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Simon Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.9M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.4M
Success Rate
12%

Simon Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,860,000 - $5,470,000
  • Success Rate: 12% (for new applicants)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $400,000
  • Average Grant Size: Approximately $97,200
  • Number of Annual Grants: 49-50 grants
  • Total Assets: $59.5 million
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-state (primarily Illinois, with grants across 10 states including CA, CO, DC, FL, MA, MN, MO, NY, TX)
  • Established: 2000

Contact Details

Address: 1755 Lake Cook Rd Apt 314, Highland Park, IL 60035-4479

Phone: (847) 835-9195

Contact Person: Albert Simon III, President

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a public website or published email address.

Overview

The Simon Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2000 and based in Highland Park, Illinois. With assets totaling $59.5 million and annual giving ranging from $4.8 to $5.5 million, the foundation distributes approximately 50 grants per year across a diverse range of causes. The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus, indicating a broad philanthropic scope that spans education, human services, arts and culture, health, food security, and disability services. The foundation operates across 10 states with a particular concentration in the Chicago area and demonstrates consistent, sustained commitment to philanthropic giving with stable grant-making patterns over the past decade. Leadership includes family members Albert Simon III (President), Judith Simon (Vice President), and Steven Simon (Assistant).

Funding Priorities

Geographic Focus

The foundation operates primarily in Illinois with additional giving across multiple states including:

  • Illinois (primary focus, especially Chicago area)
  • New York
  • California
  • Texas
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Minnesota
  • Massachusetts
  • District of Columbia
  • Missouri

Priority Areas

While the foundation does not specify formal subject focus areas, analysis of their grant-making reveals consistent support for:

Education

  • Educational nonprofits and initiatives
  • Donor-advised giving platforms like DonorsChoose (recurring grants of $300,000)

Human Services

  • Food security organizations (Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank)
  • Emergency relief (World Central Kitchen)
  • Wish-granting organizations (Make-A-Wish Foundation)
  • Disability services (Aspiritech NFP)

Arts & Culture

  • Theatre companies (Timeline Theatre Company - $270,000)
  • Opera (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

Health

  • Major medical institutions (Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Philanthropy & Grantmaking

  • Organizations supporting voluntarism and charitable giving

Grant Amounts

  • Typical Range: $5,000 - $400,000
  • Average Grant: Approximately $97,200
  • Distribution: The foundation makes both large institutional grants (up to $400,000) and smaller community-level grants ($5,000+)

Governance and Leadership

The Simon Family Foundation is led by family members who serve in key leadership roles:

  • Albert Simon III - President (Compensation: $47,500)
  • Judith Simon - Vice President (Compensation: $47,500)
  • Steven Simon - Assistant (No compensation)

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with decision-making authority resting with the family leadership.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Simon Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation with grants determined by trustee discretion. There is no publicly available application portal, guidelines, or formal submission process.

According to available data, the foundation is "open to new applicants" with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding, suggesting that the foundation does consider and award grants to organizations with which they do not have pre-existing relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grant-making patterns, organizations seeking support may consider:

Geographic Alignment: The foundation shows strong preference for Illinois-based organizations, particularly in the Chicago area, while also supporting select organizations in other major metropolitan areas (New York, California, Texas, etc.).

Sector Patterns: The foundation has demonstrated multi-year support for certain organizations, suggesting relationship-based giving. Organizations operating in education, human services, food security, arts, and health may align with demonstrated interests.

Contact Approach: Organizations may reach out to the foundation directly via phone (847-835-9195) to inquire about potential funding interest. Given the foundation's structure as a private family foundation, building relationships with the trustees (Albert Simon III, Judith Simon, or Steven Simon) would be key.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. As a private family foundation, grant decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees throughout the year rather than following published deadlines.

Success Rates

  • New Applicants: 12% of new applicants receive funding
  • Annual Grants: The foundation consistently awards 49-50 grants per year
  • Funding Consistency: The foundation has maintained stable grant-making patterns over the past decade, indicating reliable annual giving

Application Success Factors

Alignment Indicators

Geographic Priority: Strong preference for Illinois-based organizations, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area. Organizations outside Illinois should have strong track records and compelling missions.

Multi-Year Support: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to provide recurring grants to organizations like DonorsChoose ($300,000 annually) and Timeline Theatre Company ($270,000), suggesting that successful grantees may receive ongoing support.

Broad Philanthropic Interests: Without specified focus areas, the foundation appears to support causes aligned with family interests. Organizations should research any public statements or involvement of the Simon family in particular causes.

Established Organizations: Grant recipients include major institutions (Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Lyric Opera) as well as regional nonprofits, suggesting the foundation supports organizations across various sizes with demonstrated impact.

Key Considerations

No Public Application Process: Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals through a formal application. Engagement must be strategic and relationship-based.

Financial Stability: With an expense ratio of 78.5% directed to programs and consistent annual giving, the foundation demonstrates strong financial stewardship.

Grant Size Variability: The foundation makes grants ranging from $5,000 to $400,000, indicating flexibility in funding levels based on project scope and organizational size.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Private Foundation Structure: This is a family foundation without a public application process; success depends on relationship-building and trustee discretion rather than competitive application processes.

  • Geographic Sweet Spot: Illinois-based organizations, particularly in Chicago, have the strongest alignment with the foundation's giving patterns.

  • Broad but Consistent: While the foundation lacks specific focus areas, it demonstrates consistent support across education, human services, arts, health, and food security—allowing diverse organizations to potentially qualify.

  • Relationship-Based Giving: Multi-year grants to organizations like DonorsChoose and Timeline Theatre suggest the foundation values ongoing partnerships with proven grantees.

  • No Public Guidelines: Without published application materials, organizations should contact the foundation directly (847-835-9195) to explore interest before investing significant proposal development time.

  • Flexible Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $5,000 to $400,000, organizations of various sizes and project scopes may find appropriate funding levels.

  • 12% Success Rate for New Applicants: While the foundation does fund new organizations, the relatively low acceptance rate for first-time applicants underscores the importance of strong alignment and compelling mission presentation.

References

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