Dauten Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work sits in brain health, mental health or bipolar disorder, including research, community support, education or policy, it matches the interests the foundation describes, and a letter is all it asks for.
- Only organisations qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible, so confirm that status before you write.
- Half of its grants to organisations were $350,000 or less, so a request of that order is a sensible starting point, though about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $25,000 and $9,300,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- The filing shows that 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in its previous two filings, so a first approach needs a clear, well-argued letter and the foundation's giving is largely relationship-led.
- It has no deadlines and accepts applications, and the filing states no geographic focus, although its grants have mainly gone to California, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
Overview
Dauten 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 (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (news.nm.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its interest as brain health and science, with an emphasis on bipolar disorder. Its portfolio spans basic neuroscience and translational research, community mental health organisations, educational and stigma-fighting programmes, and policy and advocacy work. It says its mission is to promote mental health and help people living with mental illness lead meaningful, productive and happy lives. That portfolio combines scientific research with community-facing mental health work. It says organisations receiving grants must be qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Themes
- Bipolar disorder
- Basic neuroscience
- Translational research
- Community mental health
- Mental health education
- Stigma reduction
- Policy and advocacy
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
How to apply
A letter is sufficient; there is no standard application form.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 29 grants to organisations were $350,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
1 other state: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 77% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations Dauten Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 11 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $225k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Milken Institute · To further program services$13,591,5102025 tax year
- Fountain House · To further program services$1,955,6942025 tax year
- President And Fellows Of Harvard College · To further program services$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Lurie Children's Hospital Of Chicago · To further program services$728,0002025 tax year
- Josselyn Center · To further program services$500,0002025 tax year
- Boston Children's Hospital · To further program services$225,0002025 tax year
- Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry · To further program services$150,0002025 tax year
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois · To further program services$125,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Katherine Kalpin — Director
- Benjamin Dauten — Director
- Amanda Dauten — Director
- Jenna S Toan — Director / Secretary
- Kent P Dauten — Director / Vice President / Treasurer
- Elizabeth D Dauten — Director / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $14,798,659 | $14,486,976 | $7,817,917 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $22,636,227 | $22,380,372 | $30,388,547 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $18,775,753 | $18,310,204 | $22,763,636 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Dauten Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 219-7970
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Dauten Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 219-7970
- Chicago, IL