The Meyer and Raena Hammerman Foundation makes many modest, repeated grants across a wide set of civic, cultural, health, environmental and humanitarian causes, with a noticeable base in Chicago and the Great Lakes region. They favor operating support for established nonprofits — arts institutions, university programs, conservation groups, medical research/health advocacy, and social-justice/relief organizations — often giving small multi-year or multi-payment awards rather than large single gifts.
Relatively small-dollar, distributed grants with frequent repeat payments to the same grantees; broad issue coverage but consistent support for core organizations (many grantees appear three times), indicating preference for sustained operating support rather than one-off capital gifts.
$176K
$378K
$113K
$90K
Most grants fall between $100 and $406, with a median of $200.
25th Percentile
$100
Median
$200
75th Percentile
$406
About 49% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Art Institute of Chicago, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Trust for Public Land, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS | COLUMBIA, MD | $3,834 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| PENNY POSSIBLE FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $2,833 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK | GENEVA, IL | $2,166 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,689 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| AMERICARES | STAMFORD, CT | $1,667 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| HARVARD CLUB OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF ANCIENT CULTURES | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| HIAS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| DEATH WITH DIGNITY NATIONAL CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CONSERVATION FUND | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| WETLANDS INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $950 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| KHAN ACADEMY | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $900 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES | CHICAGO, IL | $900 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $900 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| MENTOR | BOSTON, MA | $900 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| DOCTOR'S WITHOUT BORDERS | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| NIU FOUNDATION | DEKALB, IL | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| BUILD INC | CHICAGO, IL | $850 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $750 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST | NEW YORK, NY | $750 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS | WASHINGTON, DC | $750 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $675 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING | ARLINGTON, VA | $675 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA | CHICAGO, IL | $650 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| WTTW PUBLIC TELEVISION | CHICAGO, IL | $620 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CINEMACHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CHICAGOLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION | MANTECA, CA | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| FEEDING AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| CHICAGO OPERA THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| THE BLUE CARD | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| WDCB PUBLIC RADIO | GLEN ELLYN, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
| AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | OPERATING PROGRAMS |
FOUNDATION FIGHTING BLINDNESS
$3,834OPERATING PROGRAMS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS
$3,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
$3,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
PENNY POSSIBLE FOUNDATION
$2,833OPERATING PROGRAMS
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK
$2,166OPERATING PROGRAMS
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$1,689OPERATING PROGRAMS
AMERICARES
$1,667OPERATING PROGRAMS
HARVARD CLUB OF CHICAGO
$1,500OPERATING PROGRAMS
HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF ANCIENT CULTURES
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
PROJECT ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
HIAS
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
DEATH WITH DIGNITY NATIONAL CENTER
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
CONSERVATION FUND
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$1,000OPERATING PROGRAMS
WETLANDS INITIATIVE
$950OPERATING PROGRAMS
KHAN ACADEMY
$900OPERATING PROGRAMS
ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES
$900OPERATING PROGRAMS
ADVANCE ILLINOIS
$900OPERATING PROGRAMS
MENTOR
$900OPERATING PROGRAMS
GIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
DOCTOR'S WITHOUT BORDERS
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
NIU FOUNDATION
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
BUILD INC
$850OPERATING PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$750OPERATING PROGRAMS
HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST
$750OPERATING PROGRAMS
REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
$750OPERATING PROGRAMS
INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND
$675OPERATING PROGRAMS
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING
$675OPERATING PROGRAMS
CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA
$650OPERATING PROGRAMS
WTTW PUBLIC TELEVISION
$620OPERATING PROGRAMS
CINEMACHICAGO
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
CHICAGOLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
PROPUBLICA
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
FEEDING AMERICA
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
ACLU FOUNDATION
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
CHICAGO OPERA THEATER
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
THE BLUE CARD
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
COMMON CAUSE EDUCATION FUND
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
WDCB PUBLIC RADIO
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
$500OPERATING PROGRAMS