Abra Prentice Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold application, and the filing gives no further steps to follow.
- Its stated areas are health care, education and knowledge, special needs, social conditions, cultural development and international peace, so check that your work sits within one of these before spending time on a request.
- About 8 in 10 of its 124 grants fall between $25,000 and $150,000, but the median is $50,000 and half of its grants were $50,000 or less, so a modest request fits best.
- In its latest filing, 90% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so existing relationships appear to matter a great deal.
- The filing states no geographic focus, so location alone should not decide whether to approach it, although its grants have mainly gone to Illinois, Vermont, Ohio, Virginia and California.
Overview
Abra Prentice 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 web pages about the foundation (calmclassroom.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation gives primarily to maintain and improve the quality and availability of health care, and to increase and promote knowledge through educational, scientific or literary endeavours in secondary, college and professional schools. It provides for the special needs of children, older people, disabled people and people experiencing poverty. Its stated remit also includes improving social conditions and cultural development in the United States and elsewhere, promoting international peace and understanding, and supporting other charitable purposes it recognises as especially worthy. Its grants have also reached environmental conservation, homelessness services and public media.
Themes
- Health care
- Education and knowledge
- Special needs
- Social conditions
- Cultural development
- International peace
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, Vermont, Ohio, Virginia and California.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted. The filing provides no further application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 90% 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 124 grants to organisations were $50,000 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: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 11% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations Abra Prentice Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 40 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $52,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Shelburne Farms · Earmarked for the annual fund for their sustainable and educational farm programs$250,0002024 tax year
- Environmental Law & Policy Center · Earmarked for the great lakes and midwest wild and natural places protection project$200,0002024 tax year
- Public Broadcasting Systems Foundation · Earmarked for pbs great performances programs$175,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Jesuit Academy · Earmarked for 2 full scholarships for two incoming 5th graders (class of 2026).earmarked for 4 full scholarships for two incoming 5th graders (class of 2030)$166,7502024 tax year
- Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund · Continued support for the summer bridge program$150,0002024 tax year
- Franciscan Outreach · Earmarked for services needed for the homeless on west and south sides of chicago$150,0002024 tax year
- Wetlands Initiative · Earmarked for phase ii of restoring indian ridge marsh on chicagos southwest side$125,0002024 tax year
- Compass to Care · Earmarked for access life program, travel services for children to access cancer treatment.$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Abra A Williams — Director
- James Wilkin — Treasurer & Director
- Louis S Harrison — Secretary, Vice President & Director
- Abra Prentice Wilkin — President & Director
- Hilary Hunt — Director
- George M Covington — Director
- Loretta W Cooney — Director
- Anthony R Anderson — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,484,199 | $2,825,000 | $56,727,519 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $3,436,363 | $2,800,000 | $65,244,463 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,749,118 | $3,059,416 | $71,489,930 | 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 Abra Prentice Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Abra Prentice Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL