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The Siragusa Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M
Decision Time
13mo

The Siragusa Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,131,798 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies - up to $15,000+
  • Average Grant: ~$10,000
  • Total Assets: $19,078,558 (2024)
  • Number of Grants: 112 awards (2023)
  • Decision Time: Annual grant cycle with November board meeting
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Chicago metropolitan area
  • Application Type: Invitation only - no unsolicited proposals accepted

Contact Details

Address:
33 N LaSalle St, Suite 2275
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Phone: 312-755-0064

Website: www.siragusa.org

Program Officer: Crystal Robinson, Senior Program Officer

Executive Director: John E. Hicks Jr.

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals.

Overview

The Siragusa Family Foundation was established in 1950 by Ross D. Siragusa, the Italian immigrant entrepreneur who founded Admiral Corporation in 1934. What began as a $3,400 investment in a radio and television business grew into a worldwide enterprise with over $500 million in sales. Today, the foundation is governed by third and fourth generation Siragusa family members and non-family board members, continuing the founder's legacy of supporting Chicago's nonprofit sector.

With assets of approximately $19 million, the foundation annually awards approximately $1 million to over 100 organizations. The foundation's mission is "to work in partnership with organizations, communities and other philanthropic entities to connect those in need to services, bridge people to opportunities, and engage them as valued individuals in a caring society." The foundation primarily focuses on youth development in Chicago's disinvested neighborhoods, prioritizing programs that are equitable, culturally relevant, and responsive.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with one annual grant cycle. Grants are approved at the November board meeting, with notifications sent shortly thereafter. Grant amounts vary, with most awards ranging from small amounts to $15,000 or more.

Funding Tiers:

  • Grants ≤$10,000: No formal report required
  • Grants ≥$15,000: Annual grant report expected

Priority Areas

The foundation supports charitable organizations in the following areas:

Arts Learning:

  • School-Based Arts Learning: Support for arts organizations creating deep, multi-week school-based arts education programming that promotes artistic, academic, and social-emotional development of youth
  • Community-Based Arts Learning: Support for arts organizations bringing outreach and learning opportunities to under-resourced communities

College Success:

  • Support for organizations preparing underserved college-bound students to apply for and persist through the first years of college
  • Programs providing academic counseling, quality instruction, and social-emotional support

Violence Prevention & Safe Communities:

  • Organizations reducing and preventing community violence
  • Programs providing intervention, restorative justice, leadership development, and social-emotional support to youth

Mental Health & Wellness:

  • Access to services improving health and wellness for youth and families in disadvantaged communities
  • Mental health services as integral to primary health care

Academic Enrichment:

  • Youth development programs serving Pre-K through 12th grade students

Geographic Focus

The foundation's priority is funding projects and programs that enhance quality of life in the greater metropolitan Chicago area. A small percentage of funding is granted to initiatives outside the Chicago area based on the interests of foundation board and family members.

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowment campaigns
  • Individual requests
  • Advocacy initiatives

Governance and Leadership

Board Chair/President: Ross D. Siragusa III (3rd generation family member, serving continuously from 1997)

Executive Director: John E. Hicks Jr. (grandson of founder Ross D. Siragusa, compensation: $174,636)

Senior Program Officer: Crystal Robinson (joined 2017, compensation: $108,864)

  • Background: BA from Dominican University, Master of Nonprofit Administration from North Park University
  • Professional involvement: Member of Chicago Women in Philanthropy, Exponent Philanthropy, and National Center for Family Philanthropy
  • Previously served as AFP Chicago board member and secretary (2016-2017)

Board Composition: The foundation is governed by third and fourth generation Siragusa family members and non-family board members, including Marco Siragusa, Philip Siragusa, and Isabel K. Siragusa.

Core Values

  1. Effectiveness & Accountability
  2. Compassion & Respect for Human Dignity
  3. Opportunity & Belief in Human Capacity
  4. Self-Empowerment & Community Impact
  5. Leadership & Trust

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Siragusa Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations cannot apply directly for grants. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis as part of its proactive grantmaking strategy.

