The James Huntington Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on supporting The Salvation Army, providing large, unrestricted general-purpose grants to regional corps. Its giving appears mission-aligned with faith-based social service delivery—funding operations that support emergency assistance, shelters, and other anti-poverty programs—with a geographic focus that includes Chicago and Tucson. The pattern suggests the foundation prefers few, sizable gifts to established charitable arms rather than many small or diversified grants.
Highly concentrated: very few (4) large grants totaling $844k, all to the same organization (Salvation Army) split between two regional locations; repeat grantee relationships and unrestricted/general purpose funding.
The James Huntington Foundation C/o Mr Samuel H Ellis has made The Salvation Army its clearest recurring priority, with four recent six-figure general-purpose grants to regional corps in Chicago and Tucson across 2023 and 2024. Those gifts stand out in a portfolio that is otherwise built around unrestricted support for established nonprofits rather than tightly restricted projects. The foundation also backed the University of Arizona Foundation, Mayo Clinic, and Merit School of Music at $75,000 each, showing that its giving reaches beyond direct social services into health, education, and arts institutions. Smaller but still material grants went to Tucson Medical Center Foundation, University of Nebraska Foundation, ProPublica, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Opportunity International, and several Tucson-based cultural and civic organizations. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is steady and practical: general purpose awards, repeated support to some recipients, and a clear interest in organizations with operating scale in Illinois and Arizona. The foundation's 2024 filing shows annual grants of $1,982,000 against assets of $21,436,151, reinforcing that this is an active grantmaker with room for sustained multi-year support.
General operating support is the dominant thread in the recent grants data. The foundation gave $203,250 to Salvation Army - Chicago in 2024 and $203,250 to Salvation Army - Tucson the same year, both for general purpose support. It also made unrestricted gifts of $75,000 to University of Arizona Foundation in both 2023 and 2024, indicating continuity for a major institutional partner. In health-related giving, Mayo Clinic received $75,000 in 2023 and again in 2024, while Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago received $20,000 in both years. Arts and culture are present as well: Merit School of Music received $75,000 in 2024 and $60,000 in 2023, and Tucson Symphony Orchestra received $15,000 in each year. Smaller awards to Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona Opera, and Friends of Sabino Canyon add a local civic dimension.
Recent grant sizes cluster in a relatively narrow band, with a typical award of $5,000, a p25 of $3,000, and a p75 of $10,000. The distribution is skewed upward by several larger institutional gifts, including repeated six-figure support. The grant list shows multi-year continuity: several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, often at the same or similar amounts, which points to recurring support rather than one-time awards. The foundation appears to use straightforward general-purpose grants rather than project-specific funding. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$21.6M
$0
$3.1M
$23.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Salvation Army - Chicago, Salvation Army - Tucson
Giving is national, but it is concentrated in Illinois and Arizona. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 32% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago appears repeatedly through Salvation Army - Chicago, Merit School of Music, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and Opportunity International. Tucson is the other major hub, with repeated grants to Salvation Army - Tucson, University of Arizona Foundation, Tucson Medical Center Foundation, Arizona Public Media, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Friends of Sabino Canyon, and Tucson Museum of Art. Outside those states, Rochester, Lincoln, New York, and Phoenix also appear in the recent grants list.
The recent grants list shows support for general charitable purposes across social services, health, education, arts, media, and civic organizations. Recurring recipients include Salvation Army - Chicago and Salvation Army - Tucson, along with University of Arizona Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Merit School of Music, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Arizona Public Media, and Tucson Museum of Art.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including Salvation Army - Chicago, Salvation Army - Tucson, University of Arizona Foundation, Mayo Clinic, Merit School of Music, Tucson Medical Center Foundation, Arizona Public Media, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Opportunity International, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Friends of Sabino Canyon, and Tucson Museum of Art.
The grant-size distribution centers on relatively modest awards: p25 is $3,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of much larger general-purpose gifts, including several awards at $75,000 and above.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 32% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Chicago is a major recipient city, while Tucson is the other clear cluster in the recent grants list.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST | JENKINTOWN, PA | $21,347,353 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $80,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $80,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION | OXFORD, OH | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS ALLIANCE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERIND FOUNDATION | DRAGOON, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG NAPERVILLE SINGERS | NAPERVILLE, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SALVATION ARMY - CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $271,250 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SALVATION ARMY - TUCSON | TUCSON, AZ | $271,250 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRESH AIR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS ALLIANCE | SILVER SPRING, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ORINDA NETWORK FOR EDUCATION | ORINDA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YOUNG NAPERVILLE SINGERS | NAPERVILLE, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE WOMEN'S BOARD OF NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FOUNDATION FOR LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (BILL PFEIFF AWARD) | LINCOLN, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERIND FOUNDATION | DRAGOON, AZ | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CALM (CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION INC) | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS | TUCSON, AZ | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BOOTSTRAPS | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JEFFCO OPEN SPACE FOUNDATION | GOLDEN, CO | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COLORADO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM COALITION | DENVER, CO | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SALVATION ARMY - TUCSON | TUCSON, AZ | $203,250 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SALVATION ARMY - CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $203,250 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROPUBLICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST
$21,347,353GENERAL PURPOSE
MAYO CLINIC
$80,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERIND FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG NAPERVILLE SINGERS
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SALVATION ARMY - CHICAGO
$271,250GENERAL PURPOSE
SALVATION ARMY - TUCSON
$271,250GENERAL PURPOSE
MAYO CLINIC
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ARIZONA PUBLIC MEDIA
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRESH AIR FUND
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
YOUNG NAPERVILLE SINGERS
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE WOMEN'S BOARD OF NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERIND FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CALM (CHILD ABUSE LISTENING MEDIATION INC)
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BOOTSTRAPS
$3,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JEFFCO OPEN SPACE FOUNDATION
$3,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SALVATION ARMY - TUCSON
$203,250GENERAL PURPOSE
SALVATION ARMY - CHICAGO
$203,250GENERAL PURPOSE
MAYO CLINIC
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE