Steans Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $25.6 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: North Lawndale (Chicago) and North Chicago, Illinois

Contact Details

• Address: 50 E Washington St, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60602
• Website: steansfamilyfoundation.org
• Phone: (312) 467-5900
• Email: service@steansfamilyfoundation.org

Overview

The Steans Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1986. With total assets of approximately $295.3 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed over $25.5 million in grants in 2023 according to its most recent 990-PF filing. The foundation's primary focus is on community revitalisation in two specific geographic areas: the North Lawndale neighbourhood on Chicago's West Side and the city of North Chicago, located 40 miles north of downtown Chicago just south of Waukegan. Led by the Steans family, including Board Chair Heather Steans and Executive Director Pat Ford, the foundation operates as a significant but relatively private philanthropic entity with an invitation-only application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Steans Family Foundation does not offer open grant programmes to the public. The foundation operates through an invitation-only application process and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. Funding decisions are made by the board of trustees based on alignment with the foundation's place-based community development approach.

Priority Areas

The foundation works in partnership with residents, community stakeholders, and like-minded institutions to build and enhance programmes in the following areas:

• Early childhood development
• K-12 education
• College completion
• Workforce development and job creation
• Economic opportunity
• Criminal justice reform
• Community development
• Policy efforts that support ground-level work in education, employment, justice, and community development

The foundation's place-based approach focuses on creating lasting change within the existing social, educational, and economic networks of North Lawndale and North Chicago. In North Lawndale specifically, several leading organisations were founded with Steans Family Foundation support, including the North Lawndale Employment Network, New Root (formerly UMOJA Student Development Corporation), North Lawndale College Prep High School, and the Chicago Botanic Garden's Farm On Ogden.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

• Heather Steans - Board Chair
• Robin Steans - Trustee
• Jennifer Steans - Trustee
• Pat Ford - Executive Director

Additional Trustees:

• Lenny Gail
• James Kastenholz
• Leo Smith

The foundation is governed by members of the Steans family and additional trustees. Patricia "Pat" Ford serves as Executive Director, managing day-to-day operations. The foundation was created by Harrison and Lois Steans and their three daughters (Heather, Jennifer, and Robin) in 1986.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Steans Family Foundation operates through an invitation-only application process and does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. Grants are made through trustee discretion based on alignment with the foundation's place-based work in North Lawndale and North Chicago.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified

Application Success Factors

Due to the invitation-only nature of this foundation's grantmaking, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organisations that receive funding typically:

• Are actively working in the North Lawndale or North Chicago communities
• Align with the foundation's priority programme areas (education, workforce development, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, community development)
• Have established relationships with foundation leadership, trustees, or community partners
• Demonstrate commitment to place-based community development approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Steans Family Foundation is a major private funder with over $25 million in annual giving based on recent 990 filings
• Primary geographic focus is two specific communities: North Lawndale neighbourhood in Chicago and the city of North Chicago
• No public application process exists - grants are made through an invitation-only process
• The foundation maintains a relatively low public profile despite significant assets
• Organisations seeking support must work in one of the two specific geographic focus areas
• Building relationships with foundation leadership would be essential given the invitation-only process
• The foundation takes a place-based approach, investing in existing community networks rather than creating parallel structures
• Founded in 1986, the foundation has been working in North Lawndale since 1996 and added North Chicago in 2016

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Steans Family Foundation profile (accessed May 2026)
• Steans Family Foundation official website: steansfamilyfoundation.org (accessed May 2026)
• InfluenceWatch.org - Steans Family Foundation profile (accessed May 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory - Steans Family Foundation profile (accessed May 2026)