Crown Family Philanthropies (Crown Family Foundation)

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $28,794,500 (2024)
Total Assets: $357,590,645 (2023)
Success Rate: Data not publicly available
Decision Time: Not specified (invitation-only process)
Grant Range: $10,000 - $12,500,000 (most grants below $500,000)
Geographic Focus: Chicago (primary), with national and international interests in Israel and sub-Saharan Africa

Contact Details

Address: Chicago, IL

Phone: (312) 750-6671

Email: [email protected] (for current grantees with questions about applications or reporting)

Website: https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/

Note: Crown Family Philanthropies is generally unable to respond to unsolicited emails, letters, and calls.

Overview

Crown Family Philanthropies was founded in 1947 by Arie and Ida Crown, Eastern European immigrants who established the Material Service Corporation in Chicago. In 2009, after more than 60 years of family grantmaking under the name Arie and Ida Crown Memorial, the foundation reorganized to represent an array of family grantmaking practices. Now led by more than 50 family members across multiple generations, the foundation operates with $357.6 million in assets and distributed $28.8 million in grants in 2024. Working in the spirit of tikkun olam (repairing the world), Crown Family Philanthropies partners with communities to effect "just and lasting social impact across generations." While the foundation maintains national and international interests, Chicago remains a geographic priority, reflecting decades of family commitment to ensuring all Chicagoans have what they need to thrive. The foundation has elevated nine strategic "Lead Pursuits" where they deepen strategy and partner with change-makers on targeted solutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Crown Family Philanthropies operates across six foundational funding areas without formal program structures or fixed deadlines. All grants are made by invitation only. Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $500,000, though major institutional grants can reach several million dollars (median grant: $150,000).

Application Method: Invitation only, no public application process

Priority Areas

Crown Family Philanthropies has identified nine strategic "Lead Pursuits" across their six funding areas:

Education

Developing a national model for equitable education by closing systemic opportunity gaps from Pre-K to college in Chicago
Focus on Black and Latine Chicago students along the Pre-K to college and career continuum
High-quality and equitable arts education in Chicago
Recent grantees include Chicago Public Schools initiatives, Children First Fund, and University of Chicago programs

Environment

Great Lakes: Improving water quality, protecting the Lake Michigan watershed, and advancing regulations for the Great Lakes
Climate: Clean energy, sustainable food systems, and climate justice
Grantees include Alliance for the Great Lakes, American Rivers, Friends of the Chicago River, National Forest Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Elevate Energy, and United States Energy Foundation
Partner in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Sustain Our Great Lakes program

Health & Human Services

Ending Homelessness in Chicago: Creating and preserving affordable housing, wraparound services, prevention and response capacity
Building Capacity in the Domestic Violence Sector
Grantees include Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, North Side Housing and Supportive Services, Metropolitan Family Services, and Night Ministry

Global Health

Leveraging community-based solutions to advance universal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa
Vision of global health equity where all people realize their right to the highest attainable standards of health
Grantees include VillageReach, Kenya's Lwala Community Alliance, and Last Mile Health

Gun Violence Prevention

Developing a holistic community-based approach to reducing gun violence in Chicago
High-risk individuals receive therapy, skill-building, and employment supports
Direct service programs using street outreach to mediate conflicts

Jewish Community & Israel

Strengthening Jewish identity and community connectivity
Deeply enriching experiences and education continuum at the heart of Jewish life
Creating equity opportunities in Israel's high-tech sector
Capacity building for Jewish organizations and programs combating antisemitism
Currently the foundation's largest area of giving
Major support for Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Additional Areas: The foundation has also made significant investments in racial justice and economic empowerment, arts and culture, civic affairs, and humanitarian aid.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's invitation-only approach means they do not accept unsolicited proposals. Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but funding is limited to organizations that align with their six priority areas and strategic Lead Pursuits.

Governance and Leadership

President: Evan Hochberg leads the impact and family engagement efforts. He describes the family as "real civic leaders in Chicago, creating opportunities for Chicagoans to live better lives through education, housing and environmental efforts."

Treasurer/Board Member: Steve Crown serves as Treasurer of the board of the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial and has chaired the Jewish and Israel Giving Committee.

Key Staff:

Rebecca Blackmore, Executive Assistant to the President
Sarah Marcus, Director of Operations
Annie Brinkman, Grants Manager
Tiffany Duffy, Grants Manager
Susana Stoll, Grants Management Analyst
Noël Huntzinger, Operations & Grants Assistant
Ryan Strode, Environment Program Director
Amy Perkal, Engagement Lead

Leadership Philosophy: In discussing the foundation's approach to Jewish values, Hochberg stated: "We're trying to figure out challenging questions: What does it mean to be Jewish in 2020? How does the Jewish community survive and thrive in the face of anti-Semitism and other threats? How might a commitment to universal social issues be approached through a lens of Jewish values?" He has also noted that "it's difficult to build coalitions around such complex issues," reflecting the foundation's collaborative approach to complex social challenges.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Crown Family Philanthropies does not have a public application process. The foundation operates an invitation-only model and explicitly states that it "does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals." The foundation is generally unable to respond to unsolicited emails, letters, and calls.

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion and the foundation's strategic priorities. The foundation proactively identifies and invites organizations that align with their nine Lead Pursuits and six funding areas.

For Current Grantees: Organizations with existing grants can contact [email protected] for questions about applications or reporting requirements.

General Inquiries: Organizations may submit general inquiries via phone at (312) 750-6671 or through the foundation's website, though responses to unsolicited outreach are not guaranteed.

Getting on Their Radar

ReFED Food Waste Funder Circle: Crown Family Philanthropies is an active member of the ReFED Food Waste Funder Circle, launched in 2021. Organizations working on food waste reduction and food systems sustainability may connect with foundation staff at ReFED conferences or webinars, as this is a documented venue where the foundation engages with potential partners.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Partnership: The foundation is a partner in NFWF's Sustain Our Great Lakes program. Organizations working on Great Lakes restoration may gain visibility through this partnership network.

Chicago Connected and CPS Partnerships: The foundation has an established relationship with Chicago Public Schools and Children First Fund, having funded programs like the $5 million Chicago Connected initiative and the Executive Leadership Seminar Series. Organizations working in Chicago education may build visibility through these existing partner networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not operate on fixed grant cycles or published timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 29 grants totaling $35.3 million in 2023, with hundreds of grants distributed annually when counting all giving vehicles.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only structure.

Application Success Factors

Since Crown Family Philanthropies operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations can increase their likelihood of being identified as potential partners by:

Alignment with Lead Pursuits: The foundation has clearly articulated nine strategic priorities. Organizations making the greatest impact in these specific areas—particularly in Chicago—are most likely to attract attention:

Education equity for Black and Latine students in Chicago (Pre-K to college)
Great Lakes water quality and climate solutions in the Midwest
Homelessness and domestic violence capacity in Chicago
Global health equity in sub-Saharan Africa
Gun violence prevention in Chicago using community-based approaches
Jewish identity, community connectivity, and combating antisemitism

Chicago Focus: While the foundation has national and international interests, their "deep focus on Chicago has remained central across decades of family leadership." Organizations demonstrating significant impact in Chicago have a distinct advantage.

Evidence of Systems-Level Impact: The foundation's language emphasizes "just and lasting social impact across generations" and "partnering with change-makers to develop and deploy targeted and innovative solutions." They appear to favor organizations addressing root causes and systemic change rather than purely direct services.

Collaborative Approach: President Evan Hochberg has acknowledged that "it's difficult to build coalitions around such complex issues," suggesting the foundation values organizations that can work collaboratively. Many of their grantees are anchor institutions or organizations with strong partnership networks (e.g., Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Children First Fund).

Relationship Building Through Existing Networks: Organizations should focus on building visibility through networks where Crown Family Philanthropies is already active, such as ReFED, NFWF's Great Lakes initiatives, and Chicago education partnerships.

Jewish Values Lens: For organizations working in areas beyond Jewish Community & Israel, understanding how your work connects to Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) may be relevant, as the foundation operates "in the spirit of tikkun olam."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only structure means traditional grant writing is not applicable—focus instead on building organizational visibility and impact in Crown Family Philanthropies' priority areas.
Chicago is paramount: While they fund nationally and internationally, Chicago-based impact or Chicago-serving organizations have the strongest alignment with decades of family commitment to the city.
Lead Pursuits are the roadmap: The nine clearly defined Lead Pursuits represent where the foundation is "devoted to deepening strategy"—demonstrate exceptional impact in these specific areas.
Strategic networks matter: Engage with ReFED, NFWF Great Lakes initiatives, Chicago Public Schools partnerships, and other documented collaborative spaces where foundation staff participate.
Scale and systems change: The foundation supports both direct service providers and systemic change efforts, but language emphasizes "lasting social impact across generations," suggesting preference for organizations addressing root causes.
Multi-generational family foundation: With 50+ family members across multiple generations involved, the foundation balances tradition (60+ years of grantmaking) with evolution (reorganized in 2009, strategic Lead Pursuits approach).
Jewish values underpin all work: Even in secular program areas, the foundation operates through a lens of tikkun olam and Jewish values, as articulated by President Evan Hochberg.

References

Research completed December 23, 2025

Crown Family Foundation (Crown Family Philanthropies)