The Pepper Family Foundation concentrates large, unrestricted operating gifts to major Chicago-area cultural, educational, and health institutions. Their giving favors established, high-profile nonprofits — especially museums and science attractions — with occasional support for higher education and regional health care. Grants are sizable and targeted to sustain core operations rather than project-specific initiatives.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of established local institutions; mostly unrestricted operating support with some repeat funding to flagship grantees.
The Pepper Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a seven-figure operating grant to The Art Institute of Chicago, a signal that the foundation supports major institutions with core funding rather than narrow project awards. Across the recent grants list, its support repeatedly goes to Chicago-area cultural anchors, with additional gifts to education and health organizations in the region. The foundation’s pattern is not limited to one institution type: museums, an aquarium, a zoo, a planetarium, colleges, universities, and hospital-related organizations all appear among recipients. Operating support is the common thread. Recent awards to John G Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Adler Planetarium show a strong emphasis on sustaining public-facing cultural and science institutions, while Northwestern University and Harper College indicate that higher education is also part of the mix. The foundation also extends support to regional health and community organizations, including Northshore Hospitals Foundation and Community Health Network. Most grants are made to established nonprofits, often in Chicago or nearby suburbs, and the recurring operating-funds language suggests an emphasis on organizational stability.
Cultural institutions are a central part of the Pepper Family Foundation’s giving. It awarded $1,010,000 to The Art Institute of Chicago for operating funds and also gave $500,000 to John G Shedd Aquarium for operating funds in both 2024 and 2025. Lincoln Park Zoo received $185,000 for operating support, and Adler Planetarium received $146,250. Education is another clear theme. The foundation gave $350,000 to Harper College for operating funds and $305,000 to Northwestern University for operating funds. In the suburban Chicago area, Barrington 220 Educational Foundation received $50,000 for operating funds, and Monmouth College received $54,936. Health-related support appears through operating gifts to Northshore Hospitals Foundation for $300,000 and Community Health Network for $50,000. Community and service organizations also receive support, including Madonna Mission and Bishop Anderson House, both funded for operating purposes.
The foundation’s recent grants cluster around mid-sized operating awards, with a typical range of $10,000 at the 25th percentile, a median of $29,000, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The list also includes several much larger operating grants, showing a spread from regular support to major institutional commitments. Giving appears recurring rather than one-off for some recipients. John G Shedd Aquarium received $500,000 in both 2024 and 2025, The Art Institute of Chicago appears in both years, and several organizations received multiple operating grants across 2023-2025. The foundation is a private family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$3.2M
$37M
$10.9M
$3.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: The Art Institute of Chicago, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Harper College, Northwestern University, NorthShore Hospitals Foundation
Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Illinois, with 93% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Chicago is the most common recipient city, joined by Evanston, Palatine, Elgin, Barrington, and LaGrange Park. The grants list also reaches nearby suburban communities such as Fox River Grove and Hawthorn Woods. Outside Illinois, the foundation made a smaller number of grants to Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock, plus awards to Community Health Network in Indianapolis and Junior Achievement of Central Ohio in Columbus. The overall footprint is local, with most grants staying within the Chicago region.
Its recent grants go to nonprofit cultural institutions, colleges and universities, health organizations, and community groups. Examples in the data include museums, an aquarium, a zoo, a planetarium, Harper College, Northwestern University, and Northshore Hospitals Foundation, with operating support as the common grant purpose.
The typical grant size in the data is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $29,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger operating grants such as $1,010,000 to The Art Institute of Chicago and $500,000 to John G Shedd Aquarium.
Yes. John G Shedd Aquarium received $500,000 in 2024 and again in 2025. The Art Institute of Chicago appears in both years as well, and several other recipients, including Bishop Anderson House and Madonna Mission, also received more than one operating grant across the recent years shown.
Its giving is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 93% of grants in the data. Chicago is the most frequent recipient city, and additional Illinois recipients include Evanston, Palatine, Elgin, Barrington, LaGrange Park, Fox River Grove, Hawthorn Woods, and Monmouth.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,010,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $305,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| NORTHSHORE HOSPITALS FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $185,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $146,250 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| PLYMOUTH PLACE | LAGRANGE PARK, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MONMOUTH COLLEGE | MONMOUTH, IL | $54,936 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | ELGIN, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MADONNA MISSION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BARRINGTON HORSESHOE CLUB (FRIENDS OF THE FIELDS) | FOX RIVER GROVE, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MY DENSITY MATTERS | HAWTHORN WOODS, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BARRINGTON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES | BARRINGTON, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| OPENLANDS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MARYVILLE ACADEMY CENTER FOR CHILDREN | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE HAP FOUNDATION | OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| SALUTE INC | PALATINE, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BROOKFIELD ZOO | BROOKFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| GALENA TERRITORY FOUNDATION | GALENA, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| HARPER COLLEGE | PALATINE, IL | $350,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER CHICAGO AND NORTHWEST INDIANA | CHICAGO, IL | $142,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $85,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ELGIN SYMPHONY | ELGIN, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BARRINGTON 220 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BARRINGTON, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MADONNA MISSION | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| KOHL'S CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | GLENVIEW, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $29,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BARRINGTON WHITE HOUSE | BARRINGTON, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| OPENLANDS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MARYVILLE ACADEMY CENTER FOR CHILDREN | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BROOKFIELD ZOO | BROOKFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUNDS |
NORTHSHORE HOSPITALS FOUNDATION
$300,000OPERATING FUNDS
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$185,000OPERATING FUNDS
OPERATING FUNDS
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$100,000OPERATING FUNDS
PLYMOUTH PLACE
$100,000OPERATING FUNDS
MONMOUTH COLLEGE
$54,936OPERATING FUNDS
ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
MADONNA MISSION
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
BARRINGTON HORSESHOE CLUB (FRIENDS OF THE FIELDS)
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
MY DENSITY MATTERS
$35,000OPERATING FUNDS
BARRINGTON YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
$30,000OPERATING FUNDS
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$25,000OPERATING FUNDS
MARYVILLE ACADEMY CENTER FOR CHILDREN
$25,000OPERATING FUNDS
SALUTE INC
$25,000OPERATING FUNDS
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
BROOKFIELD ZOO
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
GALENA TERRITORY FOUNDATION
$2,000OPERATING FUNDS
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$100,000OPERATING FUNDS
ELGIN SYMPHONY
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
BARRINGTON 220 EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$50,000OPERATING FUNDS
MADONNA MISSION
$35,000OPERATING FUNDS
KOHL'S CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$30,000OPERATING FUNDS
BARRINGTON WHITE HOUSE
$25,000OPERATING FUNDS
MARYVILLE ACADEMY CENTER FOR CHILDREN
$25,000OPERATING FUNDS
BROOKFIELD ZOO
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
$10,000OPERATING FUNDS