The Mazza Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in the Chicago area, focusing on Catholic-affiliated education and social-service institutions alongside major children’s hospital medical programs. Their largest investments go to scholarship programs for K–12 and university students, residential and care services for people with disabilities, and neurology/neuromuscular care and research at pediatric hospitals. Grants tend to be sizable and targeted, often repeated to the same organizations.
Mazza Foundation’s largest recent grants cluster around three Chicago priorities: neuromuscular care at Lurie Children’s Hospital, scholarships for Catholic education through Big Shoulders Fund, and housing-related capital support for Misericordia Foundation. Those commitments show a funder that combines medical philanthropy, tuition support, and residential services for people with disabilities within a tightly local grantmaking pattern. The foundation also backs Catholic higher education in Chicago, including DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago’s Arrupe College, with scholarship awards repeated across multiple years. In the arts and civic-education space, it has supported Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grant Park Music Festival, while continuing to fund institutions tied to Catholic formation and social services such as Little Sisters of the Poor and Loyola Press. Grants in the recent record range from six-figure awards to targeted operating and program support, with several organizations receiving the same type of funding more than once. The result is a portfolio centered on Chicago-based institutions, especially those serving students, patients, residents, and parish-linked communities.
Education funding is a major thread in the Mazza Foundation’s giving. It awarded $300,000 to Big Shoulders Fund for scholarships and high school support, and $200,000 to DePaul University for scholarships. The foundation also backed Loyola University Chicago - Arrupe College with $125,000 for scholarships in one year and $125,000 for general operating support in another. Its health-related support is focused on hospital-based neurology. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago received $300,000 for neuromuscular programming in 2025, matching earlier awards of the same size for the same purpose in 2023 and 2024. Northwestern Memorial Foundation also received $250,000 for precision neurology. The foundation’s social-service and Catholic institutional support includes $300,000 to Misericordia Foundation for a new residence, plus recurring operating gifts to Little Sisters of the Poor. In the arts, it funded Lyric Opera of Chicago for Tosca and for opera in the neighborhoods, and Grant Park Music Festival for its 2024 season.
Typical grants sit in a mid-sized range, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $45,000. Recent records also include several six-figure awards, showing a mix of smaller program gifts and larger commitments. The same recipients appear across multiple years, especially Big Shoulders Fund, DePaul University, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Misericordia Foundation, and Little Sisters of the Poor. That repeat pattern points to ongoing support rather than one-off grants. The foundation funds individuals, and the recent grants show program, operating, scholarship, and capital support rather than a single grant type.
$2.2M
$33.7M
$2.7M
$2.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $45K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$45K
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Concentrated giving: a small number of large, often repeat grants to a core set of Chicago-based institutions; mix of program-specific capital/residence gifts and multi-year scholarship support rather than many small, one-off donations.
Notable grantees: Misericordia Foundation, Big Shoulders Fund, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, DePaul University, Northwestern Memorial Foundation
Mazza Foundation’s giving is highly concentrated in Illinois, with 94% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and the top giving state also listed as IL. The recent grants table is entirely U.S.-based. Chicago dominates the recipient map: Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Big Shoulders Fund, Misericordia Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Little Sisters of the Poor all appear there. Outside Chicago, the foundation has also funded Red Cloud Indian School in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
Its recent grants center on Chicago-based Catholic education, hospital neurology, residential services for people with disabilities, and Catholic social-service institutions. Named recipients include Big Shoulders Fund, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Misericordia Foundation, DePaul University, and Loyola University Chicago.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat support for several recipients across multiple years, including Big Shoulders Fund, DePaul University, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Misericordia Foundation, and Little Sisters of the Poor.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $45,000. The recent list also includes larger six-figure grants, such as $300,000 awards and a $250,000 award.
The foundation funds Catholic K–12 scholarships and Catholic higher-education support. Examples include $300,000 to Big Shoulders Fund for scholarships and high school support, $200,000 to DePaul University for scholarships, and $125,000 to Loyola University Chicago - Arrupe College for scholarships.
