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Travis Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.9M
Grant Range
$44K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $881,564
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $44,000 - $315,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Chicago, Illinois educational institutions

Contact Details

The Travis Foundation does not maintain a public website or publicized contact information. The foundation is registered in New York, NY with EIN 35-6890246.

Based on scholarship program information at recipient institutions:

  • Related Scholarship Programs: Administered through partner institutions (Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago State University)

Overview

The Travis Foundation is a private foundation established in memory of Dempsey J. Travis (1920-2009), a Roosevelt University alumnus, civil rights pioneer, real estate entrepreneur, jazz musician, and prolific author. The foundation, with approximately $17 million in assets, focuses exclusively on providing scholarship support to educational institutions serving diverse student populations in the Chicago area. The foundation makes grants totaling approximately $881,564 annually through six grants to institutions that align with Travis's legacy of advancing educational opportunities for African American students and those committed to social justice. Dempsey Travis was the founder of Travis Realty Corporation and Urban Research Press, and became the first African American author to appear on the Chicago Tribune non-fiction bestseller list with his 1981 book "An Autobiography of Black Chicago."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes institutional grants to educational institutions for scholarship programs:

  • University Scholarships: $115,000 - $315,000 (for institutions like Roosevelt University, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago State University)
  • Community College Scholarships: $50,000 (City Colleges of Chicago Foundation)
  • Professional Education Support: $44,000 - $45,000 (United Negro College Fund, CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois)

Priority Areas

Educational Access and Equity

  • Scholarships for students demonstrating financial need
  • Support for African American students and diverse populations
  • Scholarships for students committed to social justice
  • Support for Chicago-area residents pursuing higher education
  • Professional development in accounting and business fields

Institutional Focus

  • Historically significant institutions serving diverse populations
  • Roosevelt University (Travis's alma mater, graduated 1949)
  • Columbia College Chicago
  • Chicago State University
  • City Colleges of Chicago
  • United Negro College Fund member institutions
  • CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois programs

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual student applications (grants made only to institutions)
  • Organizations outside the educational sector
  • Non-Chicago area institutions (based on giving patterns)
  • Operating support for non-educational organizations
  • Capital campaigns or endowment building (focus is on immediate scholarship support)

Governance and Leadership

Specific information about the foundation's trustees and leadership is not publicly available. The foundation operates as a private foundation registered in New York, NY, with annual expenses of approximately $1.05 million (2020 data), including $122,380 in employee compensation, suggesting at least one staff member manages operations.

The foundation honors the legacy of Dempsey J. Travis, who served on presidential task forces under Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, and was married to Moselynne Hardwick Travis from 1949 until his death in 2009.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Travis Foundation makes grants exclusively through institutional partnerships with select educational institutions. Organizations cannot apply directly to the foundation.

How Scholarships Are Awarded:

The foundation provides funding to partner institutions, which then administer scholarship programs according to their own selection criteria:

  • Roosevelt University: The Travis Scholars program provides financial assistance to new and continuing students residing in Chicago while fostering academic achievement and commitment to social justice. The institution selects recipients based on financial need, academic merit, and Chicago residency.

  • Columbia College Chicago: Eligible students are automatically reviewed by the institution. Selected candidates are invited to apply through their Columbia Connect Status Page. Requirements include a 3.0 GPA or higher and demonstrated financial need through FAFSA. Awards up to $15,000 per academic year, renewable for up to four years. Recipients must participate in the Travis Scholars program and read assigned books authored by Dempsey J. Travis.

  • City Colleges of Chicago: The Dempsey J. Travis Foundation has been a longtime supporter, with scholarships administered through the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation.

Getting on Their Radar

ONLY include this section if you have SPECIFIC, FUNDER-UNIQUE information about THIS funder.

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, there is no evidence of expansion beyond current institutional partnerships. The foundation appears to operate through established, long-term relationships with specific Chicago educational institutions that align with Dempsey Travis's legacy and commitment to educational equity.

Institutions seeking to establish relationships with the foundation would need to demonstrate:

  • A clear mission serving diverse, financially disadvantaged student populations
  • Location in or service to the Chicago area
  • Alignment with Dempsey Travis's values of social justice, civil rights, and educational opportunity
  • Capacity to administer scholarship programs that honor Travis's legacy

However, there is no documented process for new institutions to approach the foundation, and no public contact information is available for inquiries.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Grant distributions appear to be made annually to the same institutional partners.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from institutions or individuals.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - grants are made through ongoing institutional partnerships rather than competitive application cycles.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept direct applications, the following insights apply to students seeking scholarships at partner institutions:

At Columbia College Chicago:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Demonstrate financial need through completed FAFSA
  • Students are automatically reviewed; no separate application required initially
  • Selected candidates must respond to invitation through Columbia Connect Status Page
  • Recipients must commit to participating in Travis Scholars program activities
  • Recipients must engage with Dempsey J. Travis's literary work by reading assigned books and participating in discussions

At Roosevelt University:

  • Chicago residency is required
  • Academic achievement must be demonstrated
  • Commitment to social justice is a key selection criterion
  • Financial need is considered
  • The foundation has contributed $2.6 million to Roosevelt to date, supporting over 100 students
  • The annual gift of over $400,000 makes this Roosevelt's largest recurring annual gift for ten consecutive years

Connection to Dempsey Travis's Legacy: Scholarship programs emphasize Travis's values:

  • Commitment to civil rights and social justice
  • Educational advancement as a path to opportunity
  • Service to the African American community
  • Professional excellence and entrepreneurship
  • Understanding of Chicago's African American history and culture

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Direct Applications: This foundation does not accept proposals from organizations or individuals. All grants are made through established institutional partnerships.

  • Institutional Partnerships Are Long-Term: The foundation makes grants to the same institutions annually, suggesting deep, ongoing relationships rather than competitive grantmaking.

  • Legacy-Driven Mission: All funding honors Dempsey J. Travis's commitment to educational equity, civil rights, and opportunity for African American students in Chicago.

  • Geographic Specificity: Despite being registered in New York, 100% of recent grants support Chicago-area educational institutions, reflecting Travis's lifelong connection to the city.

  • Student-Centered Through Institutions: While grants go to institutions, the ultimate beneficiaries are individual students who meet criteria around financial need, academic merit, and commitment to social justice.

  • Significant Multi-Year Commitments: Grants to institutions like Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University ($315,000 each) represent substantial, renewable commitments that support cohorts of students over multiple years.

  • Focus on Access for Underrepresented Students: All recipient institutions serve significant populations of African American students and those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, consistent with Travis's civil rights legacy.

References

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