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Robert R. McCormick Foundation

Annual Giving
$69.9M
Grant Range
$30K - $10.0M

Robert R. McCormick Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $69,921,502 (2023)
  • Total Assets: Over $1 billion
  • Number of Grants: 235 awards (2023)
  • Grant Range: $30,000 - Multi-million (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Chicagoland region, particularly Chicago's South and West Sides
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: 205 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 4300, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-445-5000
Email: info@rrmf.org
Website: https://www.mccormickfoundation.org

Overview

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation was established in 1955 following the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. With over $1 billion in assets, the foundation is one of the nation's largest private foundations and has invested more than $1.8 billion since its founding to build thriving communities where all have the resources and opportunities to succeed. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts in five major program areas: Veterans, Journalism, Early Childhood Education, Supporting Communities, and Strengthening Democracy. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, proactively identifying organizations with deep local knowledge and inclusive relationships to propel their communities forward. The foundation holds a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect score of 100%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Early Childhood Education ($4.2M–$6.2M annually)
Supports children from birth through kindergarten throughout Illinois, with particular focus on birth to three years. Funding priorities include increasing access to quality early care and education, providing safe learning environments, and promoting kindergarten readiness and literacy. Grants focus on vulnerable children and families in Chicagoland.

Journalism ($2.6M–$5.5M annually)
Strengthens impactful reporting in Chicago and Illinois that increases government transparency, holds decision-makers accountable, and ensures public investments create opportunities for all, especially Chicago's South and West Side residents. Recent major grants include:

  • Illinois Solutions Partnership with Better Government Association: $10 million (five-year program)
  • Block Club Chicago: $1.6 million for investigative team
  • Capitol News Illinois: $2 million for expanded editorial capacity
  • Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism: $2.4 million for Local News Accelerator

Veterans ($1.2M–$3.5M annually)
Supports veterans and military families in the Chicago area transitioning back to civilian life. Grants support employment programs, behavioral health services, legal aid, job training, and service coordination. The foundation co-founded the Welcome Back Veterans program with Major League Baseball, which has awarded over $30 million since 2008.

Thriving Communities
Place-based investments in Englewood, Little Village, and United Way Neighborhoods focused on:

  • Economic development and entrepreneurship
  • Jobs and economic opportunity
  • Health and wellness
  • Youth development and education
  • Violence prevention and intervention

Community Capital ($1.6M–$7.1M annually)
Supports community economic development initiatives that accelerate growth, job creation, and business support services in target neighborhoods.

Public Safety ($2M–$3.8M annually)
Violence prevention and intervention programs across a continuum, addressing root causes with workforce training, health care, and employment opportunities.

Partnership Programs ($8.8M total distributed in 2022)
Collaborative grant programs with Chicago sports teams (Cubs, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox), media organizations (WGN-TV, Daily Herald), and corporate foundations (KPMG, Northern Trust, Ernst & Young, Commercial Club). The foundation matches partner contributions at 50 cents per dollar raised, with 100% of donations plus the match granted to nonprofits.

Cantigny Park Operations ($19.5M–$33.5M annually)
The foundation operates Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL, including the First Division Museum, McCormick House, gardens, and golf complex on 500 acres, serving over 450,000 visitors annually.

Priority Areas

  • Early childhood education: Birth through kindergarten, language acquisition, quality infrastructure
  • Journalism: Government transparency, investigative reporting, accountability journalism focused on Chicago
  • Veterans: Civilian transition support, employment, behavioral health, legal aid
  • Community development: Place-based investments in Englewood, Little Village, and partner neighborhoods
  • Economic opportunity: Job training, entrepreneurship, business support services
  • Violence prevention: Community-based intervention and prevention programs
  • Youth development: Educational access and success for underserved youth

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not explicitly list exclusions in public materials. However, their invitation-only approach means they:

  • Focus exclusively on the Chicagoland region, particularly Chicago's South and West Sides
  • Do not accept unsolicited applications or letters of inquiry
  • Prioritize organizations with established local knowledge and community relationships
  • Focus on their five specific program areas rather than general operating support outside these priorities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Scott C. Smith – Chairman
  • Dennis J. FitzSimons – Director
  • Lee Henderson – Director
  • Mary K. ("Katie") Lawler – Director
  • William McLean, CFA – Director
  • Ruthellyn Musil – Director
  • Celena Sarillo, M.S.W., M.Ed. – Director

Executive Leadership

  • Timothy P. Knight – President and Chief Executive Officer (appointed March 2020)
  • Carla Beal – Chief Investment Officer
  • Oscar Regalado – Vice President, Human Resources
  • Andrés Torres – Vice President, Strategy, Planning, and Operations

Portfolio Directors

  • Mirlene Dossous – Director, Englewood Portfolio
  • Bryan Stokes – Director, Education Portfolio
  • Jose Rodriguez – Director, Community Capital Portfolio
  • Katya Nuques – Director, Little Village Portfolio
  • Anna Laubach – Director, Public Safety Portfolio and Special Initiatives
  • Sonia Mathew – Director, Partnerships

When Timothy Knight was appointed President and CEO, he stated: "I am thrilled to be joining the McCormick Foundation, whose work helping communities and families in Chicagoland I have known and admired for many years."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation does not have a public application process. Applications for funding are extended by invitation only. At this time, unsolicited letters of inquiry are not accepted.

