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Coleman Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$7.9M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.3M
Decision Time
2mo

The Coleman Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,884,402 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board meetings (notification within 2 weeks of decision)
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $250,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Chicago area (primary), select Midwest regions (limited)

Contact Details

Address: 20 N. Wacker Dr. Suite 3410, Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: (312) 902-7120

Email: info@colemanfoundation.org

Website: https://colemanfoundation.org

Current Grantee Contact: [email protected]

Overview

The Coleman Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 1951 by Dorothy W. and J.D. Stetson Coleman, successful Chicago entrepreneurs and owners of Fannie May Candies. With approximately $175 million in assets, the foundation invests in community-based organizations and local institutions to preserve and strengthen the physical health and the economic and emotional well-being of people living in the greater Chicago region. The foundation distributed over $7.8 million in 205 grants in 2023, with most grants ranging between $2,000 and $250,000. Under new Executive Director Nora Garcia (appointed July 2025), the foundation has launched updated grantmaking strategies focused on collaboration and community insight across its three core program areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Entrepreneurship ($2,360,000 in 2024)

  • Typical grants: $100,000 - $250,000
  • Focus: Building a network of organizations providing quality entrepreneurship education; enhancing organizational capacity and staff development; collaborating with other funders to grow Chicago's entrepreneurial ecosystem
  • Recent example: Women's Business Development Center received $250,000 over two years to strengthen the Greater Chicago region's entrepreneurship ecosystem

Health ($2,081,000 in 2024)

  • Focus: Comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care; collaborations integrating clinical care with community resources; patient education and healthcare professional training; psychosocial support and palliative care programs
  • Approach: Supporting collaborations that improve communication of treatment options to patients

Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) ($2,650,000 in 2024)

  • Typical grants: $125,000 - $150,000
  • Focus: Systems-wide solutions so Illinois residents with IDD, their families, and service agencies have access to support, resources, and information to improve quality of life
  • Recent examples: UCP Seguin ($150,000), National Disability Institute ($125,000), Center for Disability and Elder Law ($150,000)

Priority Areas

The foundation takes holistic, outcome-focused approaches that prioritize partners and relationships. They support:

  • General operating expenses
  • Specific programs, projects, and initiatives
  • Collaborations engaging multiple providers to advance service delivery
  • Initiatives that connect clinical care with community resources
  • Programs empowering people with developmental disabilities to achieve higher quality of life

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: No grants to individuals
  • Private foundations: Only 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) nonprofits eligible
  • International programs: Will not be considered
  • Organizations outside primary geographic area: Focus is greater Chicago area with limited support to select Midwest regions

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Co-Chairs:

  • Alison Fitzgerald, Co-chair of the Board of Directors
  • Esther Barron, Co-chair

Board Members:

  • Michael Furlong (longest serving board member)
  • Pat Yuzawa-Rubin (joined March 2023)
  • Laura Lane Taylor (joined March 2023)
  • Walter Abrego (joined March 2023)

The board comprises 6 individuals total.

Executive Leadership

Nora Garcia, Executive Director (effective July 7, 2025)

  • Brings more than two decades of leadership experience in health and educational equity, youth development, and immigration reform

Garcia stated: "The opportunity to center community, values, and responsiveness is timely in this moment. I look forward to collaborating with our grantee partners, staff, and board to deepen the legacy of The Coleman Foundation in strengthening the local ecosystem of organizations and leaders."

Board Co-chair Alison Fitzgerald noted: "Nora's deep experience and values-driven leadership make her the right person to guide the Foundation in this exciting new chapter."

Board Co-chair Esther Barron added: "As we launch our new grantmaking strategies, grounded in collaboration and community insight, we are confident Nora will strengthen our impact and steward our mission with clarity, care, and conviction."

The foundation operates with 6 full-time staff (when fully staffed).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. They are not accepting unsolicited funding requests or letters of inquiry.

For Invited Applicants:

  • Grantseekers must use the Fluxx Online Portal (email submissions are not accepted)
  • Initial step historically involved submitting a letter of inquiry
  • If invited to submit a full proposal, staff will likely conduct a site visit
  • Electronic versions of the Proposal Application must be submitted in MS Word format
  • Proposal Budget must be submitted in Excel format (NO PDFs)
  • All proposals must include a budget in the Foundation-supplied format with a detailed narrative

Contact for Current Grantees: Current grantees may contact the program team at [email protected] with questions.

Decision Timeline

  • Board Meetings: Quarterly, typically in March, June, September, and November
  • Notification: Grantees are notified of grant approvals within two weeks of the Board's decision
  • Processing: Organizations should allow time for staff review between inquiry submission and board meetings

Success Rates

The Coleman Foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rates or acceptance percentages. In 2023, they made 205 grants; in 2024, they made 208 grants. The foundation typically awards over 100 grants each year.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Current and prospective grantees should contact the foundation directly at info@colemanfoundation.org for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's guidance and recent funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

  1. Alignment with Current Strategic Priorities: The foundation has launched updated grantmaking strategies emphasizing "holistic, outcome-focused approaches that prioritize partners and relationships." Applications should clearly demonstrate how proposed work aligns with these collaboration-focused priorities.

  2. Strong Community Connection: The foundation values organizations that are deeply embedded in the greater Chicago community. Garcia's vision emphasizes "centering community, values, and responsiveness," suggesting applications should demonstrate genuine community engagement and insight.

  3. Collaboration and Systems-Level Impact: Recent funding patterns show preference for multi-organizational collaborations (particularly in IDD and Health areas) and systems-wide solutions rather than siloed programs.

  4. Demonstrated Need with Evidence: Present compelling data, statistics, research findings, and testimonials to substantiate the need for the project and its potential community impact.

  5. Organizational Capacity: Highlight your organization's experience and expertise in managing similar projects. Showcase team qualifications and ability to deliver successful outcomes.

  6. Measurable Outcomes: Establish clear, measurable metrics to track progress and success. Demonstrate how you will evaluate impact on the target population.

  7. Sustainability Planning: Outline a clear plan for project sustainability beyond initial grant funding, exploring potential avenues for ongoing funding or earned income strategies.

  8. Clear, Concise Communication: Maintain clear and concise writing throughout applications. Avoid jargon and technical language that reviewers may not readily understand.

  9. Multi-Year Thinking: Recent grants show the foundation makes multi-year commitments (e.g., $250,000 over two years to Women's Business Development Center), suggesting they value long-term partnerships with demonstrated impact potential.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only process: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Building relationships and getting on their radar is essential for organizations not currently in their grantee portfolio.

  • Geographic focus is critical: The greater Chicago area is the primary focus. Organizations outside this region have very limited chances of funding.

  • Collaboration is valued: Recent strategy emphasizes partnerships and systems-level solutions. Multi-organizational collaborations appear particularly competitive, especially in Health and IDD program areas.

  • Grant size range is substantial: With grants ranging from $2,000 to $250,000, the foundation supports both smaller projects and significant multi-year initiatives. Recent 2024-2025 grants in the $100,000-$250,000 range suggest appetite for substantial investments in aligned organizations.

  • New leadership brings fresh vision: Under Executive Director Nora Garcia, the foundation is emphasizing community-centered, values-driven, and responsive grantmaking. Applications should reflect understanding of this evolved approach.

  • Quarterly decision cycles: Plan timing around March, June, September, and November board meetings, with notification coming within two weeks of decisions.

  • Relationship-building matters: As an invitation-only funder, establishing connections with foundation staff and demonstrating your organization's community impact through other channels is essential before formal application opportunities arise.

References

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