The Coleman Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This is a Chicago-based foundation that supports community organisations working in entrepreneurship, health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities, with a stated priority on the Greater Chicago region and Illinois, within an overall US geographic focus.
- Grant writers should note that proposals are by invitation only, with the application method varying by programme, so check the foundation's News & Updates for details of any open cycles and deadlines rather than submitting cold.
- About eight in ten grants to organisations fall between $3,000 and $100,000, and half of all grants were $20,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is realistic, even though the largest grant was around $490,000.
- A large majority of grant dollars (76%) went to organisations also funded in the two preceding filings, suggesting this is a relationship-led funder where sustained engagement matters.
- Applicants must be tax-exempt nonprofits under 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) other than private foundations, and the foundation does not fund individuals, private foundations, or international programs.
Overview
The Coleman Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Grants support community-based organisations and local institutions working to preserve and strengthen physical health and people’s economic and emotional well-being in the greater Chicago region. The Foundation’s stated programme areas are entrepreneurship, health, and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In entrepreneurship, it aims to strengthen a connected, sustainable ecosystem and remove barriers to education, capital and business support services; it supports organisations providing training, coaching and technical assistance for people starting, scaling or growing businesses. Its health work seeks accessible, equitable and preventive initiatives to reduce disparities and promote well-being in Greater Chicago. For IDD, it funds systems-wide solutions for Illinois residents, their families and the agencies serving them, to improve access to support, resources and information. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt nonprofits under 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1), other than private foundations.
Themes
- Entrepreneurship
- Health
- Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Geographic Focus
United States. Priority: Greater Chicago region; Illinois.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- Private foundations
- International programs
How to apply
Proposals are by invitation only; the site directs prospective grantees to News & Updates for information on open cycles and deadlines.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 76% 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 619 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to organisations The Coleman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 184 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Chicago Community Foundation · General Operating Support - Entrepreneurship$250,0002024 tax year
- South Side Healthy Community Organization · General Operating Support - Health$250,0002024 tax year
- Growing Season-Illinois · Grants made at the discretion of Board Members to qualified publicly-supported charities$200,0002024 tax year
- University of Illinois · General Operating Support - Health$200,0002024 tax year
- Saint Anthony Hospital · General Operating Support - Health$150,0002024 tax year
- University of Chicago · General Operating Support - Health$130,0002024 tax year
- West Side Forward · General Operating Support - Entrepreneurship$125,0002024 tax year
- Little City Foundation · General Operating Support - Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities$125,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Esther Barron — Director
- Walter Abrego Barrientos — Director
- Alison Fitzgerald — Director
- Laura A Lane — Director
- Patricia K Yuzawa-Rubin — Director
- R Michael Furlong — Director
- Thomas D Trinley — CFO / COO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,355,241 | $9,659,383 | $160,872,571 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,812,230 | $7,884,402 | $174,975,741 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $10,819,566 | $9,106,508 | $182,395,099 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Coleman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 902-7120
- grants@colemanfoundation.org
- info@colemanfoundation.org
- Chicago, IL
- colemanfoundation.org
Applying to The Coleman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 902-7120
- grants@colemanfoundation.org
- info@colemanfoundation.org
- Chicago, IL
- colemanfoundation.org