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Hunter Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$1K - $3.0M

Hunter Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,256,600 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $287.3 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $3,025,000
  • Median Grant: $25,000
  • Number of Grants: 107 grants awarded in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: 80% Illinois (primarily Chicago area), plus select communities in Colorado, Northern California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 50 E Washington St, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60602-2100
Phone: 224-880-5669
Website: https://www.hunterfamilyfoundation.org/
EIN: 37-1887329

Overview

The Hunter Family Foundation was founded in 1993 by Maxine Morrison Hunter and Thomas Benton Hunter III, who met in sixth grade and were married for 70 years. With assets of $287.3 million, the foundation has evolved from its original focus on the arts to a comprehensive philanthropic endeavor dedicated to improving access to education, healthcare, economic development, and environmental resources in select communities across the United States. The foundation's core belief is that "families should have equitable opportunities to learn, play, and grow together in their home communities." HFF operates with an approach centered on humility, empathy, and genuine collaboration with grantees and partners, prioritizing trust-based philanthropy that reimagines relationships among funders, grantees, and the communities they serve. Under the leadership of Executive Director Frank Baiocchi, the foundation has expanded its reach to fund and help lead many community-based initiatives including Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Ravinia Festival, Chicago Botanic Garden, and various conservation efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hunter Family Foundation distributed $7.8 million across 107 grants in 2023, with grants ranging from $500 to $3,025,000 and a median grant size of $25,000.

Recent Major Grants:

  • Ravinia Festival Association: $3,025,000 (legacy gift honoring Maxine and Tom Hunter III; separate $10 million gift led to naming of Hunter Pavilion)
  • Northwestern Memorial Foundation: $635,000 (for simulation and education center)
  • Various education, healthcare, environmental, and community development organizations

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four primary areas:

Education: Supporting access to quality educational opportunities for families and communities

Healthcare: Funding healthcare access and medical facilities, particularly in underserved communities (e.g., Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Boca Grande Health Clinic)

Environment: Significant investment in environmental conservation and resource access, including:

  • Chi-Cal Rivers Fund (restoring waterways in Chicago and Calumet region - added 8.6 million gallons of stormwater storage capacity, enhanced 2,970 acres of habitat, improved 95 acres of public green space)
  • Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Partnership with Rare (international conservation) - described by Executive Director Frank Baiocchi as "a cornerstone grant that holds a special place in our portfolio"

Community Development & Arts: Supporting community-based initiatives including cultural institutions, open lands preservation (Lake Forest Open Lands), and community centers (Boca Grande Community Center)

Geographic Distribution

  • 80% Illinois: Primarily Chicago and Lake Forest areas
  • 20% Other: Select communities in Colorado, Northern California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida (particularly Boca Grande)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

Board Members

  • Thomas B. Hunter IV: President
  • Willard M. Hunter: Vice President/Board Chair and Secretary
  • Peter M. Hunter: Treasurer
  • Board members receive no compensation

Staff

  • Frank Baiocchi: Executive Director (compensation: $247,871 in 2023)

    • Previous experience as Executive Director of Johnson Family Foundation and Senior Program Officer with Polk Bros. Foundation
    • Has co-created and/or led 13 funder collaboratives and six public-private partnerships
    • Currently serves on boards of Ravinia Festival, Movement Advancement Project, and Wide Angle Research (founding chair)
    • Former Broadway actor and adjunct professor of leadership and philanthropy at Loyola University and DePaul University

  • Asia Canady: Program & Partnership staff (compensation: $113,333 in 2023)

  • Syble Bailey: Program & Impact Management staff (compensation: $113,333 in 2023)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hunter Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Their LinkedIn profile confirms: "HFF does not accept unsolicited grant requests."

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  • Invitation-only processes
  • Strategic partnerships identified by foundation leadership

Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach

The foundation practices trust-based philanthropy, which the organization describes as "a progressive giving model that reimagines the relationships among funders, grantees, and the communities they serve, seeking to rebalance decision-making and power imbalances that favor funders." This approach prioritizes strengthening relationships, collaborative decision-making, and organizational processes aligned with mutual goals.

Frank Baiocchi, Executive Director, emphasizes the importance of genuine collaboration: the foundation's approach is "centered on humility, empathy, and genuine collaboration with grantees and partners."

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding decision timelines, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations.

Grant Activity Trends

The foundation has steadily increased its grant-making activity:

  • 2019: 57 grants
  • 2020: 69 grants
  • 2021: 80 grants
  • 2022: 104 grants
  • 2023: 107 grants

Application Success Factors

Since the Hunter Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following insights are relevant for organizations that may be approached by or already in relationship with the foundation:

Foundation Values & Approach

  • Trust-Based Relationships: The foundation prioritizes "humility, empathy, and genuine collaboration" with partners
  • Community-Based Focus: Strong preference for organizations deeply rooted in their communities
  • Long-Term Partnerships: Examples include sustained support for institutions like Ravinia, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, and Chicago Botanic Garden
  • Strategic Leadership: Executive Director Frank Baiocchi brings extensive experience in funder collaboratives and public-private partnerships

Geographic Alignment

  • 80% of funding goes to Illinois organizations, particularly in the Chicago and Lake Forest areas
  • Limited geographic reach outside Illinois focuses on specific communities where the Hunter family has connections (Boca Grande, FL; select areas of CO, Northern CA, WI, NC)

Funding Categories

Organizations working in education, healthcare access, environmental conservation, and community development align with HFF priorities. The foundation has shown willingness to support both local community organizations and larger institutions, as well as an international conservation partnership (Rare).

Scale Flexibility

Grant sizes range dramatically from $500 to over $3 million, with a median of $25,000, suggesting the foundation tailors funding to organizational needs rather than applying rigid grant formulas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Unsolicited Applications: The Hunter Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests and only funds preselected organizations. Direct application is not possible.
  • Invitation-Only Model: Organizations must be identified and invited by foundation trustees or staff based on strategic priorities and existing relationships.
  • Geographic Concentration: 80% of grants support Illinois organizations, particularly in Chicago and Lake Forest, with limited additional funding in specific communities with Hunter family connections.
  • Trust-Based Approach: The foundation emphasizes long-term, collaborative partnerships characterized by humility, empathy, and mutual decision-making rather than traditional funder-grantee hierarchies.
  • Diverse Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $500 to $3+ million (median $25,000), the foundation demonstrates flexibility in funding levels based on project needs and organizational capacity.
  • Four Priority Areas: Focus on education, healthcare access, environmental conservation, and community development - particularly supporting community-based initiatives.
  • Growing Grant Activity: The foundation has nearly doubled its number of annual grants from 57 (2019) to 107 (2023), indicating expanding philanthropic reach within their selected communities.

References

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