The Donnelley Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, so a small charity should not send it a proposal unless it has first been invited to do so.
- Its filing describes unrestricted support to preselected organisations, and it has no stated geographic focus or set list of priorities, so fit is best judged against the broad mix it has funded: educational institutions, churches, museums and cultural organisations, community and youth organisations, conservation bodies and health organisations.
- Around 8 in 10 of its 446 grants to organisations fall between $500 and $14,500, with a median of $2,000 and a largest grant of $60,000, so a modest request sits within its typical giving, though that band is not a ceiling.
- Because 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in an earlier filing, a relationship with the foundation is likely to count for more than a cold approach.
Overview
The Donnelley Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s grant record describes unrestricted support rather than a named funding programme. Its recipients include educational institutions, churches, museums and cultural organisations, community and youth organisations, conservation bodies, and health organisations. The grants are spread across multiple states, while the application information says that contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations. The available evidence therefore presents its giving as a broad mix of unrestricted charitable support to selected organisations, rather than setting out a public list of thematic priorities or a general route for organisations to seek funding.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, California, Florida, Massachusetts and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 446 grants to organisations were $2,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 12%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to organisations The Donnelley Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 152 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $2,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Sonoma Teaching Project · Unrestricted$36,0002024 tax year
- Sonoma Teaching Project · Unrestricted$36,0002024 tax year
- Sonoma Teaching Project · Unrestricted$36,0002024 tax year
- Society of the Four Arts · Unrestricted$25,0002024 tax year
- Tunnel to Towers Foundation · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Youth Centers · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
- MGH Leadership Council For Psychiatric Fund · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
- Lake Forest College · Unrestricted$20,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Robert G Donnelley — Vice President / Treasurer
- David E Donnelley — Vice President / Secretary
- Nicole C Herweck — Vice President
- Thomas E Donnelley II — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $847,892 | $675,950 | $15,637,417 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $910,307 | $798,850 | $15,167,911 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $899,032 | $734,450 | $15,779,416 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Donnelley Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to The Donnelley Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL