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Foglia Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.0M

Foglia Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,075,643 (2024)
  • Foundation Assets: $30,132,706
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,000,000
  • Average Grant: $10,000
  • Number of Grants: 121 grants awarded (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Will counties in Illinois; Collier County, Florida
  • Application Method: Invitation only (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Address: 101 S. Wynstone Park Dr., North Barrington, IL 60010

Administrator: Ann Schirk

Website: https://fogliafamilyfoundation.com/

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests. Grant proposals are by invitation only.

Overview

Established in 1993 by Vince and Pat Foglia, the Foglia Family Foundation is a private family foundation with assets of approximately $30.1 million, distributing over $13 million annually to nonprofits primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area and Collier County, Florida. The foundation is currently run by the founders and their two adult children. Vince Foglia founded Sage Products in 1971, a healthcare manufacturing company that became a worldwide leader in disposable hospital prevention products and was acquired by Stryker Corporation in 2016 for $2.78 billion. The foundation's mission is "Empowering individuals through wellness, education, & community-based programming," with a focus on advancing educational opportunities, improving individual wellbeing through health-focused organizations, and supporting community programs that create stronger, more connected citizens. Vince Foglia has stated, "This life has given me far more than I ever dreamed, and with that comes a great sense of responsibility toward others." The Foglias have been named Distinguished Benefactors by the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and in recent years have distributed between $11-15 million annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with structured application cycles. Instead, funding is provided through invitation-only grants across three core focus areas:

Education: Advancing educational opportunities for children through young adults

  • Support for K-12 schools (Christ The King Jesuit College Preparatory, Altus Academy)
  • Higher education institutions (University of Chicago, University of Illinois)
  • Out-of-school learning programs (By the Hand Club for Kids received $2 million in 2020)
  • The Harper College Foglia Center for Nursing and Allied Health

Healthcare: Improving individual wellbeing through health-focused organizations

  • Hospital and medical centers (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Alexian Brothers Health System)
  • Specialized health organizations (Les Turner ALS Foundation, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health)
  • Food security (Northern Illinois Food Bank)
  • Community health (Family Health Partnership Clinic)

Community: Supporting programs in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane, and Will counties in Illinois and Collier County, Florida

  • Youth development organizations
  • YMCA locations (Foglia YMCA in Lake Zurich, Sage YMCA in Crystal Lake)
  • Foster care and child welfare (Let It Be Us, where Vince Foglia serves as Board Chair)
  • Community-based programs creating stronger, more connected citizens

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations that:

  • Serve communities in the Chicago metropolitan area (particularly the six-county region) or Collier County, Florida, where the founders maintain residences
  • Provide measurable impact and demonstrate strong data infrastructure
  • Support vulnerable populations, particularly children and families
  • Deliver services in education, healthcare, or community development

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's invitation-only model and narrow geographic focus (specific Illinois and Florida counties) effectively limit funding opportunities.

Governance and Leadership

Vincent (Vince) Foglia - Founder

  • Born October 31, 1935, in Chicago; attended Chicago public schools; served in the U.S. Navy
  • Graduated from University of Illinois Champaign with B.S. in Marketing
  • Founded Sage Products in 1971; sold to Stryker Corporation in 2016 for $2.78 billion
  • Current Board Chair of Let It Be Us (foster care organization)
  • Philosophy: "This life has given me far more than I ever dreamed, and with that comes a great sense of responsibility toward others."

Patricia (Pat) Foglia - Co-Founder

  • Born in 1940; married Vince in 1963
  • Focused on running the foundation in its early years
  • Continues active involvement in foundation operations

Vinnie Foglia - Executive Board Member

  • Son of Vince and Pat
  • Former Vice President of Operations for Sage Products
  • Serves as Executive Board Member of the foundation

Second Adult Child - Board involvement confirmed, though specific role and name not publicly detailed

Ann Schirk - Foundation Administrator

  • More than 30 years with Sage Products and Foglia Family Foundation
  • Oversees day-to-day foundation operations and grantee relationships

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Foglia Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Grant proposals are by invitation only.

