Reinhardt H & Shirley R Jahn Foundation Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $900,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: At trustee discretion
• Grant Range: $15,000 - $260,000
• Geographic Focus: Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington

Contact Details

• Website: Not available
• Phone: Not publicly listed
• Email: Not publicly listed
• Address: Chicago/Evanston, IL

Overview

The Reinhardt H & Shirley R Jahn Foundation Trust is a private foundation established by Reinhardt H. Jahn (1924-2002) and his wife Shirley R. Jahn. With assets of approximately $16.7 million, the foundation distributes around $900,000 annually to preselected charitable organizations. Reinhardt Jahn was the former president of Chicago Metallic Corporation, a family-owned business established in 1893 that was owned by the Jahn family from 1937 until its acquisition by ROCKWOOL Group in 2013. The foundation continues the Jahn family's legacy of philanthropy in the Chicago area and beyond, supporting education, arts and culture, and community development initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation awards 7-9 grants annually through trustee discretion:

• Individual grants typically range from $15,000 to $260,000
• Total annual distribution approximately $900,000
• All grants awarded to preselected organizations

Priority Areas

• Education
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
• Arts, Culture & Humanities
• Community development and youth services

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a private trust with trustees who exercise full discretion in selecting grant recipients. The foundation was established by Reinhardt H. Jahn, who served as president of Chicago Metallic Corporation, and his wife Shirley R. Jahn. The Jahn family has maintained strong ties to Chicago-area philanthropic institutions, with the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs establishing "The Reinhardt & Shirley Jahn Society" to recognize major donors of $10,000 or more.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified and chosen to support.

Decision Timeline

Grant decisions are made at the trustees' discretion without a public timeline. The foundation typically awards 7-9 grants per year based on recent filing patterns.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations supported by the foundation are identified and selected by the trustees based on:

• Alignment with the foundation's historic giving patterns in education, arts, and community development
• Geographic presence in Illinois, Wisconsin, or Washington
• Established track record and reputation in their field
• Existing relationships or connections to the foundation's trustees

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Jahn Foundation is an active grant maker distributing approximately $900,000 annually
• They do not accept unsolicited applications - all grants are made to preselected organizations
• Focus areas include education, arts and culture, and community development
• Geographic preference for Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington
• The foundation has strong historic ties to Chicago-area institutions, particularly youth-serving organizations
• Building relationships with trustees or current grantees may be the only path to eventual consideration
• Organizations like Union League Boys & Girls Clubs have received long-term support

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Reinhardt H & Shirley R Jahn Foundation Trust profile and Form 990 data (accessed February 2025)
• Grantmakers.io - Foundation profile and grant statistics (accessed February 2025)
• Instrumentl - Foundation overview and funding data (accessed February 2025)
• Charity Navigator - Foundation listing (accessed February 2025)
• Cause IQ - Foundation profile and financial data (accessed February 2025)
• Union League Boys & Girls Clubs 2018 Annual Report - Reinhardt & Shirley Jahn Society listing
• Legacy.com - Reinhardt H. Jahn obituary (2002)
• Chicago Tribune archives - Chicago Metallic Corporation history