Disomma Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$4 million (through Jump ARCHES program alone)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only funding)
• Decision Time: N/A (strategic partnerships)
• Grant Range: Individual research grants up to $200,000; Major institutional gifts $25 million+
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Illinois, with focus on Peoria and Central Illinois

Contact Details

• Phone: 312-205-8900
• Address: 143 S Elmwood Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
• Note: Does not accept unsolicited grant applications

Overview

The Disomma Family Foundation, established in 2008 by Bill and Mary DiSomma, is a strategic healthcare philanthropy with over $85 million in documented contributions. Bill DiSomma, co-founder and CEO of Jump Trading, and his wife Mary, a podiatrist and entrepreneur, focus their giving on healthcare transformation through medical simulation, engineering, and education. The foundation operates primarily through the Jump ARCHES (Applied Research for Community Health through Engineering and Simulation) partnership, a collaboration between OSF HealthCare, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Their strategic approach emphasizes endowment-building and long-term institutional partnerships rather than traditional grantmaking. Mary and Bill DiSomma were recognized with Hephzibah's 2021 Heart of Gold Award for their philanthropic contributions to the community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Jump ARCHES Research Grants: Up to $200,000 per project (distributed through partner institutions)
  • 70+ proposals funded through internal grant mechanism
  • ~$4 million distributed annually from endowment
• Major Institutional Support: $25+ million commitments for endowment building
• Local Community Support: Undisclosed amounts to Oak Park area organizations

Priority Areas

• Healthcare engineering and innovation
• Medical simulation and education technology
• 3D bio-printing for medical training
• Virtual reality medical training applications
• Medical devices and robotics
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare
• Social and behavioral determinants of health
• Healthcare workforce development

What They Don't Fund

• General operating support for unaffiliated organizations
• Programs outside healthcare/medical innovation
• Individual scholarships or personal assistance
• Organizations outside their strategic partnership network

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Trustees:

• William "Bill" DiSomma - Co-founder and CEO of Jump Trading, a Chicago-based proprietary algorithmic and high-frequency trading firm founded in 1999
• Dr. Mary DiSomma - Philanthropist, podiatrist, entrepreneur, and cookbook author who donates proceeds from her cookbooks to local charities

The DiSommas have stated their commitment to "transforming healthcare through innovation" and believe in "the power of collaboration between healthcare providers, engineers, and educators to solve complex medical challenges."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are awarded through strategic partnerships, particularly through the Jump ARCHES program where research teams at partner institutions can apply through internal mechanisms.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the foundation operates through strategic partnerships, organizations interested in their support would need to:

• Collaborate with their existing partner institutions (OSF HealthCare, University of Illinois)
• Participate in Jump ARCHES research programs if affiliated with partner institutions
• Research teams at OSF, UIUC, or UIC Peoria can apply through the internal Jump ARCHES grant mechanism
• Local Oak Park organizations may establish relationships through community connections with Mary DiSomma

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for external applicants. Internal Jump ARCHES proposals are reviewed periodically by partnership committees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Jump ARCHES program has funded 70+ proposals from internal research teams.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for external organizations.

Application Success Factors

For organizations within the Jump ARCHES partnership network:

• Projects must demonstrate clear healthcare innovation potential
• Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare and engineering
• Focus on practical applications that can transform patient care
• Projects involving medical simulation and training technologies are particularly aligned
• Research addressing social and behavioral determinants of health aligns with expanded priorities
• Successful projects often involve multiple partner institutions within the Jump ARCHES network

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Disomma Family Foundation is not accessible through traditional grant applications
• Focus is exclusively on healthcare innovation, particularly medical simulation and engineering
• Foundation operates through major institutional partnerships rather than individual grants
• Primary giving vehicle is the Jump ARCHES endowment, which has exceeded $100 million
• Organizations must be part of the OSF/University of Illinois partnership network to access funding
• Local Oak Park organizations may have limited access through community connections
• Strategic, long-term commitments are preferred over one-time grants

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/263859966) - Accessed March 2026
• OSF HealthCare Press Release: "DiSomma Foundation major gift to grow Jump ARCHES health care endowment past $100 million" (https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/disomma-foundation-major-gift-to-grow-jump-arches-health-care-endowment-past-100-million/) - July 2019
• University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering: "Jump ARCHES Increases Funding" (https://grainger.illinois.edu/news/features/jumpARCHES_increase) - 2019
• Candid Foundation Directory Profile (https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=DISO003) - Accessed March 2026
• Mary DiSomma Website: "About" and charity partner updates (https://marydisomma.com) - Accessed March 2026
• Hephzibah Children's Association: 2021 Heart of Gold Award announcement (https://www.hephzibahhome.org) - 2021
• PR Newswire: "Jump ARCHES Partnership Expands Beyond Medical Simulation & Education" (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/) - July 16, 2019