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Mansueto Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $35.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11.8 million (most recent fiscal year)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Chicago, IL with some national and international grants

Contact Details

Address: The Wrigley Building, 400 N Michigan Ave, Suite 350, Chicago, IL 60611

Phone: 312-667-5363

Email: info@mansuetoffice.com

Website: https://mansuetoffice.com/foundation

Overview

The Mansueto Foundation was established in 2009 by Joe Mansueto, founder and CEO of Morningstar Inc., and his wife Rika. The couple were the first Chicagoans to sign the Giving Pledge, committing to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy. With approximately $44 million in assets and awarding 57 grants totaling $11.8 million in their most recent fiscal year, the foundation focuses on fostering education, health, and community to "elevate the quality of our communities, improve lives, and make the world a better place." The foundation is notably low-profile and under-the-radar, maintaining limited public transparency about its grantmaking operations while concentrating heavily on Chicago-based organizations and institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships.

  • Education Grants: $10,000 - $35,000,000 (supporting K-12 schools, higher education, and educational access programs)
  • Arts and Culture Grants: $10,000 - $250,000+ (supporting major Chicago cultural institutions)
  • Civic Engagement and Journalism Grants: $10,000 - $1,000,000+ (supporting investigative journalism, civic reform, and transparency initiatives)
  • Health Grants: $10,000 - $250,000+ (supporting healthcare institutions and research)

Priority Areas

Education

  • Higher education institutions, particularly the University of Chicago
  • Charter schools and educational innovation (established Mansueto High School through Noble Network)
  • Educational access programs (Teach For America, Chicago Public Education Fund)
  • Education foundations and after-school programs

Arts and Culture

  • Major Chicago museums and cultural institutions (Art Institute of Chicago)
  • Zoos and aquariums (Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium Society)
  • Theater companies (Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
  • Publications programs at arts institutions (Renaissance Society)

Civic Engagement and Journalism

  • Investigative journalism organizations (ProPublica)
  • Public radio (WBEZ Chicago Public Radio)
  • News literacy and media education (News Literacy Project)
  • Campaign finance reform and government transparency (CHANGE Illinois, Better Government Association)
  • Presidential libraries and foundations (Obama Foundation)

Health and Community

  • Healthcare institutions (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)
  • Rehabilitation facilities (Shirley Ryan AbilityLab)
  • Urban innovation and research (Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's giving history suggests they focus on:

  • Organizations outside the Chicago region (with rare exceptions)
  • Organizations without established reputations or track records
  • Individual scholarships or direct service programs (they prefer institutional support)

Governance and Leadership

President: Joseph D. Mansueto (serves without compensation)

Vice-President: Rika Yoshida (serves without compensation)

Joe Mansueto founded Morningstar Inc., a leading provider of financial data and investment research. The couple are both University of Chicago alumni, which influences their significant support for their alma mater. The foundation's leadership maintains a low public profile and operates with minimal public-facing communications about their philanthropic strategy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. According to recent tax records, the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation does not maintain a website for grant applications or publicize procedures for applying for grants.

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the personal interests and relationships of Joe and Rika Mansueto. Recipients are typically organizations with which the trustees have pre-existing connections or awareness, often major institutions in the Chicago area or organizations working in the foundation's priority areas.

Getting on Their Radar

University of Chicago Connections: The Mansuetos are deeply connected to the University of Chicago, having donated $60 million total ($25 million for the Mansueto Library in 2008, and $35 million for the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation). Organizations working with University of Chicago faculty, researchers, or programs may have indirect pathways to visibility.

Chicago Civic Networks: The foundation supports prominent Chicago civic organizations like the Better Government Association and CHANGE Illinois. Active participation in Chicago's civic and philanthropic community may increase organizational visibility.

Major Institution Partnerships: The foundation's giving history shows support for established, high-profile institutions. Smaller organizations may gain visibility through partnerships or collaborations with major institutions that already receive Mansueto support.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's decision-making process and timeline are managed privately by the trustees.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking structure.

Application Success Factors

Since the Mansueto Foundation operates through invitation-only grantmaking based on trustee discretion, the traditional concept of "application success factors" does not apply. However, analyzing their giving patterns reveals preferences:

Geographic Focus on Chicago: The foundation maintains a strong Chicago-centric approach. Joe and Rika Mansueto "have kept their education grantmaking focused within Chicago city limits," and the foundation is described as "focused on Chicago-based giving."

Institutional Scale and Reputation: Grant recipients tend to be established, prominent institutions rather than grassroots organizations. Major recipients include the University of Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Shedd Aquarium Society.

Innovation and Systems Change: The foundation's mission emphasizes innovation, particularly evident in the $35 million gift to establish the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, which focuses on technology and urban problem-solving. The support for charter school innovation through the Noble Network (Mansueto High School) also reflects this priority.

Journalism and Transparency: Recent giving patterns show increased interest in civic engagement, with million-dollar grants to WBEZ Chicago Public Radio and Obama Foundation, plus support for ProPublica (investigative journalism), News Literacy Project, and CHANGE Illinois (campaign finance reform).

Long-term Institutional Relationships: Many grants appear to go to organizations with which the Mansuetos have ongoing relationships. For example, multiple gifts to their alma mater, the University of Chicago, and sustained support for Chicago cultural institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is an invitation-only funder operating through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  • Strong Chicago focus - nearly all grants go to Chicago-based organizations, making geographic location a critical factor
  • Preference for established institutions - grant recipients are typically major, well-known organizations rather than emerging nonprofits
  • Grant range is wide - from $10,000 to multi-million dollar commitments, with many grants falling in the $10,000-$250,000 range
  • Innovation and systems-level change - demonstrated interest in organizations working on systemic solutions, particularly in education and urban development
  • Growing civic engagement focus - recent grants show increasing interest in journalism, government transparency, and civic reform
  • Limited transparency - the foundation maintains a deliberately low profile and does not publicize its grantmaking criteria or processes
  • University connections may help - organizations working with the University of Chicago or in Chicago's civic ecosystem may have better visibility

References

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