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Frechette Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.4M
Grant Range
$25K - $5.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $5,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Chicago, IL and Eagle River Valley, CO

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1997 by Pat and Pete Frechette, the Frechette Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation with over $165 million in total assets. The foundation has granted over $60 million to date, including $47 million in the last five years. With a mission to partner with communities to advance opportunities for children and families to grow, thrive, and realize their own idea of well-being, the foundation focuses primarily on Chicago, Illinois and the Eagle River Valley, Colorado. The foundation operates with core values of compassion, collaboration, humility, joy, transparency, and trust, taking a community-centered approach to philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Child and Family Well-Being Initiative

  • $50,000 - $5,000,000 (multi-year general operating support preferred)
  • Focus areas: Stable and Supported Families, Healthy and Trauma-informed Workforce, Community Capacity and Leadership, Collaboration and Partnership
  • Geographic focus: Chicago, IL and Eagle River Valley, CO
  • Application method: Invitation only

Family Interest Grants

  • $25,000 - $1,000,000
  • Includes long-standing partner organizations and board member recommendations
  • FLAG program: Youth experiencing homelessness in Chicago
  • Application method: Invitation only

Priority Areas

  • Early childhood education and care
  • Youth development programs
  • Family support services
  • Community health and behavioral health
  • Community capacity building and leadership development
  • Trauma-informed workforce development

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital expenses
  • Endowments
  • Event sponsorships
  • Lobbying or advocacy efforts
  • Unsolicited proposals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

  • Kathy Frechette Tenhula (Chair)
  • Kristy Frechette Woolfolk (Vice Chair)
  • Bill Woolfolk (Treasurer)
  • Peter Tenhula (Secretary)
  • Grace Tenhula (Board Member)

Staff:

  • Barbara N. Hoffman (Executive Director) - Compensation: $289,000 (2024)
  • Allegra Twichell (Manager, Operations and Grants Administration)

The foundation was established by Pat and Pete Frechette, high school sweethearts from Janesville, Wisconsin. Pete served as President of Patterson Dental Company. Both founders passed away in 2016-2017, leaving a legacy of community-focused philanthropy carried forward by their family.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that "grants are by invitation only" and "the Foundation does not consider unsolicited proposals." Grants are awarded through:

  • Direct invitation from the foundation
  • Board member recommendations
  • Existing partnerships and relationships
  • Occasional open call opportunities (posted on website when available)

Organizations invited to apply use the foundation's online grant portal.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation doesn't accept unsolicited proposals, organizations can:

  • Monitor the foundation website for occasional open call opportunities
  • Build relationships with current grantee partners who might facilitate introductions
  • Engage with foundation staff at community events in Chicago or Eagle River Valley
  • Demonstrate alignment with the foundation's focus on child and family well-being through visible community work

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not specified for unsolicited applications (as they are not accepted)

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funded organizations and stated priorities:

  • Strong alignment with child and family well-being mission
  • Geographic presence in Chicago or Eagle River Valley
  • Demonstrated community partnership and collaboration approach
  • Focus on systems-level change rather than individual services
  • Evidence of trauma-informed practices
  • Leadership development and community capacity building components
  • Multi-year sustainability planning
  • General operating support needs rather than project-specific funding

The foundation particularly values organizations that embody their core values of compassion, collaboration, humility, and joy, and those that center community voice in their work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals
  • Focus on building visibility and relationships in Chicago or Eagle River Valley communities
  • Prioritize general operating support requests over project-specific funding when invited
  • Demonstrate strong community partnerships and collaborative approaches
  • Align programming with trauma-informed practices and workforce development
  • Watch for occasional open call opportunities on their website
  • Consider connections through their 93 current grantee partners for potential introductions

References

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