All funding decisions are made by the trustees based on their personal knowledge of organizations and alignment with the foundation's strategic priorities. The family splits time between homes in Illinois and Florida and supports organizations in both communities.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has demonstrated a specific approach to identifying and supporting nonprofits:

UpMetrics Partnership: Since 2018, the foundation has partnered with UpMetrics to run a Chicago Impact Cohort, supporting over 75 nonprofit grantees through hands-on training, peer learning, and access to impact measurement tools. The 2025-2026 cohort includes 10 organizations. This cohort provides capacity-building professional services at no cost over 2 years, helping nonprofits strengthen data collection, analytics, and storytelling capabilities. Organizations demonstrating strong data practices and measurable impact through this program may be well-positioned for ongoing support.

Board Connections: Vince Foglia serves as Board Chair for Let It Be Us, a foster care and adoption organization, demonstrating that board service and direct engagement with the Foglia family may lead to funding relationships.

Geographic Proximity: The foundation shows loyalty to institutions in their home communities, particularly in McHenry County (where Sage Products was located) and other parts of the Chicago metropolitan area where the family has long-standing ties.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation has provided sustained, multi-year support to select organizations (such as By the Hand Club for Kids and Alexian Brothers Health System), suggesting they value long-term partnerships over one-time grants.

Decision Timeline

No public information available on decision timelines, as all grants are by invitation.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—all grants are by invitation only.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foglia Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, research reveals specific characteristics the foundation values:

Data Infrastructure and Impact Measurement: The foundation's eight-year partnership with UpMetrics demonstrates a strong commitment to helping grantees "streamline data collection, reduce reporting burden, and build capacity around data analytics and fundraising to create more sustainable organizations." Ann Schirk has emphasized the importance of understanding "the collective impact of the Foundation's investments across their portfolio of grantees." Organizations that can demonstrate strong data practices and measurable outcomes align with this priority.

Geographic Loyalty: The foundation shows deep loyalty to Chicago-area institutions and organizations in Collier County, Florida. The Foglias' quote that they wanted "to give back to their community and to support the causes that were important to them" underscores their preference for local impact in communities where they have personal connections.

Education, Healthcare, and Youth Development: The foundation has consistently funded organizations in these three areas. Notable examples include:

  • By the Hand Club for Kids (out-of-school learning) - $2 million grant
  • Christ The King Jesuit College Preparatory and Altus Academy (K-12 education)
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital (pediatric healthcare)
  • Les Turner ALS Foundation (specialized health)

Capacity Building: The foundation invests in organizational sustainability through multi-year cohorts that provide training, peer learning, and tools—not just funding. Organizations demonstrating a commitment to building long-term capacity may be more attractive.

Community Connection: The naming of the Foglia YMCA, Sage YMCA, and Foglia Center for Nursing and Allied Health at Harper College shows the family values visible community presence and legacy impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted: This is an invitation-only foundation. Traditional grant writing and applications will not result in funding.
  • Focus on relationship building: Board connections, participation in the UpMetrics Chicago Impact Cohort, and community visibility in the six-county Illinois region or Collier County, Florida may create pathways to foundation awareness.
  • Demonstrate strong data practices: The foundation's sustained investment in UpMetrics and emphasis on impact measurement suggest organizations with robust data infrastructure and outcome tracking will be valued.
  • Multi-year partnerships valued: The foundation has provided sustained support to select organizations over many years, indicating preference for long-term relationships over one-time grants.
  • Geographic focus is narrow but deep: Concentrate efforts on demonstrating impact in Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kane, Will counties (Illinois) or Collier County (Florida).
  • Education, health, and youth are priority areas: Organizations serving children and families through educational programs, healthcare services, or community development align with documented funding patterns.
  • Founder's values guide giving: Vince Foglia's philosophy of responsibility and giving back to community suggests the foundation values organizations that strengthen local communities and create opportunities for individuals to improve their lives.

References

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