About Drw Foundation
The DRW Foundation focuses its philanthropy almost exclusively on education, concentrating significant gifts to K–12 charter school networks and higher-education STEM institutions. A large proportion of its funding has gone to a single Chicago-based charter operator (Noble Network of Charter Schools) with additional support for elite science and technology research/education at Caltech, indicating a preference for institutional, impact-oriented education investments.
Focus Areas
Chicago charter school networks (K–12, college-preparatory)STEM research and higher-education institutionsLarge institutional program support rather than small community grants
Who They Fund
not specified
Giving Approach
Highly concentrated: few, large grants with repeat funding to a primary grantee (Noble Network) and a single major gift to a national STEM university (Caltech).
Funding Style
unrestricted/general operating supportcore supportsponsorship
About Drw Foundation
A $500,000 grant to California Institute of Technology stands out in Drw Foundation’s recent giving and points to a clear preference for institutional education support. The foundation’s grants repeatedly back organizations tied to college access, STEM learning, and career readiness, with large checks flowing to charter-school networks and technical training partners rather than small community awards. Noble Network of Charter Schools received multiple grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including a $465,398 award in 2024 and a $315,000 award in 2025, showing sustained support for one Chicago-based education provider. The foundation also backed Code Platoon with a $200,000 grant in 2025, reflecting interest in workforce pathways that move participants into software engineering roles. Across the grant list, the pattern is program-agnostic general support, directed toward organizations that can use flexible funding to sustain long-term education and opportunity work. Recent grants also include Chicago Tech Academy High School, The Bloc, Greenwood Project, Bottom Line, and Kids First Chicago for Education, reinforcing a portfolio centered on education infrastructure and talent development.
What Drw Foundation Funds
Drw Foundation’s clearest pattern is support for K–12 charter and college-preparatory education. Noble Network of Charter Schools received $315,000 in 2025 and $465,398 in 2024 as general support, while Chicago Tech Academy High School received $110,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2023. The foundation also funds college-access and persistence work: Bottom Line received $113,400 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024. In STEM and career pathways, Code Nation received $100,000 in 2024 for general support, and The Bloc received $110,000 in 2023 plus $100,000 in 2025. Greenwood Project was awarded $150,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, indicating repeated backing for a program with ongoing relevance to the foundation’s education and opportunity focus.
How Drw Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around a median of $30,000, with the lower quartile at $10,296 and the upper quartile at $80,000. That said, the recent list shows a meaningful number of six-figure awards, especially for institutional education partners. The same organizations reappear across multiple years, including Noble Network of Charter Schools, Code Platoon, Greenwood Project, Bottom Line, and Kids First Chicago for Education, which points to recurring rather than one-off support. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF or program-related investor, and its recent grants are largely stated as general support, signaling flexible funding rather than project-only awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.2M
Total Assets
$4.9M
Total Revenue
$7.5M
Total Expenses
$3.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $80K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$80K
Geographic Reach
Regional16 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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