Abbott Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Abbott Fund does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a cold proposal is unlikely to get a hearing; build a relationship before making any formal ask.
- Its stated interests are health care access, community strengthening, and science and health education, with a focus on historically under-resourced populations and the most marginalised, so work that clearly fits these themes is the strongest match.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $5,000 and $500,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $50,000 or less, so a request in the region of $50,000 suits the typical grant, though that band is not a ceiling.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 96% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in the earlier filings, so expect most of its money to go to established grantees.
- No geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not rule your organisation out.
Overview
Abbott Fund is a US private foundation based in Abbott Park, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Abbott Fund invests in innovative ideas that expand access to health care, strengthen communities where it lives and operates, and promote science and health education. Its philanthropic vision is to drive social innovations that lead to more resilient, healthier communities; it uses philanthropy to pioneer new ideas and solutions, develop the next generation of leaders, strengthen civic and social organisations, and build partnerships to solve complex, global problems. It describes its approach as community-driven, impactful, sustainable and equitable. Community solutions are collaborative with the people it seeks to support and ultimately owned by the community; it focuses on impact through measurement and evaluation, and on investments that transform systems and people in ways that endure beyond its support. It serves historically under-resourced populations, with a focus on the most marginalised, and values mission-driven organisations improving health and well-being.
Themes
- Health care access
- Community strengthening
- Science and health education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Florida, California, Illinois, Switzerland and Tanzania.
How to apply
The Abbott Fund does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% 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 178 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It favours community solutions developed collaboratively with the people it seeks to support and ultimately owned by the community.
- It focuses on impact through measurement and evaluation to continually learn and make critical decisions.
- It seeks sustainable investments that transform systems and people in ways that endure beyond its support.
- It serves historically under-resourced populations, with a focus on the most marginalised.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 8%
- The largest single recipient received 45% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations Abbott Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Tanzania).
- 54% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 62 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Online Giving Foundation · Employee Giving Campaign$7,965,8702024 tax year
- The Global Fund · The Laboratory Systems Integration Fund (LSIF)-Catalytic Fund$1,667,0002024 tax year
- University of the Pacific · Diabetes Educational Pathways and Direct Services in Stockton$1,100,0002024 tax year
- Joffrey Ballet · Endowed Fund to Support the Abbott Academy Director, Joffrey Academy of Dance$600,0002024 tax year
- Erie Family Health Center · Comprehensive Support for Non-Communicable Diseases Outside the Exam Room and Supports for Social Drivers of Health through a Comprehensive Ecosystem of Care$500,0002024 tax year
- El Concilio California · Non-emergency Medical Transportation Service$450,0002024 tax year
- University of Minnesota Foundation · Advancing Health Equity$390,0002024 tax year
- Emergency Food Bank · Healthy Food Rx Program$370,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Melissa D Brotz — President and Director
- Robert B Ford — Director
- Kathryn McKenzie — Vice President
- Jessica Paik — Secretary
- Hubert L Allen — Director
- Mathew Jandrey — Treasurer
- Betty Sobkowicz — Assistant Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $26,186,633 | $20,879,072 | $471,764,457 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $34,332,091 | $19,894,205 | $448,891,231 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $23,942,569 | $17,424,431 | $522,259,656 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Abbott Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Abbott Park, IL
- abbottfund.org
Applying to Abbott Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Abbott Park, IL
- abbottfund.org