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Abra Prentice Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,800,000 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 42 awards (2023)
  • Average Grant: ~$66,667
  • Total Assets: $47,655,463 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Chicago and Illinois, with support for national institutions
  • Application Process: No public application - invitation only/preselected organizations

Contact Details

Address: 980 N Michigan Ave Ste 1360, Chicago, IL 60611-4591

EIN: 36-3092281

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed phone number, email, or website. The foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding.

Overview

The Abra Prentice Foundation Inc was established as a private family foundation, with tax-exempt status granted in February 1981. The foundation's primary donor is Abra Prentice Wilkin, an American philanthropist and great-great-granddaughter of Standard Oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. With assets of $47.7 million and annual giving of $2.8 million distributed across 42 grants in 2023, the foundation maintains a focused philanthropic approach. The foundation's mission encompasses five key areas: maintaining and improving healthcare quality and availability; promoting knowledge through educational, scientific, and literary endeavors; providing for the special needs of children, the elderly, the disabled, and the impoverished; improving social conditions and cultural development; and promoting international peace and understanding. Leadership includes Abra Prentice Wilkin as President, Louis S. Harrison as Secretary and Vice President, and James Wilkin as Treasurer.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking with no formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Grant Range: Based on total giving of $2.8 million across 42 grants, the average grant is approximately $66,667. However, specific grant amounts vary based on the foundation's assessment of organizational need and project merit.

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Healthcare

  • Women's health and mental health initiatives
  • Hospital infrastructure and birthing centers
  • Medical research and clinical care
  • Notable support includes the endowed Abra Prentice Foundation Chair in Women's Mental Health at Massachusetts General Hospital

Education

  • Secondary education and preparatory schools
  • College and professional school support
  • Scholarship programs for underserved students
  • Educational equity initiatives
  • Example: $60,000 grant to Chicago Jesuit Academy for full scholarships for incoming fifth graders

Children, Elderly, Disabled, and Impoverished

  • Special needs populations
  • Social services organizations
  • Community-based programs
  • Examples include support for organizations like Calm Classroom

Cultural Development

  • Arts and cultural institutions
  • Museum support
  • Cultural programming
  • Social condition improvement initiatives

International Peace and Understanding

  • Programs promoting cross-cultural dialogue
  • International charitable purposes

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation has broad charitable purposes, they explicitly:

  • Do not accept unsolicited applications
  • Do not fund organizations outside their preselected network
  • Focus on established organizations rather than startup initiatives

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Abra Prentice Wilkin - President & Director

  • American philanthropist born July 30, 1942
  • Daughter of John Rockefeller Prentice and great-great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller
  • Major donor to the foundation
  • Known for significant contributions to women's health, including the Prentice Pavilion (the largest birthing center in the Midwest) and Prentice Women's Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
  • Alumna of The Ethel Walker School (class of 1960)
  • Trustee Emerita of The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut
  • Demonstrated commitment to women's health, education, and cultural institutions

Louis S. Harrison - Secretary, Vice President & Director

James Wilkin - Treasurer & Director

Board Compensation

None of the officers or directors receive compensation for their service to the foundation, according to public filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds" and "does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding."

All grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations that have been pre-identified by the board. Organizations cannot apply directly to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made internally by trustees on a rolling basis for preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable for external applicants, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no application process for external organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively through preselected grantees, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analyzing the foundation's documented giving patterns reveals:

Alignment with Founder's Interests

  • Organizations connected to Abra Prentice Wilkin's personal philanthropic priorities have received support
  • Strong emphasis on women's health (evidenced by Massachusetts General Hospital endowed chair and Northwestern's Prentice Women's Hospital)
  • Educational institutions, particularly preparatory schools and programs serving underserved youth
  • Chicago-based institutions where the foundation is headquartered

Types of Organizations Funded

  • Established institutions with proven track records
  • Healthcare organizations, particularly those focused on women's health
  • Educational institutions ranging from secondary schools to professional schools
  • Social service organizations serving vulnerable populations (children, elderly, disabled, impoverished)
  • Cultural institutions and museums

Grant Examples Demonstrate

  • Support for both capital projects (hospital infrastructure) and ongoing programs (scholarships)
  • Willingness to make endowment gifts (Massachusetts General Hospital chair)
  • Multi-year relationships with select organizations
  • Grants ranging from moderate ($60,000 for scholarships) to substantial endowment gifts

Geographic Focus

  • Strong preference for Chicago and Illinois institutions
  • National reach for specialized initiatives (Massachusetts General Hospital)
  • Alignment with areas where the Wilkin family has historical connections

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant proposals. They identify and select recipients internally through trustee discretion.

  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All funding goes to preselected organizations, suggesting that existing relationships with trustees or the foundation's network are essential.

  • Consistent Giving Pattern: With 40-42 grants annually totaling approximately $2.8 million, the foundation maintains stable grantmaking to an established portfolio of organizations.

  • Women's Health Priority: Significant documented support for women's health initiatives, particularly mental health and maternal health, reflects the founder's personal commitment to this area.

  • Education Focus: Strong track record of supporting educational equity through scholarships and institutional support, particularly for preparatory schools and programs serving underserved students.

  • Chicago Connection: Being headquartered in Chicago with strong local ties suggests preference for organizations with Chicago presence or impact.

  • Private Family Foundation: As a private foundation with one major donor (Abra Prentice Wilkin), grantmaking reflects the personal philanthropic vision and family legacy of the Rockefeller-Prentice family.

References

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