Kavanaugh Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $619,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $60,000
• Geographic Focus: Chicago metro area, secondary focus on Wisconsin/Ohio

Contact Details

Phone: (630) 629-9340
Address: 1401 Brook Drive, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Website: None
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Kavanaugh Family Foundation, established in 2009 by Dave and Ginny Kavanaugh, is a private foundation with approximately $16 million in assets. Dave Kavanaugh, owner of United States Brass and Copper (one of the largest independent suppliers of copper and brass mill products), founded the organization to support education and healthcare initiatives. The foundation distributed $619,000 across 14 grants in 2023, primarily supporting Catholic educational institutions in the Chicago metropolitan area. The foundation maintains a low profile with no website and operates through invitation-only grant-making, preferring to develop multi-year relationships with a core group of preselected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but provides institutional support grants ranging from $1,000 to $60,000. Grants are made on a rolling basis through trustee discretion to preselected organizations.

Priority Areas

• Primary Focus: Education, particularly Catholic/parochial schools in the Chicago area
• Secondary Focus: Healthcare initiatives
• Geographic Priority: Chicago metropolitan area (Illinois), with secondary support in Wisconsin and Ohio

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and only funds preselected charitable organizations. Individual requests are not considered.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Dave J. Kavanaugh - Founder/Trustee, St. Ignatius College Prep Class of 1957, Owner of United States Brass and Copper
• Ginny Kavanaugh - Co-Trustee

Dave Kavanaugh also serves on the board of the Howard Young Foundation, focusing on healthcare initiatives in Minocqua, Wisconsin. The family maintains residences in Oak Lawn, Illinois and Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and strategic alignment with the foundation's mission.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available - decisions are made internally by trustees on a rolling basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable as the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation works with preselected organizations and maintains multi-year relationships with core grantees.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's grant-making patterns and known recipients:

• Catholic Educational Institutions: The foundation consistently supports Catholic high schools including St. Ignatius College Prep, De La Salle Institute, Marian Catholic High School, and Marist High School
• Chicago Area Focus: Organizations based in the Chicago metropolitan area receive priority consideration
• Long-term Partnerships: The foundation values developing multi-year relationships with grantees rather than one-time support
• Educational Mission Alignment: Organizations with strong educational components, particularly serving youth, align well with the foundation's priorities
• Healthcare Organizations: Secondary priority given to healthcare initiatives, particularly in areas where the family has personal connections (Wisconsin)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation operates exclusively through invitation-only grant-making with no public application process
• Focus on Catholic education in Chicago suggests strong alignment with faith-based educational initiatives
• With $619,000 distributed across 14 grants in 2023, average grant size is approximately $44,000
• The foundation's preference for multi-year relationships indicates they value organizational stability and long-term impact
• Personal connections appear important - Dave Kavanaugh's involvement with St. Ignatius College Prep (his alma mater) and the Howard Young Foundation shows personal engagement drives funding decisions
• Organizations already receiving support from the foundation may have opportunities for increased or sustained funding given the multi-year relationship preference

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Kavanaugh Family Foundation Form 990-PF filings. Accessed March 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261579335
• Inside Philanthropy - Kavanaugh Family Foundation Profile. Accessed March 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/illinois-grants/kavanaugh-family-foundation
• Inside Philanthropy - Dave and Ginny Kavanaugh Donor Profile. Accessed March 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/donors/dave-and-ginny-kavanaugh-donor-grants
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Kavanaugh Family Foundation. Accessed March 2024. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/kavanaugh-family-foundation
• Howard Young Foundation - Board of Directors Profile: Dave Kavanaugh. Accessed March 2024. https://www.howardyoungfoundation.org/directors/dave-kavanaugh/
• Grantmakers.io - Kavanaugh Family Foundation Profile. Accessed March 2024. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/261579335-kavanaugh-family-foundation/