The foundation states: "We believe the most effective way for the foundation to utilize its resources is to continue our focus on maintaining support for current grantees."

For Invited Organizations:

  • Organizations invited to submit proposals may contact the Program Officer (Crystal Robinson) to discuss whether the project or program aligns with the foundation's priorities
  • A standard grant application form will be provided by foundation staff following the invitation to submit a proposal
  • Foundation staff will advise organizations on the appropriate amount of funds to request, taking into account organizational budget, project budget, and expected income from other sources

Decision Timeline

  • Board Meeting: Grants are approved at the foundation's annual November board meeting
  • Notification: Grantees are notified via decision letter shortly after the November board meeting
  • Grant Disbursement: Timing varies based on when the grant is approved

Reporting Requirements

For All Grantees:

  • Submit acknowledgment letter promptly after receiving grant payment (must include program name, grant amount, and statement "No goods or services were provided as a result of this contribution")
  • Coordinate at least one site visit per year with foundation staff
  • Communicate immediately with foundation staff regarding program changes, delays, or challenges
  • Notify foundation immediately if tax exemption is revoked, corporate structure changes, or significant management changes occur

Grant-Specific Requirements:

  • Grants ≤$10,000: No formal report required
  • Grants ≥$15,000: Annual grant report or scholarship update required detailing activities supported by the foundation

Encouraged Practice: Schedule annual site visits or meetings with foundation staff to maintain relationship and provide program updates.

Grant Characteristics

  • The foundation rarely serves as the sole funder of a project
  • Encourages applicants to develop a variety of individual, government, and private funding sources
  • Funds both program-related costs and general operating expenses
  • Average grant size: approximately $10,000 (based on $1.1M distributed to 112 organizations)

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only foundation, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, the foundation's stated priorities and values provide insight into what they value in grantee organizations:

Alignment with Mission and Values:

  • Programs must help underserved people in Chicago "help themselves and experience a better quality of life"
  • Emphasis on self-empowerment rather than dependency
  • Programs should be equitable, culturally relevant, and responsive

Focus on Youth Development:

  • The foundation primarily supports youth development in Chicago's disinvested neighborhoods
  • Programs serving Pre-K through 12th grade are prioritized
  • Strong emphasis on social-emotional development alongside academic or artistic development

Program Characteristics Valued:

  • Deep, sustained engagement (e.g., "multi-week school-based arts education programming")
  • Programs that connect to broader support systems (academic counseling, social-emotional support)
  • Evidence of cultural relevance and responsiveness to community needs
  • Approaches that build human capacity and opportunity

Organizational Relationship:

  • Strong emphasis on ongoing communication with foundation staff
  • Expectation of transparency about challenges and changes
  • Willingness to engage in site visits and relationship building
  • Ability to work collaboratively with other funding sources

Strategic Approach:

  • The foundation values maintaining long-term relationships with current grantees
  • Demonstrates commitment to sustained impact over one-time grants
  • Partnership-oriented approach rather than transactional

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. This is an invitation-only funder - you cannot submit an unsolicited proposal. The foundation proactively identifies and invites organizations to apply based on their strategic priorities and focus on maintaining support for current grantees.

  2. Geographic focus is paramount - the foundation is deeply committed to the greater Chicago metropolitan area, with only rare exceptions for family member interests outside the region.

  3. Youth development is the core focus - while the foundation has multiple program areas (arts learning, college success, violence prevention, mental health), all center on serving youth from Pre-K through 12th grade in disinvested Chicago neighborhoods.

  4. Relationship-driven grantmaking - the foundation emphasizes ongoing communication, annual site visits, and partnership. Current grantees are encouraged to maintain active relationships with Crystal Robinson (Senior Program Officer) and foundation staff.

  5. Self-empowerment philosophy - programs must help people "help themselves" rather than creating dependency. The foundation values approaches that build human capacity, opportunity, and self-determination.

  6. Multi-source funding expected - the foundation rarely serves as the sole funder and expects grantees to develop diverse funding streams including individual, government, and other private sources.

  7. Flexible support - the foundation funds both program-specific costs and general operating expenses, recognizing the importance of organizational stability alongside programmatic impact.

References

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