The Knight Family Foundation primarily funds Chicago-area social services, education and faith-based community organizations, while also making a few large international development gifts. Their grants emphasize homelessness solutions, food security and youth education/college access, alongside investments in faith-driven community organizing and targeted higher-education scholarships. They combine multi-thousand-dollar gifts to established institutions with mid-sized support for local nonprofits delivering direct services in the Chicago region.
The Knight Family Foundation C/o Rlk Partners LLC has a clear pattern of backing Chicago-area institutions that address homelessness, food security, education, and faith-based community work, while also making large support grants abroad through One Acre Fund. In the recent record, a $1,000,000 general support grant to Inner-City Muslim Action Network and a $325,000 grant to La Casa Norte for the Hope for Homes Day & non-congregate shelter project show how the foundation combines major operating support with project-specific shelter funding. It also supports education pathways at scale, including grants to City Colleges of Chicago Foundation and Northwestern University for the Knight Scholars Fund. The grant list shows a mix of community-service organizations, scholarship vehicles, and health-related nonprofits, alongside recurring support for food access and youth development. The foundation’s giving reaches both established institutions and local direct-service groups, with several awards concentrated in Chicago and nearby suburbs. Its recent grants also include support for faith-centered community organizing and higher-education access, suggesting a portfolio built around practical needs in the Chicago region and a smaller set of larger international commitments.
In homelessness prevention, the foundation backed La Casa Norte with $325,000 for the Hope for Homes Day & non-congregate shelter project and gave $150,000 to Connections for the Homeless as general support. Food security appears in grants to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, including $182,000 for food purchases and an earlier $56,500 award for the same purpose. For youth education and college access, it gave $500,000 to City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, $200,000 to One Million Degrees, and $120,000 to By The Hand Club for Kids. Faith-based and community-organizing work also shows up through $200,000 to Maafa Redemption Project Inc. and $100,000 to Grace and Peace Fellowshipunity Initiative.
Typical grant size clusters around smaller awards and larger operating gifts: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. The recent record includes repeated support for some recipients across multiple years, including One Acre Fund, Northwestern University, Greenlight Fund Chicago, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. That pattern suggests the foundation uses both one-time and recurring grants. The foundation is organized as The Knight Family Foundation C/o Rlk Partners LLC, and it also funds individuals through scholarship support, including the Knight Scholars Fund and Knight Scholarship Fund at Northwestern University.
$5.1M
$24M
$2.2M
$5.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$100K
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A mix of a few large transformational grants and many mid-size awards; concentrated geographically in Chicago with several repeat grantees and sustained multi-grant commitments. Funding blends institutional support (universities, hospital foundations) and direct-service/community-based organizations, with occasional major international philanthropy.
Notable grantees: One Acre Fund, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, Northwestern University (Knight Scholars), La Casa Norte, GreenLight Fund Chicago
Grantmaking is heavily centered in Illinois, which receives 74% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Chicago is the most visible recipient city, with awards going to organizations such as City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, La Casa Norte, One Million Degrees, and The Cara Program. Evanston also appears repeatedly through Northwestern University, Connections for the Homeless, Northshore Hospitals Foundation, and earlier gifts to the same university and social-service groups. Outside Illinois, the recent record includes One Acre Fund in Brooklyn, New York, and Greenlight Fund Chicago listed in Boston, Massachusetts.
The recent grants point to Chicago-area social services, education, faith-based community organizing, food security, and health-related nonprofits. Examples include La Casa Norte, City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Inner-City Muslim Action Network, and Northshore Hospitals Foundation.
Yes. Recent grants include $250,000 to Northwestern University for the Knight Scholars Fund, $500,000 to City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, and $200,000 to One Million Degrees. Earlier support also went to Northwestern University for the Knight Scholarship Fund.
It gives both general support and project-specific shelter funding. In the recent record, La Casa Norte received $325,000 for the Hope for Homes Day & non-congregate shelter project, and Connections for the Homeless received $150,000 for general support.
Yes. Illinois receives 74% of grants, and the recent list is dominated by Chicago and nearby suburbs such as Evanston and Glencoe. The grant record is entirely U.S.-based, with 63 grants listed in the United States.
Yes. One Acre Fund appears in 2023 and 2025, Northwestern University appears in 2023 and 2025, Greenlight Fund Chicago appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Greater Chicago Food Depository appears in both 2023 and 2024.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INNER-CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONE ACRE FUND | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHSHORE HOSPITALS FOUNDATION | EVANSTON, IL | $560,499 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LA CASA NORTE | CHICAGO, IL | $325,000 | 2025 | HOPE FOR HOMES DAY & NON-CONGREGATE SHELTER PROJECT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | KNIGHT SCHOLARS FUND |
| MAAFA REDEMPTION PROJECT INC | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE CARA PROGRAM | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONE MILLION DEGREES | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS | EVANSTON, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NOURISHING HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MICHAEL REESE HEALTH TRUST | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | ILLINOIS CHAPTER PROGRAMS |
| AIDS FOUNDATION OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE LYTE COLLECTIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS (WTTW) | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF FIRSTHAND: HOMELESS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHSIDE CENTER OF HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FATHER FRED FOUNDATION | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HILLSIDE FOOD PANTRY | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | ELMIRA, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MADONNA MISSION | NORTHFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $5,300 | 2025 | FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD FOR THE NEEDY |
| OAK PARK RIVER FOREST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | OAK PARK, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PHILANTHROPY NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $3,350 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FAMILY MATTERS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REDEEMING GRACE FOOD PANTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $182,000 | 2024 | FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD FOR THE NEEDY |
| NEW LIFE CENTERS OF CHICAGOLAND | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRACE AND PEACE FELLOWSHIPUNITY INITIATIVE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HILLSIDE FOOD PANTRY | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALL CHICAGO MAKING HOMELESSNESS HISTORY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MADONNA MISSION | NORTHFIELD, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES |
| FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER | ELMIRA, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH | EVANSTON, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHSIDE CENTER OF HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FATHER FRED FOUNDATION | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ONE ACRE FUND | BROOKLYN, NY | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | KNIGHT SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS | CHICAGO, IL | $120,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
NORTHSHORE HOSPITALS FOUNDATION
$560,499GENERAL SUPPORT
KNIGHT SCHOLARS FUND
GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS (WTTW)
$50,000SUPPORT OF FIRSTHAND: HOMELESS
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CHICAGO
$35,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHSIDE CENTER OF HOPE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HILLSIDE FOOD PANTRY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MADONNA MISSION
$10,000SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES
FAMILY MATTERS CHICAGO
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
REDEEMING GRACE FOOD PANTRY
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GRACE AND PEACE FELLOWSHIPUNITY INITIATIVE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HILLSIDE FOOD PANTRY
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MADONNA MISSION
$10,000SUPPORT OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES
FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHSIDE CENTER OF HOPE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT