Litowitz Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 45-4103395
• Assets: $7.6 million (2024)
• Annual Giving: Varies significantly ($8,505 - $2.46 million)
• Geographic Focus: Chicago, Evanston, and Glencoe, IL
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation
• Application Policy: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Litowitz Family Foundation
1001 Green Bay Road, Suite 317
Winnetka, IL 60093

Note: The foundation does not have a public website or published contact email/phone number.

Overview

Established in 2012, the Litowitz Family Foundation is a private family foundation with approximately $7.6 million in assets (as of 2024). Founded by Alec N. Litowitz, CEO and founder of Magnetar Capital, and his wife Jennifer Leischner Litowitz, a Northwestern University alumna and trustee, the foundation conducts highly selective philanthropy focused on the greater Chicago area. The foundation's giving is characterized by deep personal connections to supported organizations, with family members often serving in leadership roles at recipient organizations. While the foundation awarded $2.46 million in grants in 2018, recent years have seen significantly reduced grant-making activity, with only $25,000 awarded in 2023. The foundation operates with a laser-focused approach to local community impact, primarily supporting organizations where the Litowitz family maintains direct involvement through board service or personal connections.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs. All giving is discretionary and directed to pre-selected organizations. Recent documented grants include:

• Erikson Institute: $25,000 (2022-2023) for general administrative purposes
• Major institutional gifts made outside the foundation structure (e.g., $10 million to Northwestern University in 2017, $20 million to Northwestern in 2025)

Priority Areas

The foundation's giving reflects the personal interests and board commitments of Alec and Jennifer Litowitz:

Human Services

• Disability sports and athletic programs for individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments
• Paratriathlon and adaptive sports organizations

Arts & Culture

• Theater, particularly Chicago-area performing arts organizations
• Botanical gardens and cultural institutions
• Ballet and dance companies

Education & Youth

• Financial literacy and youth financial education programs
• All-girls education and women's leadership development
• Creative writing and arts education
• Graduate-level academic programs

Geographic Focus

• Chicago, IL (primary)
• Evanston, IL
• Glencoe, IL
• Winnetka, IL

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the greater Chicago area
• Unsolicited applications from any organization
• Organizations without existing connections to the Litowitz family

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Alec N. Litowitz - Director, President, and Treasurer
Founder and CEO of Magnetar Capital. Graduate of MIT (BS in Mathematics and Anthropology) and University of Chicago (JD, MBA). Board Chair Emeritus of Dare2tri. Discovered his passion for disability sports through his son's involvement in triathlon. Active supporter of University of Chicago's financial education initiatives.

Jennifer Leischner Litowitz - Director and Secretary
Northwestern University alumna (1991, BA in English Literature, Phi Beta Kappa) and current Northwestern Board of Trustees member (appointed 2018). Serves on the Weinberg College Board of Visitors and Parent Leadership Council. Executive committee member and longstanding trustee of Writers Theatre. Partner and Director of Hospitality at Reimagined Ventures. Art collector featured in ARTnews Top 200 Collectors.

Jack A. Litowitz - Director
Son of Alec and Jennifer. Former experience at Blackstone (BSOF special situations investment group) and Magnetar Capital (event-driven and M&A group). Graduate of Middlebury College (BA in Economics and Philosophy, cum laude).

Monica Byrd - Director and CFO (as of 2024 filings)

Leadership Philosophy

According to Inside Philanthropy, the Litowitz family demonstrates a philanthropic approach characterized by:

• Deep personal engagement with supported organizations
• Board-level involvement preceding major gifts
• Family connections driving funding decisions
• Multi-year commitments to aligned organizations
• Strategic focus on organizations where family members can add value beyond funding

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Litowitz Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. According to multiple database sources, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations with which the Litowitz family has established relationships, typically through:

• Board service by family members
• Personal discovery and connection
• Existing institutional relationships
• Direct invitation from the foundation

Getting on Their Radar

Specific Relationship-Building Pathways:

1. Board Connections: Jennifer Litowitz serves on the boards of Northwestern University and Writers Theatre. Alec Litowitz serves as Board Chair Emeritus of Dare2tri. Organizations aligned with these institutions may have indirect pathways to foundation awareness.

2. Magnetar Capital Relationships: Through the Magnetar Capital Foundation and Magnetar Youth Investment Academy, organizations working in youth financial education in Chicago have been supported. The Magnetar Youth Investment Academy reaches Chicago high school classrooms, suggesting potential connections through CPS partnerships.

3. University of Chicago Network: Alec's involvement with the University of Chicago's Division of Physical Sciences (Dean's Council) and financial education initiatives may provide pathways for educational organizations.

4. Personal Discovery Model: The foundation's support of Dare2tri began when Alec's son, a triathlete, met a swimmer with a disability and wanted to help. This suggests the family responds to personal encounters and family-driven interests, though this remains unpredictable.

