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    5. Illinois

    Grants in Illinois

    8,428 foundations$39B total annual giving$14K median grant32 metro areas

    Illinois Grantmaking at a Glance

    Foundations HQ'd Here

    8,428

    Foundations Funding Here

    22,824

    Total Annual Giving

    $39B

    Total Assets Under Management

    Largest Foundations in Illinois

    FoundationCityAnnual GivingTotal AssetsMedian GrantNTEEScope
    Feeding AmericaChicago$4.8B$572.5M$11.2MK310National
    The Big Ten Conference IncRosemont$1.4B$280.7M$58.9MB60Regional
    The Chicago Community TrustChicago

    Explore Illinois Foundations

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    Illinois(locked)

    What Gets Funded in Illinois

    Top Cause Areas

    Education
    2,551$3.7B
    Education2,551 · $3.7B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism
    1,994$4.9B
    Philanthropy & Voluntarism1,994 · $4.9B
    Human Services
    1,310$1.3B
    Human Services1,310 · $1.3B

    Where Foundations Are Located in Illinois

    Top 10 metro areas by foundation count

    Metro AreaFoundationsTotal Annual GivingAvg Grant Size
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI7,193$15.8B$2.2M
    Peoria, IL192$155.3M$809K
    Rockford, IL

    Types of Foundations in Illinois

    Family Foundation
    35.2%
    3,46435.2%$3.3B
    Family Foundation3,464 (35.2%)

    $3.3B in annual giving

    Independent Foundation
    22.3%
    2,19622.3%$3.1B

    Typical Grant Profile in Illinois

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    New Grantee Rate

    38%

    Accept Unsolicited Proposals

    64%

    Most Recent Filing Year

    2026

    The typical Illinois foundation awards grants of $14K. Approximately 38% of Illinois foundations actively fund new organizations, and 64% accept unsolicited proposals.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Grants in Illinois

    How many foundations give grants in Illinois?
    There are 8,428 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Illinois and an additional 14,396 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?

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    Illinois is home to 8,428 grantmaking foundations with combined annual giving of $39B. The median grant from Illinois foundations is $14K.

    $329B

    Median Grant Size

    $14K

    $1.2B
    $7.1B
    $25K
    T310
    National
    HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATIONDECATUR$698.7M$718.1M$377.6MT99Local
    ABBVIE PATIENT ASSISTANCE FOUNDATIONNORTH CHICAGO$442M—$482.1M—Regional
    John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)Chicago$302.8M$9.3B$50KT20ZNational
    Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoCHICAGO$211.5M$3.7B$1.2ME24ZLocal
    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORYCHICAGO$191.2M$216M$53KK31ZLocal
    Jewish Federation of Metropolitan ChicagoChicago$166.6M$1.1B$20KT700National
    NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANKGENEVA$154.1M$76M$96KK31ZLocal
    Feeding America

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $4.8B

    Total Assets

    $572.5M

    Median Grant

    $11.2M

    K310National
    The Big Ten Conference Inc

    Rosemont

    Annual Giving

    $1.4B

    Total Assets

    $280.7M

    Median Grant

    $58.9M

    B60Regional
    The Chicago Community Trust

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $1.2B

    Total Assets

    $7.1B

    Median Grant

    $25K

    T310National
    HOWARD G BUFFETT FOUNDATION

    DECATUR

    Annual Giving

    $698.7M

    Total Assets

    $718.1M

    Median Grant

    $377.6M

    T99Local
    ABBVIE PATIENT ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION

    NORTH CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $442M

    Total Assets

    —

    Median Grant

    $482.1M

    Regional
    John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $302.8M

    Total Assets

    $9.3B

    Median Grant

    $50K

    T20ZNational
    Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $211.5M

    Total Assets

    $3.7B

    Median Grant

    $1.2M

    E24ZLocal
    GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY

    CHICAGO

    Annual Giving

    $191.2M

    Total Assets

    $216M

    Median Grant

    $53K

    K31ZLocal
    Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

    Chicago

    Annual Giving

    $166.6M

    Total Assets

    $1.1B

    Median Grant

    $20K

    T700National
    NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK

    GENEVA

    Annual Giving

    $154.1M

    Total Assets

    $76M

    Median Grant

    $96K

    K31ZLocal
    See all 8,428 foundations
    Health Care
    1,022$1.7B
    Health Care1,022 · $1.7B
    Arts, Culture & Humanities
    950$554.4M
    Arts, Culture & Humanities950 · $554.4M
    Religion-Related
    946$922M
    Religion-Related946 · $922M
    Mutual & Membership Benefit
    478$1B
    Mutual & Membership Benefit478 · $1B
    Recreation & Sports
    435$336.7M
    Recreation & Sports435 · $336.7M
    International Affairs
    387$347.5M
    International Affairs387 · $347.5M
    Youth Development
    384$177.6M
    Youth Development384 · $177.6M
    CategoryFundersGiving

    Common Focus Areas

    General Operating(1,406)College Access(749)Healthcare(674)Youth Development(491)Research(418)Food Access(373)Arts Culture(347)Capacity Building(344)Emergency Assistance(268)Housing(251)Workforce Development(208)Mental Health Services(204)Conservation(174)Community Organizing(118)Advocacy(106)Literacy(102)Disaster Relief(100)Early Childhood(90)Environmental Education(85)Case Management(84)
    172
    $65.1M
    $378K
    Champaign-Urbana, IL170$393.2M$2.3M
    Springfield, IL168$3.1B$18.6M
    St. Louis, MO-IL162$18.5M$114K
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL114$112.9M$991K
    Bloomington, IL98$262.3M$2.7M
    Quincy, IL-MO70$44.6M$637K
    Decatur, IL67$785.7M$11.7M
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
    Foundations

    7,193

    Total Giving

    $15.8B

    Avg Grant

    $2.2M

    Peoria, IL
    Foundations

    192

    Total Giving

    $155.3M

    Avg Grant

    $809K

    Rockford, IL
    Foundations

    172

    Total Giving

    $65.1M

    Avg Grant

    $378K

    Champaign-Urbana, IL
    Foundations

    170

    Total Giving

    $393.2M

    Avg Grant

    $2.3M

    Springfield, IL
    Foundations

    168

    Total Giving

    $3.1B

    Avg Grant

    $18.6M

    St. Louis, MO-IL
    Foundations

    162

    Total Giving

    $18.5M

    Avg Grant

    $114K

    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
    Foundations

    114

    Total Giving

    $112.9M

    Avg Grant

    $991K

    Bloomington, IL
    Foundations

    98

    Total Giving

    $262.3M

    Avg Grant

    $2.7M

    Quincy, IL-MO
    Foundations

    70

    Total Giving

    $44.6M

    Avg Grant

    $637K

    Decatur, IL
    Foundations

    67

    Total Giving

    $785.7M

    Avg Grant

    $11.7M

    Independent Foundation
    2,196 (22.3%)

    $3.1B in annual giving

    Operating Nonprofit
    11.1%
    1,09711.1%$1.5B
    Operating Nonprofit1,097 (11.1%)

    $1.5B in annual giving

    Professional Association
    5205.3%$1.8B
    Professional Association520 (5.3%)

    $1.8B in annual giving

    Private Operating Foundation
    4404.5%$537.9M
    Private Operating Foundation440 (4.5%)

    $537.9M in annual giving

    Requires Review
    3793.9%$95.3M
    Requires Review379 (3.9%)

    $95.3M in annual giving

    Faith-Based Foundation
    2943.0%$358.3M
    Faith-Based Foundation294 (3.0%)

    $358.3M in annual giving

    Other
    14.8%
    1,45314.8%$28.4B
    Other1,453 (14.8%)

    $28.4B in annual giving

    Foundation TypeCountShareGiving
    The largest foundations in Illinois by annual giving are Feeding America, The Big Ten Conference Inc, The Chicago Community Trust, with combined giving of $7.4B.
    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 funder database includes 8,428 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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