Gorter Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,800,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only process)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $500 - $50,000
• Most Common Grant: $1,000
• Geographic Focus: Lake County, Illinois
• Total Assets: $34,381,430

Contact Details

Address: 855 Skokie Highway, Suite D, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Phone: 847-615-1216
Email: info@gorterfamilyfoundation.org
Website: https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org

Overview

The Gorter Family Foundation was established in 1978 by James P. Gorter, a Goldman Sachs partner, and his wife Audrey F. Gorter. With assets of approximately $34.4 million and annual grantmaking of $2.8 million, the foundation has evolved from reactive charitable giving across Chicago to a strategically focused, holistic approach centered on Lake County, Illinois. In 2006, the family made a deliberate decision to concentrate their philanthropic efforts on providing enhanced educational opportunities to children in Lake County, particularly focusing on North Chicago. Today, the foundation takes a comprehensive approach that involves investment in and partnership with all support systems, sectors, and residents in the county. Their hallmark achievement is the creation of North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP) in 2008, which has grown from a single-employee operating foundation to a $4.2 million organization with 45+ employees, 4,600+ volunteers, and 60+ partner organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation organizes its grantmaking across seven interconnected focus areas:

Early Childhood Education

• Home visiting programs (Parents as Teachers model)
• Early childhood teacher preparation and professional development
• Family engagement and kindergarten readiness initiatives
• Examples: Erikson Institute, Family Focus, Lake County Health Department iGrow, One Hope United, Round Lake Area School District 116, Start Early

K-12 Education

• Literacy programs and book access
• Teacher retention and professional development
• College preparation and access programs
• Examples: Bernie's Book Bank, Learn 10 North Chicago, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, Reading Power, Round Lake Public Schools, Waukegan to College

Post-Secondary Education

• College completion support
• Scholarship and access programs
• Examples: Waukegan to College, Partnership for College Completion, College Bound Opportunities

Health & Wellness

• Mental health services and counseling
• Food security and nutrition programs
• Child advocacy and protection
• Youth sports and outdoor programming
• Examples: CASA Lake County, CYN Counseling Center, The Josselyn Center, Northern Illinois Food Bank, PADS Lake County, Youth & Family Counseling, Chicago Voyagers, Heart of the City

Social & Community Initiatives

• Family support services
• Basic needs assistance
• Alternative justice programs for youth
• Examples: Keeping Families Covered, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services/Teen Court, Childserv, Family Service Nuestro Center

Economic Stability

• Teacher recruitment and retention programs
• Summer employment and internship opportunities for students
• Examples: North Chicago D187 Lead Mentor Program, Principal Leadership Coaching, New Horizons Program, Summer Up, Mothers Trust Foundation

Infrastructure

• Economic development to support community sustainability
• Examples: Lake County Partners

Priority Areas

• Educational equity from birth through post-secondary completion
• Programs serving children and families of limited economic resources in Lake County
• Initiatives that address the "whole child and whole family"
• Multi-sector collaborative approaches
• Teacher quality and retention
• Early childhood development and parental engagement
• Mental health and basic needs that impact educational outcomes
• College access and completion for underserved students

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions, but their focus is exclusively on Lake County, Illinois, with particular emphasis on education-related initiatives. Organizations outside Lake County or without a direct connection to educational outcomes for children and families are unlikely to be considered.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• James P. Gorter (Founder)
• Mary Gorter Krey (Family member)
• Brad Krey (Family member)
• Lauren A. Gorter (Family member)
• David F. Gorter (Family member)

Staff:

• Cheri Richardson, Executive Director
• Megan Michael, Grants & Communications

Cheri Richardson has spoken publicly about the foundation's priorities, describing Cristo Rey St. Martin as a "shining example of what a high school should be" and praising how "the students have the opportunity to see themselves in a business setting (through the corporate work study program) and learn skills that will help them in their post-graduate and educational careers."

The foundation operates as a family foundation with the second generation actively involved in governance and strategic direction.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Gorter Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates through an invitation-only grantmaking process, making contributions exclusively to pre-selected charitable organizations.

Organizations cannot submit applications on their own initiative. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of directors based on the foundation's strategic priorities and existing relationships within Lake County.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential grantees through its deep engagement in the Lake County community and established network of partner organizations. Specific strategies include:

North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP) Network: The foundation created and supports NCCP, which collaborates with almost 50 different organizations. Being an active, effective partner within the NCCP ecosystem appears to be one pathway to foundation awareness, particularly for organizations serving North Chicago.

