a handful of Chicago-based civic and cultural nonprofits. The University of Chicago alone appears multiple times across 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Lurie Children’s Hospital also receives repeated support over the same period. That mix suggests a donor with long-running ties to major local institutions and a preference for sizable commitments that recur over time. Outside those flagship recipients, the foundation’s grants extend to organizations such as Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago Parks Foundation, and Chicago Architecture Biennial, reinforcing the Chicago-centered nature of its philanthropy.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s recent record. The University of Chicago received $3,584,303 in 2024, $1,100,000 in 2024, and $250,000 in 2023 for Connections 2022 SP, in addition to a $25,000 grant in 2023 for Carbon Vault. Those awards show both broad institutional support and targeted project funding within the same university relationship. Pediatric healthcare is the other major area. Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chi received $400,000 in 2024, $400,000 in 2025, and another $400,000 in 2024, all listed as general support. Beyond those two anchors, the foundation also funded Chicago-based civic and public-interest groups, including $50,000 to Chicago Parks Foundation in 2024 and $50,000 to Chicago Community Trust in 2024.
Typical grant size is large relative to the overall portfolio: p25 is $25,000, median is $100,000, and p75 is $225,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, especially the University of Chicago, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chi, and Chicago Yacht Club. The foundation gives general support most often, with some project-specific grants such as Carbon Vault and Connections 2022 SP. It is a family foundation, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$469K
$5.6M
$290K
$594K
Most grants fall between $25K and $225K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$225K
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Notable grantees: University of Chicago, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
The foundation’s giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 71% of grants, and every grant in the recent list went to a U.S. recipient. Chicago is the main recipient city, with multiple grants to organizations there, including the University of Chicago, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chi, Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago Parks Foundation, and Chicago Community Trust. Outside Illinois, recent grants reached Washington, DC; Bristol, RI; Coconut Grove, FL; New Buffalo, MI; and Kingston, RI.
The recent record centers on major Chicago institutions, especially the University of Chicago and Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chi. It also supports Chicago civic and cultural groups such as Chicago Yacht Club, Chicago Parks Foundation, Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago Community Trust, and Shedd Aquarium.
Mostly general support. The grant list shows repeated general-support awards to the University of Chicago, Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chi, and Chicago Yacht Club, along with project-specific examples like Carbon Vault and Connections 2022 SP at the University of Chicago.
The distribution skews toward larger awards: p25 is $25,000, median is $100,000, and p75 is $225,000. Recent grants include several six-figure awards and multiple seven-figure gifts to the University of Chicago.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 71% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent list is heavily Chicago-based, with additional grants in Washington, DC; Rhode Island; Florida; Michigan; and Wisconsin.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US SAILING FOUNDATION | BRISTOL, RI | $197,415 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $94,983 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Chicago Architecture Biennial Inc | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| University of RI Foundation & Alumni Engagement | Kingston, RI | $39,952 | 2026 | General Support |
| Navy Seal Foundation INC | Virginia beach, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Shake-A-Leg Miami Inc | Coconut Grove, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center Inc | New York, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | General Support |
| Callen Lorde Community Health Project Inc | New York, NY | $12,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Noble Network of Charter Schools | Chicago, IL | $7,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| Lincoln Park Conservancy | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $4,524 | 2026 | General Support |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $3,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHI | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| US SAILING FOUNDATION | BRISTOL, RI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO YACHT CLUB | chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL support |
| CHICAGO YACHT CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | COMPETITION FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $3,584,303 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHI | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHI | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| US SAILING FOUNDATION | BRISTOL, RI | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO YACHT CLUB | chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL support |
| SHAKE-A-LEG MIAMI INC | COCONUT GROVE, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO YACHT CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | CONNECTIONS 2022 SP |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO YACHT CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| US SAILING FOUNDATION | BRISTOL, RI | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY TRAILS | NEW BUFFALO, MI | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INLAND LAKES YACHTING ASSOCIATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | chicago, IL | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL support |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | CARBON VAULT |
| GLOBAL FAIRNESS INTIATIVE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| URI FOUNDATION | KINGSTON, RI | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANTI-CRUELTY SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER ON HALSTED | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALIVE RESCUE | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ABOUT FACE THEATER | CHCIAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
University of RI Foundation & Alumni Engagement
$39,952General Support
General Support
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$3,100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
$100,000GENERAL support
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
$10,000COMPETITION FUND
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
$100,000GENERAL support
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF BERRIEN COUNTY TRAILS
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INLAND LAKES YACHTING ASSOCIATION INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALIVE RESCUE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ABOUT FACE THEATER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT