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Active Grants

The Foundation's Special Initiatives Program supports nonprofit organizations conducting programs and campaigns that contribute to the Foundation's areas of interest. Generally, this is the only program at the Foundation to award capital and endowment grants, which make up approximately 75 percent of our Special Initiatives Program investments over the last ten years. With an annual budget of approximately $8 million, the program makes grants ranging in size from $50,000 to $10,000,000, with 95 percent of the dollars directed to institutions in the Chicago region. Please note, grants that are made for endowment are in perpetuity and do not have an end date.

Total Current Grants: $51,409,300
 
Number of nonprofits currently receiving grants: 50
Total Chicago: $45,992,300
Total Non Chicago: $5,417,000
 
Civic Institutions
 
Chicago Metropolis 2020, Chicago, IL
www.chicagometropolis2020.org
$250,000
For general support
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008


Chicago Public Education Fund, Chicago, IL
www.cpef.org
$1,000,000
For Leadership Fund III to improve school leadership and student achievement
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2012


Corporate Leadership Center NFP, Burr Ridge, IL
www.corporateleadership.org/
$50,000
For a scholarship for a nonprofit leader to participate in the CEO Perspective program at Northwestern's Kellogg School in 2008
Effective: 12/13/2007 - 12/13/2008


Friends of the Chicago River, Chicago, IL
www.chicagoriver.org
$100,000
For capacity building for the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum
Effective: 5/23/2007 - 12/31/2008


Metropolitan Planning Council, Chicago, IL
www.metroplanning.org
$200,000
For two years of general operating support
Effective: 3/1/2007 - 2/28/2009


The Chicago Community Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.cct.org
$1,000,000
For support of the 2016 Olympics Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods, which benefits nonprofits and communities impacted by the City's Olympic bid
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009


The Chicago Community Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.thepartnershipfornewcommunities.org
$300,000
For the Partnership for New Communities' workforce development initiative, Opportunity Chicago
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009


The Renaissance Schools Fund, Chicago, IL
www.rsfchicago.org
$1,000,000
For two new Renaissance 2010 schools (reallocated for evaluation and support of one school as of 7/06)
Effective: 9/14/2004 - 12/31/2010


University of Illinois Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.ceasefirechicago.org
$500,000
For renewed general support of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention
Effective: 1/10/2008 - 12/31/2009


Cultural Institutions
 
Chicago Academy of Sciences, Chicago, IL
www.naturemuseum.org
$250,000
For a planned giving program and endowment campaign for the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Effective: 12/12/2003 - 7/31/2008


Chicago Children's Choir, Chicago, IL
www.ccchoir.org
$59,425
For a Freedom Tour documentary film
Effective: 7/10/2007 - 7/31/2008


Chicago Horticultural Society/Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
www.chicagobotanic.org
$400,000
For a Children's Learning Center and Growing Garden
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2008


Chicago Humanities Festival, Chicago, IL
www.chfestival.org
$200,000
For renewed festival support in 2008 and 2009
Effective: 12/13/2007 - 12/13/2009


Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago, IL
www.chicagoshakes.com
$500,000
For a ten-year fund to create a Chicago Shakespeare Trust for artistic productions
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/31/2014


Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago, IL
www.lpzoo.com
$500,000
For endowment as part of the Campaign for Lincoln Park Zoo
Effective: 1/1/2003 - 1/1/2003


Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago, IL
www.lpzoo.com
$500,000
For endowment as part of the Campaign for Lincoln Park Zoo
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/7/2004


Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago, IL
www.lpzoo.com
$500,000
For restoration of the south pond and environmental education programs
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2010


Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
www.msichicago.org
$4,000,000
For the new U-505 exhibit
Effective: 1/1/2005 - 12/31/2009


Ravinia Festival Association, Highland Park, IL
www.ravinia.org
$500,000
For a ten-year Fund for Artistic Initiatives as part of the Centennial Campaign
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/31/2014


Educational Institutions
 
Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
www.colum.edu
$500,000
For an endowed scholarship fund for graduates of the Chicago Public Schools
Effective: 1/1/2006 - 1/1/2006


DePaul University, Chicago, IL
www.depaul.edu
$500,000
For Steans Center community internship program endowment
Effective: 1/1/2003 - 1/1/2003


Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL
www.roosevelt.edu/
$500,000
For a service-learning endowment
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/7/2004


University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
www.uchicago.edu
$10,000,000
For the Program for Urban and Community Leadership (PUCL), including two endowed professorships
Effective: 12/18/2001 - 12/18/2001


University of Chicago - Brain Research Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.brainresearchfdn.org
$250,000
For the Edward Levi Fellowship Program Endowment
Effective: 6/1/2001 - 6/1/2001


University of Illinois Foundation, Urbana, IL
www.uif.uillinois.edu
$100,000
For an endowment gift to the Clayton and Thelma Kirkpatrick Professorship in English Literature Fund
Effective: 9/14/2004 - 9/14/2004


Health Institutions
 
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
www.childrensmemorial.org
$250,000
For endowment support of the literacy program Project Open Book
Effective: 12/16/2002 - 12/16/2002


Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
www.childrensmemorial.org
$5,000,000
For the campaign to support the new hospital in Streeterville
Effective: 6/1/2007 - 6/30/2012


Family Institute of Chicago, Evanston, IL
www.family-institute.org
$1,000,000
For a Center for Graduate Education in Psychotherapy as part of the capital campaign
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/7/2004


Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
www.meddean.luc.edu/
$2,000,000
For the Program for the Study of Cardiac Remodeling at the Stritch School of Medicine
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2009


Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.nmh.org/nmh/donate/main.htm
$5,000,000
For the capital campaign for the new Prentice Women's Hospital
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/31/2008


Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
www.ric.org
$580,000
For the Healing Military Heroes Fund
Effective: 3/1/2007 - 12/31/2009


Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
www.rush.edu
$7,500,000
For support of the Center for Advanced Emergency Response as part of the capital campaign
Effective: 12/7/2004 - 12/31/2012


Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
www.rush.edu
$472,875
For a preschool social emotional learning initiative at Rush Neurobehavioral Center
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2010


Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago, IL
www.swedishcovenant.org
$750,000
For a campaign to expand its emergency department
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2008


Social Service Institutions
 
Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, Chicago, IL
www.thechicagolighthouse.org
$480,000
For support of the Birth to Three program and adaptive technology services for youth over three years
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2010


Chicago Youth Centers, Chicago, IL
www.chicagoyouthcenters.org
$150,000
For The Language Arts and Media Center at Centro Nuestro in Humboldt Park, as part of CYC's 50th Anniversary campaign
Effective: 3/1/2007 - 2/28/2009


Communities in Schools of Chicago, Chicago, IL
www.chicagocis.org
$200,000
For support of the Agency Impact Initiative
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2008


Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation, Chicago, IL
www.dmsf.org
$100,000
For an endowment fund in memory of Harold F. Grumhaus
Effective: 1/1/2000 - 1/1/2000


Have Dreams, Park Ridge, IL
www.havedreams.org
$500,000
For expansion of its Communication and Independent Life Skills program for children with autism
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2011


Juvenile Protective Association, Chicago, IL
www.juvenile.org
$100,000
For the "Building Bridges to North Lawndale" program
Effective: 12/13/2007 - 12/31/2008


Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Chicago, IL
www.lawrencehall.org
$500,000
For support of a capital campaign to redevelop the campus for improved residential treatment of children
Effective: 1/1/2006 - 12/31/2008


Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago, IL
www.metrofamily.org
$300,000
For the General Counseling Program, in honor of the agency's 150th anniversary in 2007
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2008


Non-Chicago Institutions
 
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, Washington, DC
www.lincolnbicentennial.gov
$500,000
For the rededication of the Lincoln Memorial and accompanying naturalization ceremony in April 2009
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 12/31/2009


Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery, San Marino, CA
www.huntington.org
$250,000
For processing, conserving and rehousing the Los Angeles Times Archive to make it available for scholarly use
Effective: 1/1/2006 - 6/30/2008


Lake Superior State University Foundation, Sault Ste. Marie, MI
www.lssu.edu/foundation
$100,000
For the Robert M. Hunt Scholarship Fund Endowment
Effective: 2/10/1998 - 2/10/1998


Michigan State University College of Communication Arts & Sciences, East Lansing, MI
www.cas.msu.edu
$397,000
For preservation and digitization of a collection of Chicago Tribune newspapers
Effective: 1/1/2008 - 6/30/2010


National Park Foundation, Washington, DC
www.nationalparks.org
$220,000
For support of the Junior Ranger Program
Effective: 1/1/2006 - 6/30/2008


Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc., Washington, DC
www.pentagonmemorial.net
$500,000
For construction of the Pentagon Memorial park
Effective: 9/14/2004 - 12/31/2008


Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
www.si.edu
$750,000
For construction of the new Star-Spangled Banner Gallery
Effective: 1/1/2007 - 12/31/2010


The Advertising Council, Inc., New York, NY
www.adcouncil.org
$150,000
For an emergency preparedness campaign and general support over three years
Effective: 5/23/2007 - 5/23/2010