Multi-Sector Collaboration: The foundation explicitly values organizations that work collaboratively across sectors. Organizations that participate in coalitions, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives addressing Lake County's educational challenges may come to the foundation's attention through these networks.

"Look North" Initiative: The foundation has promoted this initiative to encourage other donors to direct charitable giving to Lake County needs. Organizations active in Lake County philanthropy circles and collaborative funding efforts may increase their visibility.

Contact for General Inquiries: While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, the foundation staff can be reached at 847-615-1216 or info@gorterfamilyfoundation.org for general questions. This suggests that thoughtful relationship-building inquiries (as opposed to grant requests) may be appropriate.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines vary based on the foundation's strategic planning cycle and board meeting schedule.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. In 2024, the foundation funded 58+ nonprofit organizations with 63+ grants totaling $2.8 million.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. However, the foundation appears to maintain long-term relationships with grantees, such as its support for Cristo Rey St. Martin since 2007 and ongoing commitment to NCCP.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this funder, success is less about application strategy and more about organizational positioning:

Holistic, Systems-Level Approach: The foundation has explicitly shifted from targeted program funding to a "holistic approach that involves investment in and partnership with all of the support systems, sectors, and residents in the county." Organizations that address root causes and connect multiple support systems are aligned with this philosophy.

Multi-Sector Collaboration: The NCCP model demonstrates the foundation's commitment to collaborative approaches. Organizations that actively partner across education, health, social services, and economic development sectors reflect the foundation's values.

Focus on Lake County: Geographic alignment is non-negotiable. Organizations must serve Lake County, with particular emphasis on communities facing economic challenges such as North Chicago and Waukegan.

Educational Outcomes as North Star: Even grants in health, wellness, and economic stability are framed around their impact on educational opportunities. Organizations should clearly articulate how their work supports educational pathways from birth through post-secondary completion.

Whole Child, Whole Family Philosophy: Programs that recognize the interconnected needs of children and families—addressing not just academic needs but also mental health, nutrition, housing stability, and parental support—align with the foundation's approach.

Evidence of Community Roots: Long-term grantees like Cristo Rey St. Martin (supported since 2007) and the substantial investment in NCCP suggest the foundation values organizations with deep community connections and sustained commitment to Lake County.

Track Record and Capacity: The foundation has provided "venture philanthropy" support, such as the initial $45,000 multi-year grant to help Bernie's Book Bank get started. This suggests they support both established organizations and promising new initiatives with strong business plans and leadership.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model means traditional grant applications are not accepted—focus on building visibility through collaborative work in Lake County rather than submitting proposals
• Educational equity drives all funding decisions, even in seemingly non-educational areas like health and economic development; clearly connect your work to educational pathways and outcomes
• The foundation values systems-change over isolated programs—demonstrate how your organization collaborates across sectors and addresses interconnected challenges
• Lake County focus is absolute, with particular attention to economically disadvantaged communities like North Chicago and Waukegan
• Long-term relationships matter more than one-time grants—the foundation has supported organizations like Cristo Rey St. Martin since 2007
• The North Chicago Community Partners model represents the foundation's ideal: collaborative, comprehensive, community-rooted, and focused on whole-child, whole-family support
• Grant sizes typically range from $500 to $50,000, with $1,000 being most common, though strategic initiatives like NCCP receive substantially more

References

• Gorter Family Foundation official website: https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• Gorter Family Foundation, "About Us - History": https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org/about-us/history/ (accessed January 2026)
• Gorter Family Foundation, "North Chicago Community Partners": https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org/nccp/ (accessed January 2026)
• Gorter Family Foundation, "Early Childhood Education Grants": https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org/our-grants/early-childhood-education/ (accessed January 2026)
• Gorter Family Foundation, "Health & Wellness Grants": https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org/our-grants/health-and-wellness/ (accessed January 2026)
• Gorter Family Foundation, "Economic Stability Grants": https://gorterfamilyfoundation.org/our-grants/social-and-community-initiatives-2/ (accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy, "Gorter Family Foundation": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/illinois-grants/gorter-family-foundation (accessed January 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy, "James and Audrey Gorter": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/james-p-gorter (accessed January 2026)
• Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, "The Gorter Family Foundation: An Original Supporter of CRSM Since 2007": https://cristoreystmartin.org/the-gorter-family-foundation-an-original-supporter-of-crsm-since-2007/ (accessed January 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory, "The Gorter Family Foundation": https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=GREE025 (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, "Gorter Family Foundation": https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/362950350 (accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl, "Gorter Family Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 990 Report": https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/gorter-family-foundation (accessed January 2026)