The Sachs Family Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of sizeable investments, favoring local Chicago-area nonprofits focused on nature conservation and animal welfare while also supporting Jewish communal life and national civic/leadership initiatives. They make repeat gifts to favored local organizations and occasionally fund higher-profile national civic or cultural projects. The foundation appears mission-driven toward place-based environmental and animal causes, with secondary interest in Jewish advocacy and civic leadership/museum-type endeavors.
Concentrated grantmaking: few, large awards totaling most of annual giving; repeated multi-year or multiple grants to the same local nonprofits, with occasional one-off gifts to national civic or Jewish organizations.
A repeated pattern stands out in Sachs Family Foundation’s recent giving: large support for Thome Nature Centre, paired with substantial gifts to Paws Chicago and other Chicago-area nonprofits. The foundation’s grants show a local, institution-centered approach, with most awards going to Illinois organizations and many recipients appearing more than once across recent years. Environmental education and nature conservation are central, as seen in the support for Thome Nature Centre in Lake Forest and Lafayette. Animal welfare is another durable thread, reflected in multiple grants to Paws Chicago. Beyond those areas, the foundation also backs Jewish communal life, with American Jeweish Committee receiving a six-figure grant, and it has supported civic and museum-oriented work through The Barack Obama Foundation. The overall profile suggests a family foundation that favors established nonprofits and sustains relationships over time rather than scattering small, one-off awards. Its recent grant history also includes arts, education, youth sports, and clinical innovation organizations, but the heaviest support clusters around local environmental and animal-related institutions.
Environmental and conservation-related work appears to be one of the foundation’s clearest priorities. In 2024, it gave $333,334 to Thome Nature Centre in Lake Forest, and in 2025 it followed with $166,666 to Thome Nature Centre in Lafayette, CO, both described as support to enhance the purpose of the organization. Animal welfare is another recurring theme: Paws Chicago received $146,500 in 2025 and $134,417 in 2024 for the same purpose. The foundation also supports civic and community-facing institutions. Hope Chicago received $75,000 in 2025, while Goodman Theater received $64,073 in 2025 and $42,858 in 2024. These awards show attention to place-based nonprofits, along with selective support for broader civic, cultural, and educational organizations.
Typical grant size is concentrated around the middle of the distribution, with a p25 of $2,546, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent record also shows a few much larger awards, which raises the average above the median. This is a relationship-based funder: multiple recipients appear in more than one year, including recurring support across 2023, 2024, and 2025 for several organizations. The foundation gives to institutional beneficiaries rather than individuals and is not a program-related-investment funder. The grant purposes are consistently framed as support to enhance the purpose of the organization, suggesting flexible operating-style support rather than tightly specified project grants.
$824K
$8.9M
$678K
$928K
Most grants fall between $3K and $30K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$30K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: Thorne Nature Centre, PAWS Chicago, American Jewish Committee, The Barack Obama Foundation
Giving is highly concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 93% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recipient cities cluster around Lake Forest and Chicago, with additional Illinois awards in DeKalb and Oak Brook Terrace. Outside Illinois, the foundation has also granted to organizations in Boulder, CO; Dallas, TX; New York, NY; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; and Spring House, PA. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the recent grants listed.
Its recent grants cluster around local environmental and animal-welfare nonprofits, especially Thome Nature Centre and Paws Chicago. The foundation also supports Jewish communal life, civic leadership, museums, arts organizations, and a smaller set of education and health-related institutions.
The grant-size distribution centers at a median of $10,000, with a p25 of $2,546 and a p75 of $30,000. That pattern indicates many modest awards, alongside a smaller number of much larger grants.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including Thome Nature Centre, Paws Chicago, Goodman Theater, Boulder Junior Cycling, Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, The Family Institute, and New York Presbyterian Fund Inc.
Illinois is the dominant geography, with 93% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent recipient cities include Lake Forest and Chicago, with additional Illinois awards in DeKalb and Oak Brook Terrace.
