Hunter Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Hunter Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes grants by invitation only, so a cold application is not the way in; focus instead on building a relationship or being introduced where possible.
- Its priority areas are Illinois, Chicago, Lake County, Denver, San Francisco, Northern California, Northern Wisconsin, Western North Carolina and Boca Grande, and its themes are education, healthcare, workforce development and the environment, so your work should sit within one of these to be relevant.
- About eight in ten of its 349 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $100,000, with a median grant of $25,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though its largest grant was about $3,050,000.
- Half of its 349 grants across its recent filings were $25,000 or less, which again points to a modest ask for most applicants.
- It looks relationship-led rather than open-competition: 85% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the prior two filings, so organisations without an existing connection should expect this to be a longer-term prospect rather than a quick win.
Overview
Hunter Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, 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 Hunter Family Foundation supports education, healthcare, workforce development and the environment in communities where Hunter family members live, work and have philanthropic interests. Its work is framed around helping families learn, play and grow in their home communities, with equitable opportunities for learning, vibrant and pollution-free natural surroundings, patient-centred healthcare and high-quality food. Its education work includes early childhood, literacy and social-emotional learning, and post-secondary pathways; its environmental work includes stewardship and access to nature. The foundation says it seeks to address root causes and strengthen the systems serving families. It provides grants alongside partnership and leadership, and describes its approach as trust-based, collaborative and community-driven.
Themes
- Education
- Healthcare
- Workforce development
- Environment
Geographic Focus
Priority: Illinois; Chicago; Lake County; Denver; San Francisco; Northern California; Northern Wisconsin; Western North Carolina; Boca Grande.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 85% 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 349 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation prioritises trust-based philanthropy, guided by humility, empathy and genuine collaboration with grantees and partners.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations Hunter Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 138 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ravinia Festival Association · Cso program sponsorship for maxine hunter/the hunter pavilion$3,035,0002024 tax year
- Northwestern Memorial Foundation · Hunter simulation and education center$635,0002024 tax year
- MetroSquash · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- Erie Family Health Center · Healthreach waukegan$200,0002024 tax year
- Northern Illinois Food Bank · General support$175,0002024 tax year
- Greater Chicago Food Depository · General support$175,0002024 tax year
- Environmental Law & Policy Center Midwest · Wetlands public education campaign$150,0002024 tax year
- College of Lake County Foundation · Apprenticeships program$150,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Willard M Hunter — President / Board Chair
- Thomas B Hunter IV — Vice President / Board Member
- Willard K Hunter — Secretary / Board Member
- Peter M Hunter — Treasurer / Board Member
- Frank Baiocchi — Executive Director
- Sara L Hunter — Associate Board Member
- Thomas R Hunter — Board Member
- Tscharner G Hunter — Board Member
- Tscharner R Hunter — Board Member
- Benjamin J Hunter — Board Member
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,989,164 | $3,646,400 | $74,123,457 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,453,122 | $7,256,600 | $322,041,703 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $15,686,171 | $11,199,500 | $427,744,481 | 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 Hunter Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL
- hunterfamilyfoundation.org
Applying to Hunter Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL
- hunterfamilyfoundation.org