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Lavin Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.2M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,826,000 (2023)
  • Assets: $50.3 million (2024)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$112,000
  • Number of Awards: 43 grants (2023), 68 grants (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Chicago area, with some support nationally
  • Founded: 1964

Contact Details

Address: 155 N Wacker Drive, Suite 1680, Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: 312-477-7600

Website: www.lavinfamilyfoundation.org

Overview

The Lavin Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1964 and led by Carol Lavin Bernick, former executive chairman of Alberto-Culver Company. With approximately $50.3 million in assets and annual giving of nearly $5 million, the foundation focuses primarily on education (particularly supporting under-resourced schools), health care, and human services organizations in the Greater Chicago area. The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to responsive grantmaking during crises, notably donating $2.3 million in 2020 to launch the "Feed It Forward" initiative, which supported Chicago restaurants while providing meals to communities hardest hit by COVID-19. The foundation operates as a family philanthropy with leadership from multiple generations of the Lavin and Bernick families, emphasizing hands-on engagement with grantees and community needs.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Education: The foundation prioritizes K-12 education, particularly supporting under-resourced schools. Carol Bernick founded Enchanted Backpack in 2017, which provides school supplies, art materials, books, PE equipment, winter clothing, and personal care items to Chicagoland schools. The foundation has "adopted" 54 children through the Big Shoulders Fund program.

Health: Major support for Northwestern Memorial Hospital, particularly through Friends of Prentice (Prentice Women's Hospital). The foundation invests in healthcare initiatives serving Chicago communities.

Human Services: Support for youth development and family services, including underwriting a Boys & Girls Club in Little Village and supporting the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

Jewish Causes: Through the related Carol Lavin Bernick Family Supporting Foundation, the family supports the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, and other Jewish organizations.

Geographic Focus

  • Primary focus: Greater Chicago area
  • Secondary support: Major U.S. cities including New York and San Francisco

Past Grantees

  • Big Shoulders Fund
  • Boys & Girls Club of Chicago (Little Village location)
  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital / Friends of Prentice
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
  • Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University)
  • Enchanted Backpack
  • Brother Rice High School
  • Evanston Township High School
  • Benet Academy
  • Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
  • Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
  • Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Based on their established funding patterns, they appear to focus primarily on Chicago-area organizations in education, health, and human services.

Governance and Leadership

Carol Lavin Bernick - President
Former executive chairman of Alberto-Culver Company, a $1.6 billion global consumer products manufacturer acquired by Unilever in 2011. She is currently CEO of Polished Nickel Capital Management and author of "Gather as You Go." Bernick founded the foundation alongside the Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation (established 1998) and has been deeply involved in Chicago philanthropy, founding Enchanted Backpack and Friends of Prentice.

Elizabeth Huber - Vice President and Secretary

Karen S. Lavin - Vice President

Craig L. Bernick - Vice President

Peter A. Bernick - Treasurer

Preston Lavin - Director

All officers and directors serve without compensation, indicating a strong family commitment to philanthropic stewardship.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Lavin Family Foundation accepts applications by letter. According to their guidelines: "There is no special form. A letter requesting a donation is acceptable. No submission deadlines. No restrictions or limitations."

Organizations should submit a letter describing:

  • The organization's mission and track record
  • The specific project or program requiring funding
  • The amount requested
  • How the grant will be used and the expected impact
  • The organization's connection to the foundation's priority areas (education, health, human services in Chicago)

Send letters to:
Lavin Family Foundation
155 N Wacker Drive, Suite 1680
Chicago, IL 60606

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, though the foundation distributed grants throughout the year in 2023 (43 awards) and 2022 (68 awards).

Success Rates

While specific acceptance rates are not published, the foundation made 43 grants from charitable disbursements of $3.7 million in 2023. The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with many grantees, suggesting that repeat funding is possible for organizations that align well with the foundation's priorities.

Reapplication Policy

No formal restrictions on reapplication. The foundation's multi-year support for organizations like Big Shoulders Fund, Boys & Girls Club, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital suggests they welcome continued relationships with effective partners.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not publish specific application guidance, several patterns emerge from their grantmaking history:

Chicago Focus: The foundation strongly prioritizes Greater Chicago area organizations. Geographic alignment is a significant success factor.

Direct Impact on Under-Resourced Communities: Projects serving economically disadvantaged communities, particularly in education and youth development, align with the foundation's demonstrated priorities. The foundation's support for Little Village (a predominantly Latino, working-class neighborhood) and Big Shoulders Fund (supporting Catholic schools in underserved areas) demonstrates this commitment.

Hands-On Engagement Opportunities: The foundation appears to value opportunities for direct family involvement. Carol Bernick's founding of Enchanted Backpack and adoption of 54 children through Big Shoulders Fund suggest the family seeks meaningful engagement beyond checkwriting.

Responsive to Crisis: The $2.3 million "Feed It Forward" initiative demonstrated the foundation's ability to respond quickly and substantially to urgent community needs, particularly when proposals address multiple priorities simultaneously (supporting restaurants while feeding families).

Education Innovation: Projects that bring resources directly to under-resourced schools (supplies, equipment, enrichment programs) align with the Enchanted Backpack model.

Healthcare for Women and Families: The foundation's substantial support for Prentice Women's Hospital indicates interest in maternal and family health initiatives.

Established Organizations: While the foundation may consider newer organizations, their major grants tend to support established institutions (Northwestern, YMCA, Big Shoulders Fund) with proven track records.

Jewish Community: Organizations serving the Jewish community may apply through the related Carol Lavin Bernick Family Supporting Foundation, which focuses on Jewish Federation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Simple application process: A straightforward letter is all that's required—no lengthy application forms or complex requirements
  • Chicago-centric: Strong geographic preference for Chicago organizations, particularly those serving under-resourced communities
  • Education is paramount: K-12 education, especially supporting under-resourced schools with tangible resources (supplies, equipment, enrichment), is a top priority
  • Family engagement matters: Projects offering opportunities for direct family involvement and hands-on philanthropy may have an advantage
  • Track record counts: While they accept letters from any organization, their major grants tend to support established organizations with proven impact
  • Flexible giving model: Rolling deadlines and no formal restrictions make the foundation accessible year-round
  • Crisis responsive: The foundation can mobilize significant resources quickly for urgent community needs that align with their mission
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: Multi-year support for key partners suggests they value ongoing relationships—once you're in, continued funding is possible

References

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