The Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on supporting K–12 charter school networks, providing large unrestricted or program-focused awards to directly underwrite academic programming. Its two recent grants were sizable investments in charter operators, signaling a strategic emphasis on improving school-level instructional capacity rather than a broad mix of causes. The foundation appears to favor funding established charter management organizations to scale or sustain classroom programs.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants focused on program expenses for charter school operators rather than many small awards; repeat or multi-year relationships are possible but data shows targeted, high-dollar investments.
The Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation’s recent giving is defined by large, repeated awards to charter school networks and school operators, with several recipients appearing in back-to-back years. The biggest grants in the record include $525,000 to Friends of Breakthrough Schools and $500,000 to Learn Charter Network, both for academic program expenses, alongside similarly sized support for Kipp Chicago and Milwaukee College Prep. That pattern points to a funder that underwrites core school programming rather than spreading gifts across many unrelated causes. The foundation’s portfolio also includes tuition assistance alongside academic program support, showing that it funds both institutional program costs and student-facing aid within school communities. Recipients such as Cardinal Stritch Foundation, Oaks Academy, and St Marcus School appear in the grant list with awards tied to tuition assistance, while others receive support for classroom or academic programming. The result is a giving profile centered on K–12 education, especially charter school networks and affiliated schools, with recurring awards that suggest ongoing relationships rather than isolated checks.
K–12 charter school networks sit at the center of the Perkins Malo Hunter Foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $500,000 to Learn Charter Network for academic program expenses in 2024 and $500,000 again in 2023, indicating sustained support for the same operator. Friends of Breakthrough Schools received $525,000 in 2023 and $500,000 in 2024 for academic program expenses, another sign of repeat backing. The foundation also funds school-level academic programming in other urban systems. Kipp Chicago received $300,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for academic program expenses, while Kipp St Louis received $200,000 in each year for the same purpose. Beyond charter networks, the foundation supports tuition assistance, including awards to Cardinal Stritch Foundation and Oaks Academy. These grants show a mix of institutional program support and student aid within K–12 education.
The typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $45,000, the median is $90,000, and the 75th percentile is $180,000. In the recent grants list, many recipients appear in multiple years with the same purpose, pointing to recurring support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it funds individuals. Its grantmaking pattern leans toward program support and organizational expense coverage, with awards often directed to established school networks and education institutions.
$7.1M
$60.8M
$9.3M
$7.4M
Most grants fall between $45K and $180K, with a median of $90K.
25th Percentile
$45K
Median
$90K
75th Percentile
$180K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Notable grantees: Friends of Breakthrough Schools, Learn Charter Network
Grant recipients are concentrated in the Midwest, with Illinois as the top state by grant count and 20% of grants going to recipients in Michigan, the foundation’s HQ state. Chicago appears repeatedly as a recipient city, including Learn Charter Network, Kipp Chicago, Cardinal Stritch Foundation, Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foun, and Catalyst Charter Schools Chicago. Other frequent recipient cities include Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, and St Louis. All listed grants go to US recipients.
The foundation funds K–12 charter school networks and school-related institutions. Recent grants include support for academic program expenses and tuition assistance, with recurring awards to charter operators and affiliated education organizations in cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Detroit.
Typical grants are sizable: the 25th percentile is $45,000, the median is $90,000, and the 75th percentile is $180,000. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $525,000 and multiple $500,000 and $300,000 gifts for academic program expenses.
Yes. Several grantees appear in consecutive years with the same purpose, including Learn Charter Network at $500,000 in both 2023 and 2024, Kipp Chicago at $300,000 in both years, and Kipp St Louis at $200,000 in both years.
Its grants are directed to academic program expenses, tuition assistance, and related school program costs. The recent record shows both institutional support for classroom programming and direct tuition assistance for schools and education-related organizations.