The foundation operates with a proactive approach to grantmaking, identifying organizations through their strategic priorities and community partnerships. These investments are partnerships with organizations that have the experience, local knowledge, and inclusive relationships to propel their communities forward.

Grant decisions are made through trustee discretion based on the foundation's strategic focus areas and identified community needs.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

Geographic Focus Areas: Organizations working in Englewood, Little Village, or United Way Neighborhoods have higher visibility. The foundation has dedicated portfolio directors for these communities who actively engage with local organizations.

Partnership Networks: The foundation works through established partnerships with organizations like:

  • Teamwork Englewood (Englewood community partner)
  • Enlace Chicago (Little Village community partner)
  • United Way of Metro Chicago (Neighborhood Network partner)
  • Chicago sports teams (Cubs, Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox)
  • Major League Baseball (Welcome Back Veterans program)

Sector-Specific Networks: Organizations active in their five program areas (Veterans, Journalism, Early Childhood Education, Supporting Communities, Strengthening Democracy) may come to the foundation's attention through sector conferences, collaborative initiatives, or shared partnerships.

Demonstrated Impact: The foundation seeks organizations with proven track records, established community relationships, and alignment with their strategic priorities. Success in their focus neighborhoods and documented outcomes increase visibility.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as grants are awarded by invitation through an ongoing strategic process rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. With 235 awards made from $69.9 million in 2023, the foundation makes selective, strategic investments rather than high-volume grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Since applications are by invitation only, there is no formal reapplication policy. Organizations that have been invited to apply and received funding may continue their relationship with the foundation through ongoing partnership and reporting.

Application Success Factors

Since the Robert R. McCormick Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what the foundation values helps organizations position themselves for potential partnership:

Deep Local Knowledge and Relationships: The foundation explicitly seeks "organizations that have the experience, local knowledge, and inclusive relationships to propel their communities forward." Organizations deeply embedded in Englewood, Little Village, or United Way Neighborhoods with authentic community connections are prioritized.

Alignment with Geographic Priorities: The foundation states their goal is to ensure "public investments are creating and supporting opportunities for all, especially Chicago's South and West Side residents." Work focused on these geographic areas, particularly addressing disparities in jobs and economic opportunity, health and wellness, and education, aligns with their strategy.

Resident-Driven Strategy: The foundation works "alongside local leaders to help identify community priorities and create a resident-driven strategy that works to improve the quality of life and increase economic opportunity." Organizations that demonstrate community voice and participatory approaches in their work reflect the foundation's values.

Strategic Program Alignment: Organizations must align with one of the five program areas: Veterans, Journalism, Early Childhood Education, Supporting Communities, or Strengthening Democracy. Multi-issue organizations should emphasize work in these specific areas.

Established Track Record: The foundation invests in partnerships, not experiments. Organizations with demonstrated impact, financial stability, and proven capacity to deliver results are more likely to be invited.

Systems Change Orientation: Beyond direct services, the foundation values organizations working on systemic change, particularly in early childhood education where they prioritize "improving public policy through increased public investments in policies that support access to quality early care and education."

Collaboration and Partnership: Many of the foundation's major initiatives involve partnerships (BGA collaboration, MLB Welcome Back Veterans, sports team partnerships). Organizations that work collaboratively and can leverage additional resources align with this approach.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists – this is an invitation-only funder that proactively identifies grantees; traditional grant writing approaches will not work
  • Geographic focus is paramount – work must be in Chicagoland, with strong preference for Chicago's South and West Sides, particularly Englewood and Little Village neighborhoods
  • Five program areas define all funding – Veterans, Journalism, Early Childhood Education, Supporting Communities, and Strengthening Democracy; work outside these areas will not be funded
  • Local knowledge and relationships matter most – the foundation explicitly seeks organizations with deep community connections and resident-driven strategies
  • Large, strategic investments are the norm – recent journalism grants ranged from $1.6M to $10M; this is not a funder of small, one-off projects
  • Partnership approach – the foundation views grants as long-term partnerships and values organizations that collaborate with others
  • Think place-based and systemic – beyond direct services, demonstrate how your work addresses root causes and creates systems change in target communities

References

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