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Marguerite Delany Hark Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.7M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M

Marguerite Delany Hark Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,710,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $174,044,358 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Number of Grants: 40 (2024); 48 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Illinois, Colorado, Florida (primary); also California, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Contact Details

  • Address: 357 Otter Creek Drive, Venice, FL 34292
  • Phone: 847-525-1439
  • Website: None
  • Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Marguerite Delany Hark Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1988 in Illinois. The foundation was created by Marguerite Hark (née DeLany), a Chicago philanthropist who was a dedicated 67-year member of The Service Club of Chicago and a lifelong supporter of cultural institutions, hospitals, and social service organizations. Mrs. Hark passed away in October 2022, and her estate significantly increased the foundation's assets from approximately $4 million to over $174 million by 2024.

The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including housing, healthcare, conservation, youth services, veteran programs, and education. It makes grants primarily for general operating support and unrestricted purposes. The foundation's giving reflects Mrs. Hark's philanthropic interests, which included support for Rush University Medical Center (where her late husband Dr. William A. Hark and his father practiced orthopedic medicine), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and various animal welfare and natural world conservation efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides general purpose grants and unrestricted funding across several program areas:

  • Housing & Community Development: $10,000 - $500,000 (including Habitat for Humanity and Fellowship Housing)
  • Healthcare & Medical Research: Up to $500,000 (e.g., Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation - $500,000)
  • Youth Services & Childcare: Up to $333,000 (e.g., Eagle River Valley Childcare - $333,000)
  • Arts & Culture: Various amounts (e.g., Vail Valley Foundation - $325,000)
  • Conservation & Animal Welfare: Various amounts

Priority Areas

  • Community development and housing
  • Education and youth services
  • Healthcare and medical research
  • Cultural and arts organizations
  • Environmental conservation
  • Veteran services
  • General operating support for established nonprofits

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications
  • No public information on specific exclusions, but funding appears limited to established organizations known to the trustees

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees, each working approximately 7 hours per week:

  • William P. Eftax - Trustee ($100,000 annual compensation)
  • N. Drew Petterson - Trustee ($100,000 annual compensation)
  • Michael Towler - Trustee ($100,000 annual compensation)

The foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of its founder, Marguerite Hark, who was deeply committed to supporting institutions across Chicago and beyond throughout her lifetime.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder 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."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations that align with the foundation's priorities and the philanthropic interests of its founder. The dramatic increase in grantmaking (from 3-4 grants annually to 40-48 grants) following the significant asset growth in 2023-2024 suggests the trustees actively identify and evaluate potential grantees.

Grant Distribution Patterns

  • 2024: 40 grants totaling $3.71 million
  • 2023: 48 grants totaling $3.06 million
  • 2022: 3 grants
  • 2021: 4 grants

Geographic Distribution

Grants are distributed across multiple states, with primary focus on:

  • Illinois (founder's home state)
  • Colorado (including Vail Valley region)
  • Florida (foundation's current location)
  • Also: California, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of this foundation, organizations seeking funding should note:

  • Strong Track Record: The foundation supports established organizations with proven impact, such as Habitat for Humanity and major medical research institutions
  • Alignment with Founder's Values: Mrs. Hark's interests included classical music, medical research (particularly orthopedic medicine), animal welfare, and youth services
  • Unrestricted Funding Focus: The foundation primarily provides general operating support rather than project-specific grants
  • Substantial Grant Capacity: With median grants of $50,000 and top grants reaching $500,000, this is a significant funder for organizations that come to its attention
  • Geographic Relevance: Organizations in Illinois, Colorado, and Florida appear to receive priority

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted - This foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with grants at trustee discretion
  • Substantial funding capacity - With $174 million in assets and $3.7 million in annual giving, this is a major private foundation
  • Diverse funding interests - Housing, healthcare, youth services, arts, and conservation all receive support
  • General operating focus - The foundation primarily provides unrestricted funding rather than project grants
  • Recently expanded grantmaking - Following significant asset growth, the foundation dramatically increased from 3-4 annual grants to 40-48 grants
  • Chicago/Midwest roots - The founder's deep connections to Chicago institutions, particularly The Service Club of Chicago, Rush University Medical Center, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, remain relevant
  • Colorado presence - Significant grants to Vail Valley organizations suggest a connection to that region

References

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