5. Chicago Arts and Culture Community: Jennifer's deep involvement in Chicago's arts scene, particularly through Writers Theatre and the Chicago Botanic Garden, suggests organizations in these networks may gain visibility.

Important Note: Even with connections, the foundation's recent grant-making has been minimal (only $25,000 in 2023 compared to $2.46 million in 2018), suggesting the family may be directing significant philanthropy through other channels or making large gifts directly to institutions rather than through the foundation.

Documented Grant Recipients

Based on public 990 filings and news sources, confirmed recipients include:

• Dare2tri - Paratriathlon club for athletes with physical disabilities (largest recent recipient)
• Erikson Institute - $25,000 (2022-2023) - Early childhood education graduate programs
• Writers Theatre - Chicago-area performing arts organization
• Chicago Botanic Garden - Horticultural and conservation institution
• Joffrey Ballet - Chicago ballet company
• University of Chicago - Financial education initiatives (through Magnetar Capital Foundation)
• Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago - All-girls public charter school (now closed)
• Northwestern University - Major gifts of $10 million (2017) and $20 million (2025) made directly, not through foundation

Key Characteristics of Funded Organizations

Analysis of the foundation's giving patterns reveals:

1. Chicago Geographic Focus: All documented recipients are based in the greater Chicago area
2. Board Leadership Connection: Family members serve in leadership roles at major recipients (Dare2tri, Writers Theatre, Northwestern)
3. Multi-Year Relationships: Organizations receive sustained support over time rather than one-time grants
4. Mission Alignment with Personal Values: Arts, education, disability inclusion, and youth development
5. Organizational Excellence: Recipients are established, high-performing organizations with strong reputations
6. Capacity for Family Engagement: Organizations where the Litowitz family can contribute expertise beyond funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation is effectively closed to public applications. Do not spend time crafting unsolicited proposals—they will not be considered.

• Relationship precedes funding. Every documented grant has followed established personal or board-level connections between the Litowitz family and the recipient organization.

• Large gifts happen outside the foundation. The Litowitz family's most significant philanthropy (multi-million dollar gifts to Northwestern University) has been made directly rather than through the foundation, suggesting the foundation is used for smaller, discretionary giving.

• Board service signals commitment. Both Alec and Jennifer hold leadership positions at their priority organizations (Dare2tri, Writers Theatre, Northwestern), indicating that board recruitment may be a more relevant pathway than grant seeking.

• Recent activity is minimal. The foundation's grant-making has declined significantly in recent years ($25,000 in 2023 vs. $2.46 million in 2018), suggesting a strategic shift in how the family conducts philanthropy.

• Personal connection matters most. The Dare2tri relationship began through Alec's son's personal experience, illustrating that authentic personal connections drive funding decisions for this family.

• Focus on Chicago's cultural and social service infrastructure. Organizations working in disability services, arts and culture, and youth education in Chicago align with documented giving patterns—but only if they can establish genuine relationships with the family.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Litowitz Family Foundation (EIN 45-4103395). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/454103395 (Accessed February 6, 2026)

2. Inside Philanthropy - "Alec and Jennifer Litowitz." Available at: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/alec-and-jennifer-litowitz (Accessed February 6, 2026)

3. Candid (formerly Foundation Center) - Foundation Directory - Litowitz Family Foundation Profile. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=LITO004 (Accessed February 6, 2026)

4. Northwestern Now - "$10 million gift creates Litowitz Creative Writing Graduate Program" (September 2017). Available at: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2017/september/10-million-gift-creates-litowitz-creative-writing-graduate-program (Accessed February 6, 2026)

5. Giving to Northwestern - "Northwestern Receives $20 Million Gift to Create the Litowitz Center for Enlightened Disagreement" (September 2025). Available at: https://news.giving.northwestern.edu/2025/09/northwestern-receives-20-million-gift-to-create-the-litowitz-center-for-enlightened-disagreement.html (Accessed February 6, 2026)

6. Magnetar Capital - "Magnetar Capital Foundation Donates $5 Million to UChicago." Available at: https://www.magnetar.com/insights/magnetar-capital-foundation-donates-5-million-to-uchicago (Accessed February 6, 2026)

7. University of Chicago News - "Magnetar Capital Foundation donates $5 million for youth financial education." Available at: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/magnetar-capital-foundation-donates-5-million-youth-financial-education (Accessed February 6, 2026)

8. Dare2tri - "Alec Litowitz" Staff/Board Profile. Available at: https://dare2tri.org/staff/alec-litowitz/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

9. Cause IQ - Litowitz Family Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/litowitz-family-foundation,454103395/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

10. Grantmakers.io - Litowitz Family Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/454103395-litowitz-family-foundation/ (Accessed February 6, 2026)

11. Northwestern Now - "Seven named to Northwestern's Board of Trustees" (September 2018). Available at: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2018/september/seven-named-to-northwesterns-board-of-trustees (Accessed February 6, 2026)