The Nayar Family Foundation gives highly targeted, mission-driven support focused on applied agricultural research and farmer engagement. Their known giving is concentrated on the Savanna Institute to advance perennial/agroforestry systems and on-farm research and outreach, suggesting a priority for practical, place-based sustainable agriculture innovation in the Midwest.
A defining thread in Nayar Family Foundation Co Janus & Associates Cpas Pc’s grantmaking is its sustained backing for applied agricultural research and farmer engagement, especially through the Savanna Institute. In 2025, the foundation awarded $155,000 in general support to the Madison-based organization, following a $110,000 grant in 2024 for Spring Green Farms research, development, and engagement. That pairing points to a funder that supports both core organizational capacity and specific fieldwork tied to perennial agriculture and agroforestry. The foundation’s portfolio also reaches into Midwestern landscape restoration and regenerative farming, as seen in support for The Prairie Enthusiasts and Wormfarm Institute. Beyond agriculture, the giving includes health-oriented and community-serving organizations such as IU Health Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, and Cancer Support Community Indiana, suggesting a broader interest in practical programs that connect research, wellness, and place-based community needs. The overall pattern is a relatively focused grantmaker with recurring relationships, a mix of operating and project support, and a clear preference for organizations working in the Midwest on durable, field-tested initiatives.
Agriculture remains the clearest topic area in the foundation’s recent grants. They gave $110,000 to the Savanna Institute for Spring Green Farms research, development, and engagement, then added $48,333 to The Prairie Enthusiasts for general operating support. A third agricultural grant went to Wormfarm Institute for general support, showing interest in organizations that connect land stewardship, research, and outreach. Health-related giving appears in several distinct forms. The foundation awarded $50,000 to IU Health Foundation for general support and another $50,000 for programs at Schwarz Cancer Center and Simon Cancer Center. It also gave $30,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation for the Living Well Survivorship and Exercise Focused Program. Community wellness and survivor support show up again in grants to Wellness House for nutrition programs and Walk for Wellness, and to Cancer Support Community Indiana for its nutrition program and Survivor Summit. These awards indicate a practical emphasis on programs serving patients, survivors, and local participants.
$18.1M
$0
$79K
$18.1M
Most grants fall between $9K and $25K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants (repeat funding) directed to a single core grantee rather than distributed across many organizations.
Notable grantees: Savanna Institute
Typical awards cluster around the middle range: the grant-size distribution is $9,426 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $24,718 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both one-off gifts and repeat support to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025, including multiple grants to the Savanna Institute, IU Health Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, The Prairie Enthusiasts, and Cancer Support Community Indiana. The foundation is not making program-related investments and does not fund individuals. Its grantmaking is also a mix of general support and project-specific support, with some awards tied to named programs while others are unrestricted.
The foundation’s giving is regional, with 25% of grants to recipients in Illinois and most grants going to Michigan by count. Recent recipients are concentrated in the Midwest, including Madison, Chicago, Hinsdale, Lisle, Reedsburg, Indianapolis, Niles, Kalamazoo, and West Lafayette. Outside the Midwest, the recent record includes Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Montgomery, Oakland, and Hagerstown, but the grant list is overwhelmingly U.S.-based.
The clearest pattern is support for agricultural research and engagement, especially perennial agriculture and agroforestry through the Savanna Institute. It also funds health and wellness programs, including cancer survivorship, nutrition, exercise, and community wellness events, along with some arts and civic organizations.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat support across years for several recipients, including the Savanna Institute in 2024 and 2025, IU Health Foundation in 2024 and 2025, Northwestern Memorial Foundation in 2024 and 2025, and The Prairie Enthusiasts in 2024 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution centers near $20,000. The 25th percentile is $9,426, the median is $20,000, and the 75th percentile is $24,718, which suggests many awards cluster in the low-to-mid five-figure range.
By count, Michigan is the top giving state, while Illinois recipients account for 25% of grants. Recent awards also go to organizations in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, Alabama, California, Maryland, and Washington, DC.
Recent health grants include $50,000 to IU Health Foundation for programs at Schwarz Cancer Center and Simon Cancer Center, $30,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation for the Living Well Survivorship and Exercise Focused Program, and $20,000 to Wellness House for nutrition programs and Walk for Wellness.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE NAYAR FOUNDATION | LOMBARD, IL | $6,021,870 | 2026 | liquidating distribution |
| RAMON BUENO FOUNDATION INC | NAPERVILLE, IL | $6,021,859 | 2026 | liquidating distribution |
| RHIZOMIUM FOUNDATION | BARNEVELD, WI | $6,021,858 | 2026 | liquidating distribution |
| SAVANNA INSTITUTE | MADISON, WI | $155,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IU HEALTH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DRIVE FOR LIFE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC | BOSTON, MA | $27,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WELLNESS HOUSE | HINSDALE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE BODGERY INC | MADISON, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS | VIROQUA, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORMFARM INSTITUTE | REEDSBURG, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF MICHIANA INC | NILES, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL DIGNITY FOR FAMILIES FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $17,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROSAY SIMAS DANSE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KELLY STRAYHORN THEATER | PITTSBURGH, PA | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SCAPEGOAT GARDEN | HARTFORD, CT | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVER VALLEY COMMONS | PLAIN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AL OTRO LADO | SAN YSIDRO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DANE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE LIVESTRONG FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDRENS RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE IMMIGRATION PROJECT | BLOOMINGTON, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COALITION FOR HUMANE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLANT CHICAGO NFP | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SWEET WATER FOUNDATION INC | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE INC | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALABAMA DANCE COUNCIL | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $3,125 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ASIAN AMERICAN WRITERS WORKSHOP INC | NEW YORK, NY | $3,125 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RED EYE THERATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $3,125 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE | HARTFORD, CT | $3,125 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAVANNA INSTITUTE | MADISON, WI | $110,000 | 2024 | SPRING GREEN FARMS RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT,AND ENGAGEMENT |
| IU HEALTH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2024 | PROGRAMS AT SCHWARZ CANCER CENTER AND SIMON CANCER CENTER |
| THE MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL MAINTENANCE |
| THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS | VIROQUA, WI | $48,333 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | LIVING WELL SURVIVORSHIP AND EXERCISE FOCUSED PROGRAM |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC | BOSTON, MA | $28,250 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE | MONTGOMERY, AL | $23,540 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACLU FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $23,540 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CLEAR FUND DBA GIVEWELL | OAKLAND, CA | $23,540 | 2024 | ALL GRANTS FUND |
THE NAYAR FOUNDATION
$6,021,870liquidating distribution
RAMON BUENO FOUNDATION INC
$6,021,859liquidating distribution
RHIZOMIUM FOUNDATION
$6,021,858liquidating distribution
DRIVE FOR LIFE
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE BODGERY INC
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WORMFARM INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF MICHIANA INC
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA INC
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL DIGNITY FOR FAMILIES FUND
$17,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ROSAY SIMAS DANSE
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USE INC
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PURDUE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT
SCAPEGOAT GARDEN
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT
IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVER VALLEY COMMONS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DANE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALABAMA DANCE COUNCIL
$3,125GENERAL SUPPORT
RED EYE THERATRE
$3,125GENERAL SUPPORT
HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE
$3,125GENERAL SUPPORT
PROGRAMS AT SCHWARZ CANCER CENTER AND SIMON CANCER CENTER
THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS
$48,333GENERAL OPERATING
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$30,000LIVING WELL SURVIVORSHIP AND EXERCISE FOCUSED PROGRAM