Illinois is the top state by grant count. Michigan is the HQ state, and 20% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, but the grant list shows especially frequent awards to Illinois recipients, many of them in Chicago.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF BREAKTHROUGH SCHOOLS | CLEVELAND, OH | $500,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| LEARN CHARTER NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| KIPP CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| CHICAGOLAND LUTHERAN EDUCATION FOUN | BENSENVILLE, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| MILWAUKEE COLLEGE PREP | MILWAUKEE, WI | $300,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| KIPP ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| NEW PARADIGM FOR EDUCATION | DETROIT, MI | $300,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| CARDINAL STRITCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $282,979 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| UNITED SCHOOLS OF INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $240,000 | 2026 | Acacdemic Program Expense |
| INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $240,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSE |
| ROCKETSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $240,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| OAKS ACADEMY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $240,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| KIPP INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $240,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $240,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| CATALYST CHARTER SCHOOLS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $240,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSE |
| ST MARCUS SCHOOL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $240,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| SAN MIGUEL CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2026 | Tuition Assistance |
| POLARIS CHARTER ACADEMY | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES HIGH SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $120,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| HOLY FAMILY MINISTRIES | WESTCHESTER, IL | $120,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| DETROIT PREP | DETROIT, MI | $120,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| DETROIT ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY | DETROIT, MI | $120,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL | CLEVELAND, OH | $120,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| HOWARD FULLER COLLEGIATE ACADEMY | Milwaukee, WI | $120,000 | 2026 | Academic Program Expense |
| MANCHESTER ACADEMIC CHARTER SCHOOL | PITTSBURGH, PA | $120,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| ST AGNES CATHOLIC SCHOOL | CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL | $120,000 | 2026 | TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| ERIE ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSE |
| NAMASTE CHARTER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $90,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| TINDLEY ACCELERATED SCHOOLS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $90,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HOLLAND | HOLLAND, MI | $76,600 | 2026 | General Operating Expense |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KIPP DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA CLEVELAND | CLEVELAND, OH | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SCHOOLS THAT CAN - CHICAGO | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF MUSKEGON LAKESHO | MUSKEGON, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $50,000 | 2026 | General Operating Expense |
| LINK EDUCATION PARTNERS | NEWARK, NJ | $45,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| YOUNG SCHOLARS CHARTER SCHOOL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $45,000 | 2026 | ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES |
| TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | Tuition Assistance |
| EPIC | HOLLAND, MI | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| SME EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SOUTHFIELD, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOLLANDZEEL | HOLLAND, MI | $12,500 | 2026 | Tuition Assistance |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS - ILLINOIS | NORMAL, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| I AM ACADEMY | HOLLAND, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES |
| THORNTON ALUMNI LEGACY FUND | MOKENA, IL | $6,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE TUITION ASSISTANCE |
| HOME WORKS | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL USE |
| PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSE |
LEARN CHARTER NETWORK
$500,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
CHICAGOLAND LUTHERAN EDUCATION FOUN
$300,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
KIPP ST LOUIS
ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
CARDINAL STRITCH FOUNDATION
$282,979TUITION ASSISTANCE
UNITED SCHOOLS OF INDIANAPOLIS
$240,000Acacdemic Program Expense
INTERGENERATIONAL SCHOOL
$240,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSE
ROCKETSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$240,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
CATALYST CHARTER SCHOOLS CHICAGO
$240,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSE
ST MARCUS SCHOOL
$240,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
SAN MIGUEL CHICAGO
$120,000Tuition Assistance
POLARIS CHARTER ACADEMY
$120,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES HIGH SCHOOL
$120,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
DETROIT PREP
$120,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
DETROIT ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY
$120,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
MANCHESTER ACADEMIC CHARTER SCHOOL
$120,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
ST AGNES CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$120,000TUITION ASSISTANCE
NAMASTE CHARTER SCHOOL
$90,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HOLLAND
$76,600General Operating Expense
TEACH FOR AMERICA CHICAGO
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
TEACH FOR AMERICA MILWAUKEE
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
KIPP DETROIT
$75,000ACADEMIC PROGRAM EXPENSES
TEACH FOR AMERICA CLEVELAND
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
TEACH FOR AMERICA DETROIT
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
SCHOOLS THAT CAN - CHICAGO
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
BOYS GIRLS CLUB OF MUSKEGON LAKESHO
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
$50,000General Operating Expense
TREY WHITFIELD SCHOOL
$30,000Tuition Assistance
EPIC
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HOLLANDZEEL
$12,500Tuition Assistance
THORNTON ALUMNI LEGACY FUND
$6,000COLLEGE TUITION ASSISTANCE