The Buchanan Family Foundation funds a mix of education, conservation/wildlife, health and human services, and community-based institutions with an emphasis on general operating and capital support. Grants skew toward regional colleges, K–12 schools, land/wildlife conservation groups and local health/social service providers, and many recipients receive repeated or multi-year support. The foundation also shows interest in cultural and science institutions (zoos, marine labs, dance) and reproductive/behavioral health organizations. Overall, giving appears mission-flexible but focused on sustaining established nonprofits in education, conservation, and community health in the Midwest and select other U.S. regions.
The Buchanan Family Foundation’s recent giving is marked by repeated support for established institutions rather than one-off awards. Across 2023 and 2024, it backed colleges, independent schools, wildlife and marine conservation groups, and local health providers with general, operating, endowment, or capital support. That pattern shows up in higher-education grants such as $160,000 to Ohio State University College of Veterinary in Columbus and $50,000 to Purdue University in West Lafayette, as well as school support like $155,000 to Dutchess Day School in Millbrook and $115,000 to Kent School in Kent. The foundation also funds conservation and animal-focused organizations, including Delta Waterfowl in Bismarck and Tall Pines Conservatory in Nashotah, alongside community-serving institutions in Illinois. Its giving includes both large institutional awards and smaller repeat grants, suggesting a preference for sustaining organizations over time. The recipient mix is broad, but the recurring thread is support for organizations with tangible physical programs, facilities, or service infrastructure.
Education is a major theme in the foundation’s grant list. It gave $160,000 to Ohio State University College of Veterinary for general, operating, endowment, or capital support, and $155,000 to Dutchess Day School for the same broad purpose. College and university support also appears in $75,000 to Walsh University and $35,000 to Eastern Illinois University Foundation. Conservation and wildlife work is another clear area: the foundation awarded $50,000 to Delta Waterfowl and $35,000 to Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation. Health-related giving includes $40,000 to Josselyn Center for Mental Health and $30,000 to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. It also supported reproductive health with $50,000 to Planned Parenthood Association in Chicago.
Typical awards are relatively modest, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $25,000, even though some grants are much larger. The recent record shows both recurring and repeat support: several recipients appear in multiple years, including Delta Waterfowl, Purdue University, Planned Parenthood Association, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Lake County Community Foundation, Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation, and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a family foundation, and the grants shown are described as general, operating, endowment, or capital support. No application process is indicated in the provided data.
$2.5M
$38.9M
$4.1M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, repeat funding across a moderate number of organizations: many top grantees received multiple grants (often two), with awards ranging from mid-five-figures to low six-figures for general/operating or capital purposes. The foundation favors sustaining established institutions rather than one-off small grants, with geographically focused investments (Midwest emphasis) and occasional larger gifts to flagship projects or university programs.
Notable grantees: Ohio State University College of Veterinary, Dutchess Day School, Delta Waterfowl, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northern Illinois Food Bank
Giving is national, but the strongest concentration is in Illinois, which accounts for 53% of grants. Chicago appears frequently among recipient locations, along with Lake Forest, Northfield, Brookfield, and Dundee. Outside Illinois, the foundation gives in Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maine, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Florida. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 293 grants in the United States.
The recent grants list shows a mix of higher education, independent schools, conservation and wildlife groups, and health or human-services providers. Examples include universities such as Ohio State University College of Veterinary and Purdue University, schools such as Dutchess Day School and Kent School, and service organizations such as Josselyn Center for Mental Health and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
Typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, such as $160,000 and $155,000, showing that the foundation uses both mid-sized and larger institutional grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year in the recent grant list, including Delta Waterfowl, Purdue University, Planned Parenthood Association, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Lake County Community Foundation, Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation, and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. That pattern points to recurring support.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 53% of grants going to recipients there. Chicago appears often among recipient locations, and other Illinois recipients include Lake Forest, Northfield, Brookfield, and Dundee.
The grants shown are consistently described as general, operating, endowment, or capital support. That suggests flexible institutional funding rather than narrowly restricted project-only grants.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL | AVON, CT | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| SMITH COLLEGE | NORTHHAMPTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| HISTORY CENTER OF LAKE FOREST - LAKE BUFF | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| TALL PINES CONSERVATORY | NASHOTAH, WI | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY | COLUMBUS, OH | $55,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| HURON MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | HOBE SOUND, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| PURDUE UNIVERSITY | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE | MANHASSET, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| DELTA WATERFOWL | BISMARK, ND | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| BOZEMAN SPORTS PARK FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY FOUNDATION | GRAYSLAKE, IL | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITY LAB | CHICAGO, IL | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| SUGAR'S GIFT | BRANDENTON, FL | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| RAISON D'ETRE - DANCE COMPANY | BOZEMAN, MT | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | DUNDEE, IL | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| DUTCHESS LAND CONSERVATORY | MILLBROOK, NJ | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| LAKE FOREST - LAKE BLUFF SENIOR CITIZENS FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $33,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL | LAKE FOREST, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| EQUESTRIAN CONNECTION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| BROOKFIELD ZOO | BROOKFIELD, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| FOX VALLEY FOOD FOR HEALTH | AURORA, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN TEAM FOUNDATION | GLADSTONE, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| COMMUNITY CENTER OF BOCA GRANDE | BOCA GRANDE, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| FRIENDS OF THAI DAUGHTERS | TREVETT, ME | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| ROOT | SUSANVILLE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| WTTW - CHANNEL 11 | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL | KEY BISCAYNE, FL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| OUR HOUSE OF HOPE ANIMAL RESCUE | NORTH EAST, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| GREAT LAKES ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOCIATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY OF ILLINOIS | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| FOUNDING FISH NETWORK | ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| THE LESOTHO CONNECTION | TACOMA, WA | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| LAKE FOREST LIBRARY | LAKE FOREST, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| EVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS | MENLO PARK, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| CHARLOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL | CHARLOTTE, VT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| ELAWA FARM FOUNDATION | LAKE FOREST, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LAKE COUNTRY | LAKE FOREST, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| WOW POLO SERIES INC | WELLINGTON, FL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL |
| SIGMA CHI FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
| BILLION OYSTER PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL. |
AVON OLD FARMS SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
HISTORY CENTER OF LAKE FOREST - LAKE BUFF
$75,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
TALL PINES CONSERVATORY
$75,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$60,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY
$55,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
HURON MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
FEINSTEIN INSTITUTE
$50,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
DELTA WATERFOWL
$50,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
BOZEMAN SPORTS PARK FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
SUGAR'S GIFT
$40,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
RAISON D'ETRE - DANCE COMPANY
$35,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
DUTCHESS LAND CONSERVATORY
$35,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
LAKE FOREST - LAKE BLUFF SENIOR CITIZENS FOUNDATION
$33,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL
$30,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
LINCOLN PARK ZOO
$30,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
BROOKFIELD ZOO
$30,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
FOX VALLEY FOOD FOR HEALTH
$30,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
ADVOCATE LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
$30,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
COMMUNITY CENTER OF BOCA GRANDE
$25,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
RAVINIA FESTIVAL
$25,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
ROOT
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
WTTW - CHANNEL 11
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ROSENSTIEL SCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
OUR HOUSE OF HOPE ANIMAL RESCUE
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
GREAT LAKES ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOCIATION
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
FOUNDING FISH NETWORK
$20,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
THE LESOTHO CONNECTION
$18,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
LAKE FOREST LIBRARY
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
EVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
CHARLOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LAKE COUNTRY
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL.
WOW POLO SERIES INC
$15,000GENERAL, OPERATING, ENDOWMENT OR CAPITAL