The John H HART Foundation concentrates its giving on major Chicago-area cultural and civic institutions, with large, visible gifts to performing arts organizations, arts education, and a prominent local medical center. Grants are sizeable and often repeat commitments, suggesting a preference for sustaining flagship community assets rather than broad-based small grants. The foundation's support also includes natural science/zoonotic education through Lincoln Park Zoo, indicating interest in family-oriented public institutions.
A defining feature of John H Hart Foundation’s recent giving is the way it concentrates sizable, repeated support on a small set of Chicago institutions. The largest grant in the current record is $775,000 to The Jessica Fund, and other major commitments have gone to Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, and Lincoln Park Zoo. That pattern points to a funder that backs established civic and cultural assets with meaningful dollars rather than broad, one-off microgrants. The foundation’s profile also shows continuity across years. Northwestern Memorial Foundation appears in multiple recent years, as do Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chi Arts, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Those recurring awards suggest sustained relationships with organizations that serve the public through performing arts, arts education, health, and family-oriented educational programming. Alongside those anchor institutions, the foundation has supported the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Foundation for Hearing & Speech, Mayo Clinic, and Museum of Contemporary Art. The result is a grantmaking record centered on Chicago’s cultural and civic infrastructure, with a smaller set of awards extending to other health and community-serving institutions.
Arts and culture are central in the record. John H Hart Foundation gave $250,000 to Goodman Theatre in 2024, $125,000 to Steppenwolf Theatre in 2025, and $90,000 to Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2025, reflecting sustained support for major Chicago performing arts institutions. Arts education is another visible thread. The foundation awarded $115,000 to Chi Arts in 2025 and $50,000 to Merit School of Music in 2025, following earlier gifts of $100,000 to Chi Arts in 2024 and $40,000 to Merit School of Music in 2024. Those grants show an ongoing relationship with youth-facing arts education organizations. Health and public-serving institutions also appear in the record. Northwestern Memorial Foundation received $150,000 in 2025, while the Foundation for Hearing & Speech received $50,000 in 2025. The foundation also gave $150,000 to Lincoln Park Zoo in 2025, linking its portfolio to public education and family-access institutions.
$1.2M
$9.5M
$1.2M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $1K and $15K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, large-dollar gifts to prominent Chicago institutions with several repeat grantees; funding is targeted to a small set of cultural, healthcare, and public institutions rather than widely distributed small grants.
Notable grantees: THE JESSICA FUND, NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, LINCOLN PARK ZOO, GOODMAN THEATRE, STEPPENWOLF THEATRE
Typical grants cluster around a modest midrange, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,500, and a p75 of $15,000. At the same time, the recent record includes much larger awards, so the distribution is right-skewed rather than uniform. The pattern looks relationship-based: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chi Arts, Lincoln Park Zoo, Merit School of Music, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Mayo Clinic. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants are charitable contributions, with some listed simply as charitable.
Grantmaking is national in scope, but the record is highly concentrated in Illinois. Recipients in the HQ state account for 48% of grants, and Chicago dominates the named recipient locations. Outside Illinois, the recent list includes Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as a non-Illinois recipient. The country distribution is entirely domestic: all 161 grants in the provided dataset went to U.S. recipients. The geography suggests a Chicago-centered portfolio with a limited number of out-of-state awards.
The recent record is centered on Chicago performing arts groups, arts education organizations, and major civic or health institutions. Examples include Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chi Arts, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $1,000, a median of $2,500, and a p75 of $15,000. The recent grant list also includes larger awards, including multiple six-figure gifts.
Yes. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 48% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The named recipients in the recent record are heavily concentrated in Chicago.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
The record shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years. Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chi Arts, Lincoln Park Zoo, Merit School of Music, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Mayo Clinic all appear more than once.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| STEPPENWOLF THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHI ARTS | CHICAGO, IL | $115,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JESSICA FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $90,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FOUNDATION FOR HEARING & SPEECH | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INVEST FOR KIDS | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| SANTA FE OPERA | SANTA FE, NM | $15,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | SANTA FE, NM | $14,400 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| THE JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $11,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WTTW 11 WFMT | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SANTA FE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SANTA FE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THINK NEW MEXICO | SANTA FE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| A BETTER CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| TURNOUT ACTIVISM INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| INGENUITY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE STUTTERING FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| ARTS OF LIFE | CHICAGO, IL | $3,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FAMILY MATTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $3,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW MEXICO APPLESEED | SANTA FE, NM | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET | SANTA FE, NM | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| CENTER ON HALSTED | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI | CORAL GABLES, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LA FAMILIA MEDICAL CENTER | SANTA FE, NM | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS | SANTA FE, NM | $2,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| SANTA FE PRO MUSICA INC | SANTA FE, NM | $2,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| OUTWARD BOUND | LAGRANGEVILLE, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| FISTULA FOUNDATION | SAN JOSE, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | NAPERVILLE, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION | ASPEN, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CAMPERSHIPS FOR NEBAGAMON | EAST TROY, WI | $1,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
| JCC FOUNDATION | LAKE ZURICH, IL | $600 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| DISABLED VETERANS NATIONAL FOUNDATI | LANHAM, MD | $250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| GOODMAN THEATRE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION |
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$150,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$150,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
STEPPENWOLF THEATRE
$125,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHI ARTS
$115,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
THE JESSICA FUND
$100,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$90,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FOUNDATION FOR HEARING & SPEECH
$50,000CHARITABLE
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
GOODMAN THEATRE
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
$30,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
$25,000CHARITABLE
INVEST FOR KIDS
$15,000CHARITABLE
SANTA FE OPERA
$15,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
$14,400CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
THE JOFFREY BALLET
$11,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL
$10,000CHARITABLE
WTTW 11 WFMT
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SANTA FE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000CHARITABLE
THINK NEW MEXICO
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO
$10,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$10,000CHARITABLE
A BETTER CHICAGO
$7,500CHARITABLE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$6,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
TURNOUT ACTIVISM INC
$5,000CHARITABLE
INGENUITY
$5,000CHARITABLE
THE STUTTERING FOUNDATION
$5,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
ARTS OF LIFE
$3,500CHARITABLE
FAMILY MATTERS
$3,500CHARITABLE
NEW MEXICO APPLESEED
$2,500CHARITABLE
ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
CENTER ON HALSTED
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
$2,500CHARITABLE
LA FAMILIA MEDICAL CENTER
$2,500CHARITABLE
NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS
$2,500CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
SANTA FE PRO MUSICA INC
$2,000CHARITABLE
OUTWARD BOUND
$1,500CHARITABLE
FISTULA FOUNDATION
$1,500CHARITABLE
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
$1,000CHARITABLE
MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
INDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION
$1,000CHARITABLE
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$1,000CHARITABLE
PAWS CHICAGO
$1,000CHARITABLE
CAMPERSHIPS FOR NEBAGAMON
$1,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION
JCC FOUNDATION
$600CHARITABLE
NATURE CONSERVANCY
$500CHARITABLE
DISABLED VETERANS NATIONAL FOUNDATI
$250CHARITABLE
GOODMAN THEATRE
$250,000CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION