The Canning Foundation makes relatively few, very large gifts concentrated in the Chicago area, with a clear emphasis on major hospital philanthropy and urban K–12 Catholic school support. A substantial share of grants are made via non-cash stock donations and to donor-advised vehicles, suggesting tax-efficient, payroll-style giving rather than many small program grants. The foundation repeatedly funds a small set of institutional partners rather than a broad roster of nonprofits.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat institutional grantees; frequent transfers of appreciated stock and use of donor-advised/intermediary vehicles rather than many small or new grantees.
The Canning Foundation’s recent giving is shaped by repeated, large stock-based transfers to a small set of institutional partners, especially Northwestern Memorial Foundation and Big Shoulders Fund. Those gifts point to a pattern of concentrated support for Chicago medical philanthropy and urban Catholic K–12 education rather than a broad, dispersed grant portfolio. The foundation has also used donor-advised and intermediary vehicles, including a large transfer to Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc., alongside direct support for operating purposes at nonprofits. In the recent grants list, Northwestern Memorial Foundation appears multiple times across consecutive years, with gift descriptions tied to program services and securities such as BRKA, SUI, TMUS, BCC, and more. Big Shoulders Fund is another recurring recipient, receiving several large grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The pattern suggests a funder that returns to a limited number of relationships and uses appreciated assets as a major giving tool. Its portfolio also includes universities, hospitals, and selected Chicago-area nonprofits, but the recurring institutional ties stand out most clearly.
Hospital-related philanthropy is a core part of The Canning Foundation’s recent record. They gave $2,446,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation in 2025 for program services, and the same organization received additional large stock-based gifts in earlier years. Education is another major lane. Big Shoulders Fund received $1,503,000 in 2023 for program services, followed by several more sizable grants in 2024 and 2025. That pattern aligns with support for urban Catholic K–12 school networks. The foundation also funds selected higher education and civic or community-serving organizations. Northwestern University received $325,000 in 2025 for program services, while Chicago Baseball and Educational Academy and Illinois Policy Institute each received six-figure support in 2024. Outside Chicago, Duke University also appears twice in the recent grants list.
The Canning Foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $51,250 at the 75th percentile, but recent awards are often much larger than those benchmarks. The recent grants show repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, indicating an ongoing relationship model rather than one-off gifts. A notable share of giving is structured as donations of publicly traded securities, and several grants are routed through donor-advised or intermediary vehicles. The foundation does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments.
$7M
$24.8M
$8M
$7.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $51K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$51K
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Notable grantees: Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Big Shoulders Fund, Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc
Giving is highly concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 84% of grants and the top state by grant count. Chicago is the main recipient city, appearing repeatedly through Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Big Shoulders Fund, Ucan, Paws Chicago, and DePaul University. Other Illinois recipients include Palatine, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Brookfield, Woodstock, and Evanston. Outside Illinois, recent grants also went to San Francisco, Durham, and Washington, DC, but those locations appear far less often.
Its recent grants cluster around Chicago medical philanthropy and urban Catholic K–12 education. Northwestern Memorial Foundation and Big Shoulders Fund appear multiple times across 2023 to 2025, alongside support for universities and selected Chicago-area nonprofits such as Ucan, Paws Chicago, and DePaul University.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Big Shoulders Fund, Wings Program Inc, Young at Heart, Duke University, and Depaul University.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $51,250 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants are often much larger, including seven-figure awards and repeated six-figure gifts.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 84% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is the central recipient city, with additional Illinois grants going to Palatine, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Brookfield, Woodstock, and Evanston.
A substantial share of recent support is delivered as donations of publicly traded securities, and some grants go through donor-advised or intermediary vehicles. The foundation also makes direct program-services grants to operating nonprofits rather than funding individuals or PRIs.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $1,739,569 | 2026 | ON 02/28/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 12,850 SHS OF SUI WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $350,465 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION. |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE | CHICAGO, IL | $1,506,440 | 2026 | ON 12/30/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 2 SHS OF BRKA WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $208,661 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION. |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $475,644 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE | CHICAGO, IL | $399,356 | 2026 | ON 02/28/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 2,950 SHS OF SUI WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $80,457 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION. |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $250,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OF THE CANNING INSPIRE FUND |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OF THE BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR GENETICS FUND |
| DENISON UNIVERSITY | GRANVILLE, OH | $200,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | BROOKFIELD, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HARPER COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | PALANTINE, IL | $200,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURNHAM, NC | $199,999 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HOPE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OF ST SABINA | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $112,500 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CASEY'S SAFE HAVEN HOLISTIC HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY | ELBURN, IL | $100,172 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NORTHWEST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ACCESS LIVING | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| YOUTH SERVICES | GLENVIEW, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| YOUNG AT HEART | WOODSTOCK, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| LEO HIGH SCHOOL | OAK LAWN, IL | $75,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| UWSP FOUNDATION INC | STEVENS POINT, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| PAWS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $25,400 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NOURISH FKA ORPHAN NETWORK | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| OUR LADY OF TEPEYAC HIGH SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| EQUINE GUARDIANS | GRAYSCALE, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| FAMOUS FIDO RESCUE AND ADOPTION ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES | NORTHBROOK, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CATHOLIC EXTENSION | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| WARRIOR DOG FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $20,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BRAVEHEARTS | HARVARD, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ST FRANCIS DE SALES HIGH SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DEPAUL UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| READING POWER INC | LAKE BLUFF, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ST SYMPHOROSA SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| NAVY PIER INC | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BROTHER RICE HIGH SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ON ANGELS' WINGS PET RESCUE | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN | GLENCOE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| BRIDGEPORT CATHOLIC ACADEMY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| ROTARY CLUB OF SCHAUMBURG HOFFMAN ESTATES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | SCHAUMBURG, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,500 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $3,058,350 | 2025 | ON 06/13/2024, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 5 SHS OF BRKA WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $511,413 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION. |
BIG SHOULDERS FUND
$1,739,569ON 02/28/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 12,850 SHS OF SUI WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $350,465 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION.
NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE
$1,506,440ON 12/30/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 2 SHS OF BRKA WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $208,661 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION.
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$475,644TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE
$399,356ON 02/28/2025, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 2,950 SHS OF SUI WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $80,457 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION.
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$250,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OF THE CANNING INSPIRE FUND
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$200,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES OF THE BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR GENETICS FUND
DENISON UNIVERSITY
$200,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY
$200,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
HARPER COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$200,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$199,999TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
HOPE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OF ST SABINA
$150,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC
$150,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BIG SHOULDERS FUND
$112,500TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
CASEY'S SAFE HAVEN HOLISTIC HORSE RESCUE AND SANCTUARY
$100,172TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
NORTHWEST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ACCESS LIVING
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
YOUTH SERVICES
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
YOUNG AT HEART
$100,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
LEO HIGH SCHOOL
$75,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
UWSP FOUNDATION INC
$50,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
PAWS CHICAGO
$25,400TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
NOURISH FKA ORPHAN NETWORK
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
OUR LADY OF TEPEYAC HIGH SCHOOL
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
EQUINE GUARDIANS
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
FAMOUS FIDO RESCUE AND ADOPTION ALLIANCE
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
LUTHERAN CHURCH CHARITIES
$25,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
CATHOLIC EXTENSION
$20,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
WARRIOR DOG FOUNDATION
$20,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BRAVEHEARTS
$20,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ST FRANCIS DE SALES HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
$15,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER
$15,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
READING POWER INC
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ST SYMPHOROSA SCHOOL
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
NAVY PIER INC
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BROTHER RICE HIGH SCHOOL
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ON ANGELS' WINGS PET RESCUE
$10,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN
$5,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
BRIDGEPORT CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$5,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
ROTARY CLUB OF SCHAUMBURG HOFFMAN ESTATES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$5,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
$3,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES
$3,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY
$2,500TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$2,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS
$1,000TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC
$3,058,350ON 06/13/2024, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 5 SHS OF BRKA WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $511,413 TO HELP FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAM SERVICES. VALUATIONS ARE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH/LOW SHARE PRICE ON THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION.