The Rauner Family Foundation concentrates its giving on environmental conservation and early childhood development, favoring large, general-purpose grants to national and regional organizations. They repeatedly fund a small set of trusted institutions — notably policy/advocacy conservation groups and a major early childhood nonprofit — with a particular interest in Florida ecosystem protection (Everglades/coastal preserves). Their portfolio is focused and strategic rather than broadly diversified.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat grantees; mix of national advocacy organizations and region-specific conservation projects, with multi-grant support for core partners.
The Rauner Family Foundation gives at a high dollar level and returns repeatedly to a small group of core nonprofits. In the latest grants, $1 million awards went to Start Early in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Environmental Defense Fund also received $1 million in 2025. That pattern reflects a portfolio built around sustained support rather than one-off awards. The foundation’s giving centers on two broad themes: environmental conservation and early childhood development. On the conservation side, it backs organizations working on Florida ecosystems, national parks, and policy-oriented environmental advocacy. On the early childhood side, it supports Start Early with general program funding across multiple years. The recent grant list also shows support for organizations tied to reproductive rights and education, but those grants sit alongside a more concentrated core of environmental and early childhood work. Several grants are structured as general support, which suggests the foundation often funds operating capacity as well as project activity. The repeated awards to the same recipients point to a grantmaker that maintains ongoing relationships with selected institutions rather than spreading funds broadly across many small grantees.
In environmental conservation, the foundation backed Florida ecosystem work with $500,000 to Everglades Foundation in 2023 and $250,000 in 2024 and 2025, plus $750,000 to Nature Conservancy - FL (st Theresa Bluffs) in 2023 and $250,000 in 2024. It also gave $125,000 to Miami Waterkeeper in 2025. Its policy and advocacy giving includes $1 million to Environmental Defense Fund in 2025 and $350,000 to National Parks & Conservation Association in 2024, after a $300,000 grant to the same group in 2023. Those grants show support for national conservation organizations alongside Florida-specific projects. In education, the foundation gave $100,000 to Learn Charter School Network in 2024 and $100,000 to Foundation for Excellence in Education in 2025. It also supported Climate Systems Engineering Intiative - Csei University of Chicago with $100,000 in 2025.
Typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $150,000 at the median, and $275,000 at the 75th percentile, which places many awards in the six-figure range. The recent record shows repeated grants to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025, especially for core partners. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Most of the listed grants are general-purpose awards.
$3.3M
$56.8M
$5.4M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $25K and $275K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$275K
About 10% of grants go to recipients in VA.
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Notable grantees: Start Early, Environmental Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, Nature Conservancy - Florida (St. Theresa Bluffs), Everglades Foundation
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States. The top state by grant count is Virginia, while 10% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of New York. Chicago appears often among recipients, including several major grantees, and Washington, DC also appears multiple times. Florida recipients include Palmetto Bay, Coral Gables, and Tallahassee, reflecting a notable concentration of Florida-based conservation and education grantees.
The recent record shows three main areas: environmental conservation and policy, Florida ecosystem protection and restoration, and early childhood education and development. It also makes some grants connected to reproductive rights and education, but those sit alongside a more concentrated environmental and early-childhood portfolio.
Yes. The grant list shows repeated awards across multiple years to Start Early, Environmental Defense Fund, Nature Conservancy - FL (st Theresa Bluffs), Everglades Foundation, National Parks & Conservation Association, and Roger Baldwin Ftdn Reproductive Rights. That pattern points to ongoing support for selected core partners.
The typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $150,000 at the median, and $275,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include several $500,000 and $1,000,000 awards, showing that the foundation can make very large general-support grants to a small number of recipients.
The grant recipients are all in the United States. Virginia is the top state by grant count, while 10% of grants go to recipients in New York, the foundation’s headquarters state. Chicago and Washington, DC also appear frequently among recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MIAMI WATERKEEPER | CORAL GABLES, FL | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PARK CITY ENIORNMENTAL COUNCIL | PARK CITY, UT | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CLIMATE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING INTIATIVE - CSEI UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| 4 RANGES COMMUNITY RECREATION FOUNDATION | LIVINGSTON, MT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY - MT | ARLINGTON, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE - 1978 FOOTBALL PLAYERS INTERNSHIP FUND FOR THE TEEVENS C | HANOVER, NH | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PLAN A HEALTH | LOUISE, MS | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HIPPOCRATIC CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RED SOX FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI | NORTH MIAMI, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PICKLES GROUP | WINNETKA, IL | $3,020 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $350,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NEW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| EXCELLENCE IN FOUNDATION | WHEATON, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY - FL (ST THERESA BLUFFS) | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| LEARN CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY - MT | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PLAN A HEALTH | LOUISE, MS | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI | NORTH MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| START EARLY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY - FL (ST THERESA BLUFFS) | ARLINGTON, VA | $750,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| EVERGLADES FOUNDATION | PALMETTO BAY, FL | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| MIT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| EXCELLENCE IN FOUNDATION | WHEATON, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| COW HOLLOW SCHOOL | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PLAN A HEALTH | LOUISE, MS | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI | NORTH MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
START EARLY
$1,000,000GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$1,000,000GENERAL
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL
ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$150,000GENERAL
MIAMI WATERKEEPER
$125,000GENERAL
PARK CITY ENIORNMENTAL COUNCIL
$125,000GENERAL
FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
GENERAL
CLIMATE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING INTIATIVE - CSEI UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
$100,000GENERAL
4 RANGES COMMUNITY RECREATION FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL
NATURE CONSERVANCY - MT
$50,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$50,000GENERAL
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE - 1978 FOOTBALL PLAYERS INTERNSHIP FUND FOR THE TEEVENS C
$50,000GENERAL
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
$50,000GENERAL
NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
$25,000GENERAL
PLAN A HEALTH
$25,000GENERAL
HIPPOCRATIC CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$25,000GENERAL
RED SOX FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI
$5,000GENERAL
PICKLES GROUP
$3,020GENERAL
START EARLY
$1,000,000GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$500,000GENERAL
NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
$350,000GENERAL
NEW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
$250,000GENERAL
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL
EXCELLENCE IN FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL
NATURE CONSERVANCY - FL (ST THERESA BLUFFS)
$250,000GENERAL
ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$150,000GENERAL
LEARN CHARTER SCHOOL NETWORK
$100,000GENERAL
NATURE CONSERVANCY - MT
$100,000GENERAL
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$50,000GENERAL
PLAN A HEALTH
$25,000GENERAL
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI
$10,000GENERAL
START EARLY
$1,000,000GENERAL
NATURE CONSERVANCY - FL (ST THERESA BLUFFS)
$750,000GENERAL
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
$500,000GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
$500,000GENERAL
NATIONAL PARKS & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
$300,000GENERAL
MIT
$250,000GENERAL
EXCELLENCE IN FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL
ROGER BALDWIN FTDN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$150,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$50,000GENERAL
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$50,000GENERAL
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$25,000GENERAL
COW HOLLOW SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL
PLAN A HEALTH
$25,000GENERAL
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
$25,000GENERAL
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF MIAMI
$10,000GENERAL