Health support is concentrated in neuromuscular and precision neurology programs. The recent grants list includes $300,000 to Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago for neuromuscular programming and $250,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation for precision neurology.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | NEUROMUSCULAR PROGRAM |
| MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | NEW RESIDENCE |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | PRECISION NEUROLOGY |
| DEPAUL UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERATION TO GENERATION CAMPAIGN |
| LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS/HOUSING |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | LYRIC UNLIMITED PROGRAM |
| LUMEN CHRISTI INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | UNIV PROG & SUMMER SEMINARS |
| GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2026 | 2025 SEASON |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM |
| GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING |
| LITTLE BROTHERS - FRIENDS OF THE ELDERLY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | VISITING SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM |
| CHRIST THE KING JESUIT COLLEGE PREP | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | SCIENCE ON THE GO PROGRAM |
| CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | LIGHTHOUSE MEDIA |
| CRISTO REY ST MARTIN COLLEGE PREP | WAUKEGAN, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ALLENDALE ASSOCIATION | LAKE VILLA, IL | $12,000 | 2026 | REPAIRS TO GREENHOUSE |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE | WILMETTE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST LEONARD MINISTRIES | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GRACE HOUSE |
| MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION & CAREER RESOURCES PROGRAM |
| MOTHER MCAULEY LIBERAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ASCENSION ALEXIAN BROTHERS | ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | SPIRITUAL CARE PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC EXTENSION SOCIETY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR TEKAWITHA CENTER MN |
| GILDA'S CLUB CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | MUSIC DISCOVERY PROGRAM |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY PROJECT | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND | WINNETKA, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE ELDERLY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGHSIGHT | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MATH CIRCLES OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMATE HOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JOFFREY BALLET | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| UNITING VOICES CHICAGO (CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR) | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | NEUROMUSCULAR PROGRAM |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS, HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORT |
| MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | NEW RESIDENCE |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | PRECISION NEUROLOGY |
| DEPAUL UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | ARRUPE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LYRIC OPERA | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | LEARNING & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR - ST MARY'S HOME | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOYOLA PRESS | CHICAGO, IL | $70,000 | 2025 | HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM |
| RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL | PINE RIDGE, SD | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LUMEN CHRISTI INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | UNIV PROG, SUMMER SEMINARS, HS PROG |
| GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2025 | 2024 SEASON |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
| GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING |
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$300,000NEUROMUSCULAR PROGRAM
MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION
$300,000NEW RESIDENCE
BIG SHOULDERS FUND
$300,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$250,000PRECISION NEUROLOGY
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
$250,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO
$200,000GENERATION TO GENERATION CAMPAIGN
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
SCHOLARSHIPS/HOUSING
LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO
$75,000LYRIC UNLIMITED PROGRAM
LUMEN CHRISTI INSTITUTE
$50,000UNIV PROG & SUMMER SEMINARS
GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL
$40,0002025 SEASON
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$30,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$25,000INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING
LITTLE BROTHERS - FRIENDS OF THE ELDERLY
$20,000VISITING SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
CHRIST THE KING JESUIT COLLEGE PREP
$20,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$15,000SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM
$15,000SCIENCE ON THE GO PROGRAM
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE
$15,000LIGHTHOUSE MEDIA
CRISTO REY ST MARTIN COLLEGE PREP
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ALLENDALE ASSOCIATION
$12,000REPAIRS TO GREENHOUSE
BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ST LEONARD MINISTRIES
$10,000GRACE HOUSE
MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
$10,000EDUCATION & CAREER RESOURCES PROGRAM
MOTHER MCAULEY LIBERAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ASCENSION ALEXIAN BROTHERS
$10,000SPIRITUAL CARE PROGRAM
CATHOLIC EXTENSION SOCIETY
$10,000FOR TEKAWITHA CENTER MN
GILDA'S CLUB CHICAGO
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION
$10,000MUSIC DISCOVERY PROGRAM
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY PROJECT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE ELDERLY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HIGHSIGHT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MATH CIRCLES OF CHICAGO
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMATE HOUSE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JOFFREY BALLET
$5,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
UNITING VOICES CHICAGO (CHICAGO CHILDREN'S CHOIR)
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$300,000NEUROMUSCULAR PROGRAM
BIG SHOULDERS FUND
$300,000SCHOLARSHIPS, HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORT
MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION
$300,000NEW RESIDENCE
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$250,000PRECISION NEUROLOGY
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
$200,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
$125,000ARRUPE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
LYRIC OPERA
$75,000LEARNING & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR - ST MARY'S HOME
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LOYOLA PRESS
$70,000HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM
RED CLOUD INDIAN SCHOOL
$50,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LUMEN CHRISTI INSTITUTE
$50,000UNIV PROG, SUMMER SEMINARS, HS PROG
GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL
$40,0002024 SEASON
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$30,000COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
GRIFFIN MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$25,000INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY SCIENCE TEACHING