The Lakonishok Foundation is a major supporter of arts and cultural institutions, primarily in Chicago, concentrating its philanthropy on large, institution-building grants to flagship performing and visual arts organizations. Its giving is dominated by multi-year, repeat grants to premier cultural institutions, with a smaller but notable commitment to higher education. The foundation favors well-established organizations that anchor Chicago’s cultural landscape rather than small grassroots groups.
A single Chicago ballet company received the foundation’s largest recent award: $800,563 to Joffrey Ballet in 2025. That grant fits a broader pattern of large, institution-building support for major arts organizations in Chicago, especially classical performing and visual arts groups. The Lakonishok Foundation’s recent giving also includes repeated funding for Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Art Institute, each appearing more than once in the grant list. Those recurring awards point to a funder that backs established cultural institutions over short-term project work. Alongside the arts, the foundation has also made repeated grants to the University of Illinois in Urbana, and smaller awards to Northwestern Medical School, College Possible Chicago, and other Illinois-based organizations. The pattern is consistent with a regional funder that concentrates most of its philanthropy in Illinois while also extending support to a limited set of organizations outside the state. Overall, its grantmaking shows a preference for recognizable institutions with operating, capital, or general support needs rather than a broad portfolio of many small recipients.
Arts and culture are central to the Lakonishok Foundation’s recent grantmaking. In 2025 it gave $375,000 to Chicago Symphony Orchestra for arts support, and in 2024 it awarded $251,404 to Art Institute for arts support. Lyric Opera of Chicago also received repeated arts grants, including $250,708 in 2024 and $250,000 in both 2023 and 2025. Higher education is another visible area. The foundation awarded $200,000 to University of Illinois in 2023 and again in 2025, followed by a $100,000 grant in 2024. It also supported Northwestern Medical School with $25,000 in 2025, $20,350 in 2024, and $15,000 in 2023, showing continuing interest in academic institutions in Illinois. Its giving also reaches military-related and community support organizations. Navy Seal Foundation received $100,000 in 2025 and $100,000 in 2024, while Hand in Hand USA received $25,000 in 2025, $20,000 in 2024, and $20,000 in 2023.
Grant sizes range widely, with a typical award of $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The distribution shows a mix of small gifts and much larger institutional grants. The recent record also shows repeated support over multiple years for the same organizations, including several recipients that appear in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is structured as a private philanthropic funder rather than an operating nonprofit, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$2.2M
$8.5M
$5.9M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $1K and $100K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$100K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Lakonishok Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 54 | $5.4M | 98.2% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Concentrated, large-dollar giving with multiple repeat grants to a small set of flagship cultural and educational institutions—few grants overall but high average size, focused geographically in Chicago/Illinois.
Notable grantees: Joffrey Ballet, Art Institute of Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, University of Illinois
Illinois is the main destination for the Lakonishok Foundation’s grants, with 70% of awards going to recipients in the state and Chicago appearing most often. Chicago-based grantees include Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Art Institute, Northwestern Medical School, and College Possible Chicago. Outside Illinois, the foundation has also funded recipients in New York, Virginia, and London, but these appear far less often than Illinois recipients. The giving footprint is regional, with the strongest concentration in Chicago and Urbana.
Its recent grants are dominated by arts and cultural institutions in Chicago, including ballet, symphony, opera, and a visual arts museum. It also supports higher education in Illinois, plus smaller amounts to medical, military-related, and general charitable organizations.
Yes. 70% of its grants go to recipients in Illinois, and Illinois is also the top state by grant count. Chicago and Urbana are the main Illinois recipient locations in the recent grant list.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. That spread reflects both small gifts and large institutional awards.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Art Institute, University of Illinois, Northwestern Medical School, Hand in Hand USA, and Navy Seal Foundation.
Yes, but rarely. In the recent grant list, almost all grants are to U.S. recipients, with one grant going to Eric & Salome Estorick Museum in London.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $10K |
1.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $800,563 | 2025 | ARTS |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $375,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| ART INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | URBANA, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FIDF | NEW YORK, NY | $140,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITY - US MILITARY |
| HAND IN HAND USA | OAK BROOK, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NORTHWESTERNKESAN CAMP | CHICAGO, IL | $2,600 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| OPERATION SMILE | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $2,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC HEALTH |
| PANCAN | EL SEGUNDO, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC HEALTH |
| GIFT FROM A CHILD | FEDERAL WAY, WA | $500 | 2025 | CHARITY |
| JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $524,705 | 2024 | ARTS |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $372,230 | 2024 | ARTS |
| ART INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $251,404 | 2024 | ARTS |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,708 | 2024 | ARTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | URBANA, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FIDF | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION/SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $20,350 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| HAND IN HAND USA | OAK BROOK, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MISC | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| OPERATION SMILE | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY |
| HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| UNIV OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK | EL SEGUNDO, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| BRIGHT PROMISES | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $525,000 | 2023 | ARTS |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | ARTS |
| ART INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | ARTS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS | URBANA, IL | $200,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| FIDF | NEW YORK, NY | $140,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| HAND IN HAND USA | OAK BROOK, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| ERIC & SALOME ESTORICK MUSEUM | LONDON | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED CHARITABLE | ASHBURN, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| OPERATION SMILE | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $2,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL |
| WELLNESS HOUSE | HINSDALE, IL | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| BROOKE STRONG | ORLANDO, FL | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
| MAKEA WISH | PHOENIX, AZ | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CHARITY |
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
$200,000EDUCATION
CHARITY
NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL
$25,000EDUCATION
NORTHWESTERNKESAN CAMP
$2,600EDUCATION
PANCAN
$1,500CHARITY
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$1,000EDUCATION
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$1,000EDUCATION
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$1,000PUBLIC HEALTH
GIFT FROM A CHILD
$500CHARITY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
$100,000EDUCATION
NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL
$20,350EDUCATION
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$5,000EDUCATION
MISC
$3,000COMMUNITY
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$1,000EDUCATION
BRIGHT PROMISES
$1,000EDUCATION
NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL SCHOOL
$15,000EDUCATION
ERIC & SALOME ESTORICK MUSEUM
$10,000GENERAL CHARITY
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$5,000EDUCATION
BROOKE STRONG
$1,500GENERAL CHARITY
MAKEA WISH
$1,000GENERAL CHARITY