About Satter Foundation
The Satter Foundation concentrates on health and human rights priorities while also directing significant support to military/veteran causes and educational opportunity programs. Its largest commitments are to medical research and rehabilitation (notably cancer research and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab), but it also funds veteran support organizations, democracy/human-rights initiatives, and select community/arts and Jewish advocacy projects. Grants are a mix of several large, visible gifts and smaller targeted awards across national and international organizations.
Focus Areas
Major gifts to medical research and rehabilitation (cancer research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)Support for veterans and military-family scholarships (Navy SEAL Foundation, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation)Human rights and democracy initiatives with global scope (The Elders Foundation, George W. Bush Foundation)Educational opportunity and scholarship programs (Dynasty Partners, Northwestern, U GO Initiative)Targeted community development and Jewish advocacy (AJC Global Jewish Advocacy, Renew Venture Lab)
Who They Fund
veterans
About Satter Foundation
The Satter Foundation’s largest recent gift in the data is $500,000 to The Elders Foundation for promoting human rights, and that scale sits alongside a broader pattern of patient support for health, veterans, education, and civic causes. The foundation backs both major institutions and smaller nonprofits, with awards ranging from five-figure grants to half-million-dollar commitments. In health, it has funded medical research and rehabilitation through organizations such as Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and Gateway for Cancer Research. Its veteran support is also visible in grants to the Navy Seal Foundation and Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Beyond those priorities, the foundation has supported human-rights and democracy work, educational opportunity, and selected arts and Jewish advocacy efforts. The portfolio includes grants to groups in Chicago and elsewhere in the United States, plus international recipients such as The Elders Foundation and Gift of the Givers Foundation. Across the record, the foundation appears to favor direct support for organizations pursuing measurable, lasting impact rather than a single narrow program area.
What Satter Foundation Funds
Health and medical support is a recurring thread. In 2023, the foundation gave $150,000 to Gateway for Cancer Research for health and human services, and in 2025 it added $50,000 to Shirley Ryan Ability Lab for the same broad purpose. Veterans’ causes are another clear lane: it awarded $100,000 to the Navy Seal Foundation and $50,000 to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, both in 2023. Education appears through grants such as $50,000 to Dynasty Partners in 2024 and $30,000 to U Go Initiative in 2024 for educational opportunities. Human rights and democracy are also present, including $25,000 to George W Bush Foundation in 2024 and $10,000 to American Jewish Committee in 2023 for promoting human rights and democracy.
How Satter Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a core pattern of modest awards with a smaller number of larger commitments. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and its grants are often patient and sometimes unrestricted or multi-year according to its program descriptions. The recent record includes repeat support for several organizations across different years, such as Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Gateway for Cancer Research, and The Golden Apple Foundation, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time grants. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$152K
Total Assets
$16.9M
Total Revenue
-$3.8M
Total Expenses
$513K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
Geographic Reach
Regional15 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Satter Foundation Funds
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Satter Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 47 | $897K | 95.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 1 |
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