Sargent Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity that has not been invited to apply should not send it a request.
- If you already have a relationship with it, or a route to an invitation, a request in the typical band of $6,000 to $40,000 fits: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall in that range, the median is $10,000, and the largest grant was $350,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- The filing suggests its giving is relationship-led, since 99% of its grant dollars to organisations in the latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two filings before it.
- It makes general operating grants to public charities across schools, arts, health, social services and conservation, and it states no narrower theme and no geographic focus, so your location alone is not a reason to rule yourself out.
- No application window is stated, so there is no cycle to plan around.
Overview
Sargent Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Winnetka, IL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filed grants, the foundation supports public charities through general operating grants. The recipients include schools and youth-serving organisations, alongside orchestras, symphonies and other performing-arts bodies; museums, science and cultural institutions; health and disability organisations; social-service and food-support organisations; and wildlife and conservation groups. Its grants also reach organisations outside Illinois, although Illinois recipients account for most reported grant dollars. The application information says contributions are made only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted. The filings do not state a narrower funding theme or describe an applicant-facing submission process.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, New York, Florida and Wisconsin.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 188 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Sargent Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 61 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Loyola Academy · General operations$350,0002024 tax year
- League of American Orchestras · General operations$125,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra · General operations$120,0002024 tax year
- Ding Darling Wildlife Society · General operations$50,0002024 tax year
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School · General operations$50,0002024 tax year
- Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois · General operations$50,0002024 tax year
- Lurie Children's Hospital · General operations$45,0002024 tax year
- Merit School of Music · General operations$40,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Christina M Sargent — Director
- George E Sargent — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,495,078 | $1,035,200 | $21,400,400 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,494,248 | $1,075,000 | $43,785,266 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,133,794 | $1,530,000 | $45,995,197 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Sargent Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Winnetka, IL
Applying to Sargent Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Winnetka, IL