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    Grants in Illinois

    6,995 foundations$42B total annual giving$14K median grant32 metro areas

    Illinois Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    6,995

    Foundations Funding Here

    21,107

    Total Annual Giving

    $42B

    Total Assets Under Management

    $273.4B

    Largest Foundations in Illinois

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    Feeding AmericaChicago$9.5B$573.7M$11.2MK310National
    The Chicago Community TrustChicago$1.4B$6B$25KT310National
    The Big Ten Conference IncRosemont$844M

    Explore Illinois Foundations

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    Illinois(locked)

    What Gets Funded in Illinois

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    2,374$3B
    Education2,374 · $3B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    1,995$4.8B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism1,995 · $4.8B
    Human Services
    1,311$1.2B
    Human Services1,311 · $1.2B

    Where Foundations Are Located in Illinois

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI6,081$19.6B$3.2M
    Peoria, IL153$153.6M$1M
    Champaign-Urbana, IL134$345.2M

    Types of Foundations in Illinois

    Family Foundation
    41.3%
    3,39741.3%$2.8B
    Family Foundation3,397 (41.3%)

    $2.8B in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    26.0%
    2,13726.0%$2.5B
    Independent Foundation2,137 (26.0%)

    Typical Grant Profile in Illinois

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    New Grantee Rate

    67%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    84%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical Illinois foundation awards grants of $14K. Approximately 67% of Illinois foundations actively fund new organizations, and 84% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in Illinois

    How many foundations give grants in Illinois?
    There are 6,995 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Illinois and an additional 14,112 out-of-state foundations that fund Illinois-based organizations.
    What is the average grant size in Illinois?
    The median grant from Illinois foundations is $14K. Actual grant sizes vary widely depending on the foundation's size and focus area.
    What are the largest foundations in Illinois?
    The largest foundations in Illinois by annual giving are Feeding America, The Chicago Community Trust, The Big Ten Conference Inc, with combined giving of $11.8B.

    AI-Powered Grant Intelligence for Illinois

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    Illinois is home to 6,995 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $42B. The median grant from Illinois foundations is $14K.

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    Total Grants on Record

    0

    $352.9M
    $58.9M
    B60
    Regional
    ABBVIE PATIENT ASSISTANCE FOUNDATIONNORTH CHICAGO$610.3M$49.9M$482.1M—Local
    HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATIONDECATUR$458.1M$419.6M$377.6MT99Local
    PERT FoundationChicago$318M$317.3M$30KT20Local
    John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)Chicago$302.8M$9.3B$50KT20ZNational
    University of Illinois FoundationChampaign$269.2M$3.3B$144KB110Regional
    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORYCHICAGO$209.9M$222.1M$53KK31ZLocal
    Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoCHICAGO$182.7M$3.6B$1.2ME24ZLocal
    Feeding America

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $9.5B

    Total Assets

    $573.7M

    Median Grant

    $11.2M

    K310National
    The Chicago Community Trust

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $1.4B

    Total Assets

    $6B

    Median Grant

    $25K

    T310National
    The Big Ten Conference Inc

    Rosemont

    Annual Giving

    $844M

    Total Assets

    $352.9M

    Median Grant

    $58.9M

    B60Regional
    ABBVIE PATIENT ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION

    NORTH CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $610.3M

    Total Assets

    $49.9M

    Median Grant

    $482.1M

    Local
    HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION

    DECATUR

    Annual Giving

    $458.1M

    Total Assets

    $419.6M

    Median Grant

    $377.6M

    T99Local
    PERT Foundation

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $318M

    Total Assets

    $317.3M

    Median Grant

    $30K

    T20Local
    John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $302.8M

    Total Assets

    $9.3B

    Median Grant

    $50K

    T20ZNational
    University of Illinois Foundation

    Champaign

    Annual Giving

    $269.2M

    Total Assets

    $3.3B

    Median Grant

    $144K

    B110Regional
    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY

    CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $209.9M

    Total Assets

    $222.1M

    Median Grant

    $53K

    K31ZLocal
    Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $182.7M

    Total Assets

    $3.6B

    Median Grant

    $1.2M

    E24ZLocal
    See all 6,995 foundations
    Health Care
    1,023$1.6B
    Health Care1,023 · $1.6B
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    951$525.3M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities951 · $525.3M
    Religion-Related
    943$908.5M
    Religion-Related943 · $908.5M
    Mutual & Membership Benefit
    479$975.1M
    Mutual & Membership Benefit479 · $975.1M
    Recreation & Sports
    435$325.6M
    Recreation & Sports435 · $325.6M
    International Affairs
    387$339.2M
    International Affairs387 · $339.2M
    Youth Development
    382$163.2M
    Youth Development382 · $163.2M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(1,371)College Access(732)Healthcare(658)Youth Development(481)Research(403)Food Access(366)Arts Culture(341)Capacity Building(338)Emergency Assistance(262)Housing(241)Workforce Development(208)Mental Health Services(195)Conservation(168)Community Organizing(118)Literacy(103)Advocacy(100)Disaster Relief(97)Early Childhood(90)Case Management(85)Environmental Education(81)
    $2.6M
    Rockford, IL133$49.9M$375K
    St. Louis, MO-IL117$13M$111K
    Springfield, IL114$3.2B$27.8M
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL93$116M$1.2M
    Bloomington, IL81$247.5M$3.1M
    Decatur, IL59$511.7M$8.7M
    Quincy, IL-MO58$36.3M$625K
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
    Foundations

    6,081

    Total Giving

    $19.6B

    Avg Grant

    $3.2M

    Peoria, IL
    Foundations

    153

    Total Giving

    $153.6M

    Avg Grant

    $1M

    Champaign-Urbana, IL
    Foundations

    134

    Total Giving

    $345.2M

    Avg Grant

    $2.6M

    Rockford, IL
    Foundations

    133

    Total Giving

    $49.9M

    Avg Grant

    $375K

    St. Louis, MO-IL
    Foundations

    117

    Total Giving

    $13M

    Avg Grant

    $111K

    Springfield, IL
    Foundations

    114

    Total Giving

    $3.2B

    Avg Grant

    $27.8M

    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
    Foundations

    93

    Total Giving

    $116M

    Avg Grant

    $1.2M

    Bloomington, IL
    Foundations

    81

    Total Giving

    $247.5M

    Avg Grant

    $3.1M

    Decatur, IL
    Foundations

    59

    Total Giving

    $511.7M

    Avg Grant

    $8.7M

    Quincy, IL-MO
    Foundations

    58

    Total Giving

    $36.3M

    Avg Grant

    $625K

    $2.5B in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    8.1%
    6628.1%$1.4B
    Operating Nonprofit662 (8.1%)

    $1.4B in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    4405.4%$673M
    Private Operating Foundation440 (5.4%)

    $673M in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    2493.0%$273.9M
    Faith-Based Foundation249 (3.0%)

    $273.9M in annual giving

    Professional Association
    2362.9%$1.2B
    Professional Association236 (2.9%)

    $1.2B in annual giving

    Corporate Foundation
    1992.4%$523.8M
    Corporate Foundation199 (2.4%)

    $523.8M in annual giving

    Other
    11.0%
    90111.0%$32.5B
    Other901 (11.0%)

    $32.5B in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    What types of organizations do Illinois foundations fund?
    The most commonly funded areas in Illinois include Education, Philanthropy & Voluntarism, Human Services. Explore the focus area breakdown above for the full distribution.
    How do I find grants for my nonprofit in Illinois?
    Kindora's free foundation directory includes 6,995 Illinois foundations with IRS 990 financial data, grant history, and geographic reach. Use the interactive discovery table above to filter by metro area, focus area, foundation type, and grant size. Sign up for a free account to access AI-powered grant intelligence including fit scores and application tips.

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