The Smart Family Foundation of Illinois concentrates its giving on higher education and independent K–12 education in the Chicago area, supporting institutional programs with large, targeted grants. Its funding emphasizes cultural, historical and educational initiatives at major local institutions (notably the University of Chicago) and progressive independent schooling (Francis W. Parker School). The foundation makes a small number of high-dollar awards rather than many small grants, often renewing support to the same organizations.
A defining feature of Smart Family Foundation of Illinois is its repeated seven-figure support for Chicago institutions, especially the University of Chicago and Francis W. Parker School. The foundation’s recent grant record shows a pattern of sizable awards in education, health services, and cultural programming, with several recipients appearing across multiple years rather than as one-time beneficiaries. At the University of Chicago, the foundation gave $1,000,000 in 2023 and again in 2025, alongside a $329,000 award in 2024, signaling sustained institutional support. Francis W. Parker School received $1,020,000 in 2023 and $700,000 in 2024, placing independent K–12 education among its clearest priorities. Beyond those two anchor grantees, the foundation has backed a small set of colleges, museums, theaters, and health organizations with grants ranging from six figures to seven figures. Its portfolio includes both Chicago-based institutions and nationally distributed recipients, but the center of gravity remains visible in educational and cultural institutions with long-term operating or program needs.
Higher education is a core theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. The University of Chicago received $1,000,000 in 2023 and $1,000,000 in 2025, with an additional $329,000 grant in 2024 for cultural, historical, and other educational purposes. The foundation also supported Kenyon College with $270,000 in 2024 and $255,000 in 2025, and Johns Hopkins University with $310,000 in 2025. Independent schooling is another clear area: Francis W. Parker School received $1,020,000 in 2023 and $700,000 in 2024, both categorized as activities directed to individuals. Cultural institutions appear as well. Steppenwolf Theatre Co received $212,600 in 2023 and $123,600 in 2024, while Grant Park Music Festival received $100,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025.
Typical grant size centers on mid-five-figure support: p25 is $10,000, median is $25,000, and p75 is $50,000, even though the recent record also includes larger institutional awards. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not make program-related investments. Recent grants show repeat support across years for several recipients, including the University of Chicago, Francis W. Parker School, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Kenyon College, Johns Hopkins University, and Grant Park Music Festival. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off transactions, with award size and timing varying by institution and purpose.
$4M
$40.7M
$3.1M
$4.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few grants that are large in size, repeated awards to the same local institutional grantees rather than broad, distributed funding.
Notable grantees: The University of Chicago, Francis W. Parker School, Other Chicago-area educational and cultural institutions (representative)
Grants are national, but they are concentrated in Illinois: 42% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago appears frequently in the recent grants list, including awards to Francis W. Parker School, the University of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Steppenwolf Theatre Co, Grant Park Music Festival, and Chicago Sinai Congregation. Outside Illinois, Baltimore shows up through Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Museum of Art, while Rye Brook, New York appears for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 181 grants in the United States.
The foundation supports higher education, independent K–12 education, cultural institutions, health services, and some nature or conservation-related work. Recent grants include universities, schools, theaters, museums, and health organizations, showing a mix of educational, cultural, and service-oriented beneficiaries.
Yes, a substantial share of its giving goes to Illinois recipients: 42% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state. Chicago-based grantees appear often in the recent record, including universities, schools, health systems, theaters, and cultural organizations.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, which points to recurring support. Examples in the recent grants list include the University of Chicago, Francis W. Parker School, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Kenyon College, Johns Hopkins University, and Grant Park Music Festival.
The stated distribution centers on $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include much larger institutional awards, including multiple six-figure and seven-figure gifts.
Outside Illinois, recent grants went to organizations in Baltimore, Maryland; Rye Brook, New York; Gambier, Ohio; Bethesda, Maryland; Madison, Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Poughkeepsie, New York; New York, New York; and Middletown, Connecticut. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE UNIVERISTY OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $310,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | RYE BROOK, NY | $300,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SERVICES |
| KENYON COLLEGE | GAMBIER, OH | $255,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SERVICES |
| NORWOOD SCHOOL | BETHESDA, MD | $225,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART | BALTIMORE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST | CHICAGO, IL | $97,500 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED FUND |
| STEPPENWOLF THEATRE CO | CHICAGO, IL | $76,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| HARVARD UNIVERSITY | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $75,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| WTTW | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| UNITING VOICES CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| SEVERN SCHOOL | SEVERNA PARK, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF GLOBAL ANTISEMITISM | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION (SCA) | CHARLESTOWN, NH | $25,000 | 2025 | NATURE PRESERVATION |
| INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART MIAMI | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | OTHER ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TO INDIVIDUALS |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| BRAIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| ROTARY CHICAGO FINANCIAL DISTRICT | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| OPENLANDS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | NATURE PRESERVATION |
| LAWRENCE ACADEMY | GROTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| FRIENDS OF THE PARKS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| HORIZONS GREATER WASHINGTON | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $15,500 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| SUMMER SEARCH | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| MERCERSBURG ACADEMY | MERCERSBURG, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| NEWBERRY LIBRARY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| FURRY FRIENDS ADOPTION CLINIC AND RANCH | JUPITER, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL SHELTER |
| TEN CHIMNEYS FOUNDATION | GENESEE DEPOT, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| WOMEN'S HEALTH ACCESS MATTERS | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH SERVICES & EDUCATIONAL |
| CHESAPEAKE LEGAL ALLIANCE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | NATURE PRESERVATION |
| KOHL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | GLENVIEW, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL |
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$310,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$250,000HEALTH SERVICES
CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
$100,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
$75,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO
$50,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
WTTW
$50,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$50,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$50,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION
$50,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
RAVINIA FESTIVAL
$25,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF GLOBAL ANTISEMITISM
$25,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION (SCA)
$25,000NATURE PRESERVATION
FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL
$25,000OTHER ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TO INDIVIDUALS
ROTARY CHICAGO FINANCIAL DISTRICT
$25,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
LAWRENCE ACADEMY
$25,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY
$25,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
NANTUCKET FILM FESTIVAL
$20,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$15,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
SUMMER SEARCH
$15,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
MERCERSBURG ACADEMY
$15,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
FURRY FRIENDS ADOPTION CLINIC AND RANCH
$10,000ANIMAL SHELTER
TEN CHIMNEYS FOUNDATION
$10,000CULTURAL, HISTORICAL & OTHER EDUCATIONAL
WOMEN'S HEALTH ACCESS MATTERS
$10,000HEALTH SERVICES & EDUCATIONAL