The recent record shows grants to existing nonprofit organizations, not individuals, and the stated purposes repeatedly say “to enhance the purpose of the organization.” That points to flexible, institution-centered support rather than a narrow project-only model.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOME NATURE CENTRE | Lafayette, CO | $166,666 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $146,500 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| AMERICAN JEWEISH COMMITTEE | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| HOPE CHICAGO | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GOODMAN THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $64,073 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE FAMILY INSTITUTE | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING | Boulder, CO | $35,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NIU FOUNDATION | DeKalb, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BOULDER MUSEUM OF CONTEMP ART | Boulder, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| USA CYCLING FOUNDATION | Colorado Springs, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CAHME | SpringHouse, PA | $14,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE HAP FOUNDATION | Oak Brook Terrace, IL | $11,500 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MACKINTOSH ACADEMY | Boulder, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| YWCA BOULDER COUNTY | Boulder, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BREAKTHROUGH ALLIANCE OF Colorado | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BIXBY SCHOOL | Boulder, CO | $7,500 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NEXUS PERFORMING ARTS | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| LIFETIME FOUNDATION | Chanhassen, MN | $3,000 | 2025 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THOME NATURE CENTRE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $333,334 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $134,417 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC | LAKE FOREST, IL | $75,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GOODMAN THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $42,858 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING | LAKE FOREST, IL | $35,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE FAMILY INSTITUTE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MACKINTOSH ACADEMY | LAKE FOREST, IL | $11,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DAILY ARTS CENTRE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| CAHRE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $7,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | LAKE FOREST, IL | $6,000 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BIXBY SCHOOL | LAKE FOREST, IL | $5,500 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| DAVID SACHS | LAKE FOREST, IL | $2,591 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| LIFETIME FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $2,300 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| THE H&P FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $1,500 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| AVONBERG GOLDGEHN | LAKE FOREST, IL | $72 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MICHAEL J BUVKE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $70 | 2024 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| GOODMAN THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING | LAKE FOREST, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| MICHAEL J BUVKE | LAKE FOREST, IL | $6,388 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| AVONBERG GOLDGEHN | LAKE FOREST, IL | $4,748 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| BIXBY SCHOOL | LAKE FOREST, IL | $2,500 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| LIFETIME FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $500 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
| ILLINOIS ACADEMY GENERAL | LAKE FOREST, IL | $345 | 2023 | TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION |
THOME NATURE CENTRE
$166,666TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
GOODMAN THEATER
$64,073TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THE FAMILY INSTITUTE
TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING
$35,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
NIU FOUNDATION
$25,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BOULDER MUSEUM OF CONTEMP ART
$20,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION
$20,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
USA CYCLING FOUNDATION
$15,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
CAHME
$14,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BIXBY SCHOOL
$7,500TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale
$5,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
NEXUS PERFORMING ARTS
$5,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
LIFETIME FOUNDATION
$3,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THOME NATURE CENTRE
$333,334TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION
$100,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC
$75,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
GOODMAN THEATER
$42,858TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING
$35,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION
$20,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THE FAMILY INSTITUTE
$15,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
MACKINTOSH ACADEMY
$11,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
DAILY ARTS CENTRE
$10,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
CAHRE
$7,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$6,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BIXBY SCHOOL
$5,500TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
DAVID SACHS
$2,591TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
LIFETIME FOUNDATION
$2,300TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
THE H&P FOUNDATION
$1,500TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
AVONBERG GOLDGEHN
$72TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
MICHAEL J BUVKE
$70TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
GOODMAN THEATER
$25,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BOULDER JUNIOR CYCLING
$25,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
PARKLAND CENTER FOR CLINICAL INNOVATION
$20,000TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
MICHAEL J BUVKE
$6,388TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
AVONBERG GOLDGEHN
$4,748TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
BIXBY SCHOOL
$2,500TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
LIFETIME FOUNDATION
$500TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
ILLINOIS ACADEMY GENERAL
$345TO ENHANCE THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION