The John & Weezie Gates Charitable Trust makes a small number of relatively large, unrestricted grants to a handful of repeat grantees focused on local health, faith-based community life, and regional environmental advocacy. Most funding is concentrated in Chicago/Illinois-area institutions and is provided as general operating support, indicating trust in institutional leadership rather than project-specific funding.
Concentrated portfolio: six grants totaling $870,000 directed mainly to three repeat beneficiaries; relatively large, unrestricted grants paid in multiple installments rather than many small awards.
A defining feature of John & Weezie Gates Charitable Trust C/o John Gates Jr is its repeated, multi-year support for a small set of institutions rather than a wide spread of one-off awards. The largest recent grants in the record go to Children's Memorial Foundation in Chicago, including $205,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024 for general fund support, alongside a $165,000 2025 grant to Trinity in Hartford. The trust also backs environmental advocacy at a similar level, with $100,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025 to Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago. The pattern suggests a donor-advised or family-style trust that favors general operating support and renewal of existing relationships. That approach appears across health, faith-based institutional support, and policy or conservation work. In addition to major hospital-related giving, the trust has funded Chicago religious institutions, school annual funds, and organizations tied to rehabilitation services and regional environmental work. The grants are large relative to the trust's overall number of awards, which points to a concentrated portfolio built around a limited group of beneficiaries. Chicago-area institutions appear frequently, but the recipient list also reaches Hartford, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, DC, and California.
In pediatric health, the trust gave $205,000 in 2025 and $200,000 in 2024 to Children's Memorial Foundation for general fund support. That same pattern of institutional support appears in rehabilitation services, where it awarded $23,520 in 2025 to Rehabilitation Institute for the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab Spark! Fundraiser and $25,000 in 2024 to Shirley Ryan Abilitylab. Faith-based support is another visible thread. Trinity in Hartford received $165,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024, while St Chrysostom's Church in Chicago received $25,000 in 2025 and $20,000 in 2024. Environmental work is also part of the mix: the Environmental Law & Policy Center received $100,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and The Everglades Foundation received $26,800 in 2025 after a $25,000 grant in 2024.
Typical grants cluster at $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the trust also makes much larger awards to a few institutions. The record shows repeat support across years for several recipients, including annual general fund grants and recurring support for events or appeals. The giving profile is institutional rather than individual, and the trust does not make program-related investments. The recent grants list is dominated by general fund awards, with one explicitly tied to a fundraiser.
$682K
$2.2M
$288K
$727K
Most grants fall between $1K and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Children's Memorial Foundation, Trinity, Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC)
All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 38% of grants go to recipients in the trust's HQ state. Chicago appears repeatedly, with grants to Children's Memorial Foundation, Environmental Law & Policy Center, St Chrysostom's Church, Shirley Ryan Abilitylab, and The University of Chicago. Other recipient cities include Hartford, Hobe Sound, Palmetto Bay, Groton, Quincy, Hardwich, Deerfield, Arlington, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and Jupiter Island.
The recent grants point to a mix of pediatric health, rehabilitation, faith-based institutions, and environmental advocacy. Examples include hospital-related giving in Chicago, church support in Hartford and Chicago, and funding for environmental and policy work through Chicago- and Virginia-based organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Children's Memorial Foundation, Trinity, Environmental Law & Policy Center, St Chrysostom's Church, The Everglades Foundation, Hobe Sound Community Chest Inc, Groton School Annual Fund, Team Impact, and Eagle Hill School. The pattern is consistent with ongoing support rather than isolated awards.
The trust's typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,000 at the median, and $10,000 at the 75th percentile. That distribution sits alongside a handful of much larger general fund grants to a small number of repeat recipients.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 38% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is especially prominent in the recipient list, but the trust also funds organizations in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, DC, and California.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRINITY | HARTFORD, CT | $350,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER (ELPC) | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST CHRYSOSTOM'S CHURCH | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST CHRYSOSTOMS DAY SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE CONSERVATION FUND | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| REHABILITATION INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB SPARK! FUNDRAISER |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (AEI) | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEAM IMPACT | QUINCY, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| DUNE ACRES CIVIL IMPROVEMENTS FOUNDATION | DUNE ACRES, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| EAGLE HILL SCHOOL | HARDWICH, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| GROTON SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | GROTON, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| EAGLEBROOK SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | DEERFIELD, MA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| GOODMAN THEATER FUND | CHICAGO, ID | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUPITER ISLAND MEDICAL CLINIC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MADONNA MISSION | NORTHFIELD, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST ANTHONY TRUST OF HARTFORD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,600 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| MILL REEF CLUB | COLUMBUS, OH | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHRIST MEMORIAL CHAPEL | HOBE SOUND, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| TOWN OF JUPITER ISLAND | HOBE SOUND, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHICAGO CITY DAY SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| LYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| SALISBURY SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | SALISBURY, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| UW FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUPITER ISLAND GARDEN CLUB | HOBE SOUND, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| TOWN OF DUNE ACRES | DUNE ACRES, IN | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $650 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUIPITER ISLAND HISTORICAL FUND | HODE SOUND, FL | $150 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $205,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TRINITY | HARTFORD, CT | $165,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER (ELPC) | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $26,800 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MARTIN COUNTY | HOBE SOUND, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HOBE SOUND COMMUNITY CHEST INC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST ANTHONY TRUST OF HARTFORD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ST CHRYSOSTOM'S CHURCH | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| REHABILITATION INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $23,520 | 2025 | SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB SPARK! FUNDRAISER |
| THE CONSERVATION FUND | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (AEI) | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GROTON SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | GROTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EAGLE HILL SCHOOL | HARDWICH, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| JUPITER ISLAND MEDICAL CLINIC | HOBE SOUND, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EAGLEBROOK SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND | DEERFIELD, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| TEAM IMPACT | QUINCY, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
TRINITY
$350,000GENERAL FUND
ST CHRYSOSTOM'S CHURCH
$25,000GENERAL FUND
ST CHRYSOSTOMS DAY SCHOOL
GENERAL FUND
CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL FUND
THE CONSERVATION FUND
$15,000GENERAL FUND
REHABILITATION INSTITUTE
$10,000SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB SPARK! FUNDRAISER
DUNE ACRES CIVIL IMPROVEMENTS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL FUND
GROTON SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND
EAGLEBROOK SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND
GOODMAN THEATER FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND
MADONNA MISSION
$3,000GENERAL FUND
ST ANTHONY TRUST OF HARTFORD
$2,600GENERAL FUND
MILL REEF CLUB
$2,000GENERAL FUND
UNIVERSITY LIGGETT SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$2,000GENERAL FUND
CHRIST MEMORIAL CHAPEL
$1,000GENERAL FUND
TOWN OF JUPITER ISLAND
$1,000GENERAL FUND
SALISBURY SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$1,000GENERAL FUND
JUPITER ISLAND GARDEN CLUB
$1,000GENERAL FUND
TOWN OF DUNE ACRES
$1,000GENERAL FUND
JUIPITER ISLAND HISTORICAL FUND
$150GENERAL FUND
CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$205,000GENERAL FUND
TRINITY
$165,000GENERAL FUND
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MARTIN COUNTY
$25,000GENERAL FUND
ST ANTHONY TRUST OF HARTFORD
$25,000GENERAL FUND
ST CHRYSOSTOM'S CHURCH
$25,000GENERAL FUND
REHABILITATION INSTITUTE
$23,520SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB SPARK! FUNDRAISER
THE CONSERVATION FUND
$15,000GENERAL FUND
GROTON SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$5,000GENERAL FUND
EAGLEBROOK SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND
$5,000GENERAL FUND