The Nichols Family Foundation concentrates its giving on major arts and cultural institutions—especially within the Chicago region—while also supporting selective private education and youth services. A small number of very large grants dominate their portfolio; they frequently make repeat, transformational gifts to flagship organizations rather than many modest awards. Their choices indicate a preference for institution-building support for museums, theaters, and a handful of education and youth-service partners.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants with repeat funding to a few flagship institutions; few total grants but large amounts per grantee indicating transformational or capital-style support.
A pair of multi-million-dollar unrestricted grants to the Art Institute of Chicago stands out as the clearest marker of the John D and Alexandra Nichols Family Foundation’s approach: large, flexible support for major cultural institutions. The foundation’s recent giving also includes seven-figure awards to Loomis Chaffee School and repeated support for Chicago-area organizations, showing a pattern of institution-level funding rather than many small project grants. In the recent grants list, arts and culture dominate, with museums, theaters, opera, ballet, public media, and a zoo all appearing among recipients. Youth services and education are present too, but in a narrower band of awards, often through repeat gifts to the same organizations. The amounts suggest a portfolio built around a few sizable relationships, especially in Chicago and nearby communities, alongside selective support for schools outside Illinois. Several of the listed grants are unrestricted, reinforcing a preference for flexible capital that recipients can direct where needed most. The foundation’s public profile reads as a concentrated grantmaker with recurring ties to flagship institutions and a strong tilt toward established organizations.
Arts and culture are the foundation’s most visible lane. It gave $500,000 to Writers Theatre in Glencoe and $100,000 to Lyric Opera of Chicago, while also supporting the Harris Theater with $600,000 in 2024 and $75,000 in 2025. Museum and visual-arts support also appears repeatedly, including gifts to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Music Institute of Chicago. Youth and social-service funding is narrower but consistent. Ucan received $1,200,000 in 2023, followed by $250,000 and $75,000 in later years, indicating a repeated relationship. The foundation also granted $400,000 to Foundation for Homan Square and $25,000 to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in 2024 and 2025. Education appears through selective school support. Loomis Chaffee School received $1,500,000 in both 2023 and 2024, making it one of the largest recurring education recipients in the recent record.
Typical grants cluster at $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record is shaped by much larger unrestricted awards that lift the overall scale. The foundation gives repeatedly to the same organizations across multiple years, especially in arts, education, and youth services, rather than spreading support widely. It is a family foundation, and the grants shown are overwhelmingly unrestricted, pointing to flexible operating-style support. The record also shows continuity over time: several recipients appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with follow-on gifts.
$5.6M
$32.2M
$2.5M
$6.1M
Most grants fall between $2K and $25K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Notable grantees: Art Institute of Chicago, Loomis Chaffee School, UCAN, Harris Theater, Writers Theatre
Giving is highly concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 81% of grants and is the top state by recipient count. Chicago is the main recipient city, with repeated awards to institutions there across arts, media, and social services. Other Illinois locations appear less often, including Glencoe and Winnetka. Outside Illinois, the recent grants list includes Windsor, Connecticut, through support for Loomis Chaffee School. All listed grants in the provided country distribution go to U.S. recipients.
Arts and culture organizations are the clearest theme, including museums, theaters, opera, ballet, public media, and a zoo. The recent grants list also includes education and youth-service organizations, but those appear alongside a much heavier concentration in cultural institutions.
Yes. The recent grants list repeatedly labels awards as unrestricted, including large gifts across arts, education, and youth services. That pattern suggests flexible support rather than tightly restricted project-only funding.
Recurring support is common. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Loomis Chaffee School, Ucan, Writers Theatre, Harris Theater, Music Institute of Chicago, Wttw, Foundation for Homan Square, and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab.
Illinois is the main geography, with 81% of grants going to recipients in the state. Chicago is the most common recipient city, and the list also includes Glencoe and Winnetka in Illinois.
The grant-size distribution is $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes much larger awards, including seven-figure gifts.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $3,275,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $912,750 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WRITERS THEATRE | GLENCOE, IL | $650,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WINNETKA COMMUNITY HOUSE | WINNETKA, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WTTW | CHICAGO, IL | $158,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HARRIS THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UCAN | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITY LAB | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN | GLENCOE, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CHICAGO & N ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $12,394 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIRL SCOUTS GCNWI | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSN | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MILLENNIUM PARK FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY - AIC | CHICAGO, IL | $5,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WOMEN'S BOARD OF THE FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LYRIC OPERA | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF THE GREEN BAY TRAIL | GLENCOE, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ITA (INSTITUTE FOR THERAPY THROUGH THE ARTS) | EVANSTON, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY | WINNETKA, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $1,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHATTANOOGA | ATLANTA, GA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PAWS OF HONOR | MERRIFIELD, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INTERNATIONAL HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VESTED INTEREST IN K9'S INC | EAST TAUTON, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INDIAN HILL CLUB (IHC) SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | WINNETKA, IL | $500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WINNETKA-NORTHFIELD | NORTHFIELD, IL | $500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SMILING DOG FARMS | HOUSTON, TX | $100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS | MILFORD, NH | $100 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $3,775,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WRITERS THEATRE | GLENCOE, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOUNDATION FOR HOMAN SQUARE | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $121,680 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UCAN | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WTTWWFMT | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FDN | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WWCI | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITY LAB | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BETTER GOVT ASSN | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
WRITERS THEATRE
$650,000UNRESTRICTED
WTTW
$158,000UNRESTRICTED
UNRESTRICTED
HARRIS THEATER
$100,000UNRESTRICTED
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$35,000UNRESTRICTED
FIELD MUSEUM
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CHICAGO & N ILLINOIS
$12,394UNRESTRICTED
RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
MILLENNIUM PARK FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY - AIC
$5,500UNRESTRICTED
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
WOMEN'S BOARD OF THE FIELD MUSEUM
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
LYRIC OPERA
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF THE GREEN BAY TRAIL
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
ITA (INSTITUTE FOR THERAPY THROUGH THE ARTS)
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP FOOD PANTRY
$1,500UNRESTRICTED
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHATTANOOGA
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
PAWS OF HONOR
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
VESTED INTEREST IN K9'S INC
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
INDIAN HILL CLUB (IHC) SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$500UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WINNETKA-NORTHFIELD
$500UNRESTRICTED
SMILING DOG FARMS
$100UNRESTRICTED
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
$100UNRESTRICTED
WRITERS THEATRE
$500,000UNRESTRICTED
HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE
$75,000UNRESTRICTED
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$60,000UNRESTRICTED
WTTWWFMT
$35,000UNRESTRICTED
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FDN
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
WWCI
$25,000UNRESTRICTED