IDP Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $844,903 (2024)
• Average Grant Size: $84,490
• Assets: $52.8 million
• Geographic Focus: International (Ghana, Kenya) and Chicago area
• Application Method: Invitation only (no public application process)

Contact Details

IDP Foundation Inc 401 N Michigan Ave, Suite 1810 Chicago, IL 60611

• Phone: 312-755-0385
• Email: info@idpfoundation.org
• Website: www.idpfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 2008 by Irene Pritzker and her daughter Liesel Pritzker Simmons, the IDP Foundation (Innovation, Development, Progress) is a private family foundation with assets of $52.8 million. The foundation's mission is "to create a world where everyone has an equal right to learn," viewing philanthropy as a means to support sustainable investment in educational and social impact initiatives that move away from traditional aid models. With approximately $845,000 in annual giving, IDPF operates as an agile funder willing to take risks where traditional donors might hesitate. The foundation employs both traditional grants and Program Related Investments (PRIs) to create catalytic seed-stage funding for programs with potential for widespread impact. In 2024, CEO Corina Gardner leads the foundation alongside COO Alison Ehlke, continuing the innovative approach to philanthropy established by its co-founders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

International Education Programs:

• Rising Schools Program (Ghana): Partnership with Sinapi Aba Trust providing training and microfinance access to low-fee private schools (approximately $15 per term). Over 852,000 students reached through 2,400+ schools. During COVID-19, deployed 144 relief grants totaling $385,000.
• Ongoza Program (Kenya): $1.6 million foundation investment leveraged $2 million in private financing from Premier Credit, supporting 1,000+ school owners and 115,000+ children through 3,000+ loans.
• Incentives for Learning (IfL): Blended edufinance initiative to catalyze learning improvements in low-fee private schools in Kenya.

Medical Research Grants (Chicago/Northwestern):

• IDP Foundation Research Scientists Fund (est. 2008): Advances research at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Research Innovation Challenge Grants (est. 2014): Five-year program providing "seed" grants for collaborative, cross-disciplinary projects at Lurie Cancer Center
• IDP Foundation Professorship in Skin Cancer Research
• IDP Cardiac Research Innovation Grants
• Fields supported: Cancer, Neurological Sciences, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Gastroenterology, Parkinson's disease research, pediatric melanoma

Chicago Community Grants:

• Museum of Science and Industry
• Shedd Aquarium (Learning & Community programs)
• UIC - Mela Project

Priority Areas

• Education (SDG 4): Core focus on improving access to quality education for underserved children in low and lower-middle income countries
• Medical Research: Supporting innovative, "unsexy" early-stage research that enables researchers to explore new ideas
• Low-Fee Private Schools: Supporting the affordable non-state education sector to complement public systems
• Advocacy: Championing a "mixed economy of education provision" and inclusion of non-state education providers in national systems
• Impact Investing: Program Related Investments that further the foundation's charitable mission while creating sustainable change

What They Don't Fund

The foundation is currently not accepting unsolicited grant requests and operates on an invitation-only basis.

Governance and Leadership

Co-Founders:

• Irene D. Pritzker (Chair and Co-Founder): Education advocate and innovative philanthropist championing replicable, local market-based solutions. She believes "education is the way to conquer the world's greatest challenges" and that "everyone should have equal access to education to provide hope, opportunity and economic impact on their homeland."
• Liesel Pritzker Simmons (Vice Chair and Co-Founder): Brought impact-investing mindset to IDPF. States: "Every investment... has an impact. We want to know what that impact is and take responsibility for it."

Executive Leadership:

• Corina Gardner (CEO and Director): Appointed CEO in 2020 after serving as Executive Director. Compensation: $249,935 (2023). States: "I was drawn to join the IDPF mission because of its strong commitment to amplifying the voices of children, families, and local entrepreneurial school proprietors serving very poor families."
• Alison A. Ehlke (COO and Assistant Secretary): Joined in 2011, pivotal role in strategic development and impact investing goals. Over 15 years' experience in business development and operations. Compensation: $191,273 (2024).

Philosophy from Leadership: Irene Pritzker: "Philanthropic capital has to be very catalytic. It has to be patient, and it has to be high risk... Be a joiner. Use your network. Be flexible. Listen. And don't ever give up."

The foundation has 17 total leadership and staff members according to recent Form 990 filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The IDP Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and is currently not accepting unsolicited grant requests.

How Grants Are Awarded:

• The foundation proactively identifies organizations and individuals "best placed to effect change" aligned with their mission
• For medical research grants at Northwestern's Lurie Cancer Center, the committee requests proposals from faculty members for innovative, team-driven, cross-disciplinary projects through a competitive internal process
• The foundation exercises significant discretion by identifying potential grantees through their networks and strategic partnerships
• They describe themselves as becoming "more than just a funder" to grantees, serving as "a trusted resource, advisor, and partner"

Contact for Partnership Inquiries: Organizations interested in partnership or collaboration should contact:

• Email: info@idpfoundation.org
• Phone: 312-755-0385
• Website: www.idpfoundation.org

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation describes their approach as "carefully review[ing] all of our grant and investment opportunities" with an emphasis on patience and long-term relationships.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

While the IDP Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their funding philosophy reveals what makes organizations attractive to them:

Catalytic Potential:

• The foundation looks for "future scalability, replication, and sustainability of every program, innovation, and research project" they fund
• They view grants as "catalytic seed stage funding" that will "leverage further resources"
• Preference for innovations that can create widespread impact beyond the initial investment

Market-Based Solutions:

• Strong preference for sustainable, market-based approaches rather than aid-dependent models
• Liesel Pritzker Simmons looks for investments where the "impact metric is embedded as a business model"
• The Rising Schools Program exemplifies this: providing business loans and training rather than pure charity

Local Empowerment:

• Philosophy centers on "empowering key organizations or individuals best placed to effect change"
• CEO Corina Gardner emphasizes "amplifying the voices of children, families, and local entrepreneurial school proprietors"
• Strong alignment with "supporting local actors deliver sustainable solutions to complex global issues"

Education Focus (International):

• Commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4
• Support for low-fee private schools serving "very poor families"
• Programs that complement (not replace) public education systems
• Interventions that improve learning outcomes in low-connectivity settings

Medical Research Priorities:

• "Unsexy grants" for early-stage, innovative research
• Cross-disciplinary, collaborative projects
• Research that might be too risky for traditional funders

Risk Tolerance:

• The foundation is "agile enough to fund and invest in programs and organizations where an assumed risk may prevent other donors participating"
• Irene Pritzker: "Philanthropic capital has to be... high risk"

Partnership Approach:

• Partnerships are "at the heart of their work"
• They describe themselves as "a learning organization"
• Willingness to provide technical assistance and leadership development, not just funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation identifies and invites potential grantees rather than accepting applications. Building relationships in their focus areas (education in Ghana/Kenya, medical research at Northwestern, Chicago community) is essential.
• Catalytic capital mindset: They want seed funding that will leverage additional resources and lead to scalable, sustainable impact—demonstrate how your organization can grow beyond their initial investment.
• Market-based solutions preferred: Show how your program can eventually become self-sustaining rather than aid-dependent. Impact metrics embedded in your business model are particularly appealing.
• Geographic focus is specific: International education work must be in Ghana or Kenya; medical research must primarily be at Northwestern University and affiliated institutions.
• High-risk, high-reward: The foundation explicitly seeks opportunities other funders might avoid—if your innovative project is too risky for traditional funders, IDPF may be interested.
• Relationship-building matters: With an invitation-only model, attending conferences on impact investing, affordable education in Africa, and maintaining visibility in their priority sectors increases the likelihood of being identified as a potential partner.
• Patience required: The foundation emphasizes patient capital and long-term partnerships—they're not looking for quick wins but sustainable transformation.

References

1. IDP Foundation Official Website - www.idpfoundation.org (Accessed January 2026)
2. IDP Foundation Funding and Investing Page - https://www.idpfplus.org/funding-and-investing/ (Accessed January 2026)
3. IDP Foundation Grantmaking Approach - https://www.idpfoundation.org/grantmaking (Accessed January 2026)
4. Candid Foundation Directory - Idp Foundation Inc Profile - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=IDPF002 (Accessed January 2026)
5. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - IDP Foundation Inc (EIN 26-2753703) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262753703 (Accessed January 2026)
6. Grantable Foundation Profile - IDP Foundation Inc - https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/idp-foundation-inc-us-foundation-262753703 (Accessed January 2026)
7. National Center for Family Philanthropy - "Family Philanthropy Speaks: A Conversation with Irene Pritzker and Liesel Pritzker Simmons" (June 2021) - https://www.ncfp.org/2021/06/14/family-philanthropy-speaks-a-conversation-with-irene-pritzker-and-liesel-pritzker-simmons/ (Accessed January 2026)
8. Inside Philanthropy - "How a Pritzker-Backed Philanthropy Channels Impact Investing Toward Private Schools in Ghana" (August 2021) - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021-8-5-how-a-pritzker-backed-philanthropy-channels-impact-investing-toward-private-schools-in-ghana (Accessed January 2026)
9. IDP Foundation - "IDP Foundation Announces Launch of New Ongoza Program in Kenya" - https://www.idpfoundation.org/idp-foundation-announces-launch-of-new-ongoza-program-in-kenya/ (Accessed January 2026)
10. IDP Foundation Leadership Page - https://idpf.lionsmouth.digital/who-we-are/leadership (Accessed January 2026)
11. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - "Spring Investiture Ceremony Honors Group of the Medical School's Most Accomplished Faculty" (2022) - https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/giving/stories/_stories/2022/mass-investiture.html (Accessed January 2026)
12. IDP Foundation Staff Profiles - Corina Gardner, Alison Ehlke, Irene Pritzker, Liesel Pritzker Simmons - https://www.idpfoundation.org/staff-member/ (Accessed January 2026)