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Dauten Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.5M
Grant Range
$25K - $9.3M

Dauten Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14,486,976 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $9,284,500
  • Geographic Focus: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and New York City

Contact Details

Address: 155 N Wacker Dr Ste 4150, Chicago, IL 60606-1788
Phone: 312-219-7970
Contact Person: Kent P. Dauten (Director/VP/Treasurer)
EIN: 46-5053786

The foundation does not appear to have a public website or email address. Contact should be made through the phone number provided.

Overview

The Dauten Family Foundation was established by Kent and Liz Dauten of Chicago as a private family foundation focused on mental health and brain science. With total assets of approximately $5.5 million and annual giving of over $14 million (2023), the foundation has positioned itself as one of the leading national investors in brain health and science with particular emphasis on bipolar disorder. The foundation's work stems from personal experience after two of the Dautens' four children were diagnosed with bipolar disorder as teenagers. The foundation employs a comprehensive portfolio approach ranging from investing in basic neuroscience to translational research, community mental health organizations, educational and stigma-fighting programs, and policy and advocacy work. The foundation's mission is to not only promote mental health but to ensure that those who suffer from mental illnesses can lead meaningful, productive, and happy lives. In recent years, the foundation has made transformational gifts including $25 million to Northwestern Medicine in 2025 and served as a founding partner in the $150 million BD² (Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder) initiative alongside the Brin and Baszucki families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have publicly defined grant programs with fixed application cycles. Based on Form 990 data, the foundation made 10 grants in 2023 with a median grant amount of $294,785.

Grant Size Range: $25,000 to $9,284,500

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses exclusively on mental health and brain science with the following emphasis areas:

  • Bipolar Disorder Research: Basic neuroscience research to understand the genetic and biological underpinnings of bipolar disorder
  • Clinical Treatment Innovation: Clinical trials of medications, devices, and psychosocial treatments for bipolar disorder and related conditions
  • Community Mental Health Organizations: Support for organizations providing direct services and support to individuals with mental illness
  • Education and Stigma Reduction: Programs that educate the public and fight stigma associated with mental illness
  • Policy and Advocacy: Work to advance policies supporting mental health research and treatment access
  • Peer Support: Training and certification of peer specialists with lived experience of mental illness

Geographic Focus: The foundation supports organizations in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and New York City, with documented grants also going to organizations in Arlington, Cambridge, Des Plaines, Los Angeles, Northfield, Rutherford, and Santa Monica.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's exclusive focus on mental health and brain science (particularly bipolar disorder) indicates they do not fund outside this area. The foundation appears to prioritize research institutions, medical centers, and established mental health organizations over grassroots or general social service organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Kent P. Dauten - Director, Vice President, and Treasurer
Kent is Chairman of Keystone Capital Chicago, which he co-founded in 1994. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School ('79) and has made bipolar disorder and mental health his top volunteer and philanthropic priorities due to family experience. He has served on the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) board of directors since 2018. Kent has spoken publicly about the foundation's work, stating: "It was a lightning bolt when we learned that two of our four children had developed Bipolar Disorder. Over time our focus expanded from what we could be doing to get better treatment and better solutions to how to help young people with Bipolar Disorder not only get healthy but also lead purposeful and meaningful lives."

Regarding the decision to publicly attach the family name to their giving to fight stigma, Kent explained: "Our name is their name, too. We all agreed, if we're not willing to put our name on this, what does that say about our small part in the battle to fight that stigma?"

Elizabeth (Liz) D. Dauten - Director and President
Liz works alongside Kent in the foundation's philanthropic efforts. She has explained their approach to giving: "We have been blessed with more than we can personally use, and we want to help others."

All board members serve without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dauten Family Foundation accepts unsolicited applications according to foundation profile data, but does not maintain a public website, online application portal, or published application guidelines.

Given the lack of formal application infrastructure and the foundation's pattern of making large, strategic gifts to major research institutions and established organizations, prospective applicants should:

  1. Contact the foundation directly at 312-219-7970 to inquire about funding priorities and application procedures
  2. Submit a letter of inquiry to the foundation's address describing your organization and proposed project
  3. Ensure strong alignment with the foundation's focus on bipolar disorder and mental health before approaching

The foundation's giving pattern suggests a preference for:

  • Major research institutions (Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, Northwestern Medicine)
  • Established national mental health organizations (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)
  • Collaborative initiatives with other major funders
  • Organizations with demonstrated expertise in bipolar disorder or serious mental illness

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented. Given the foundation's practice of making substantial strategic investments, prospective grantees should anticipate a potentially lengthy review process for significant funding requests.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volume data are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Interested organizations should inquire directly with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Dauten Family Foundation's documented giving patterns and public statements, the following factors appear most critical for funding consideration:

1. Direct Focus on Bipolar Disorder
The foundation has established itself as a leading funder specifically for bipolar disorder. Kent Dauten has noted: "The fact of the matter is that the resources that have been dedicated to bipolar are just embarrassingly small." Organizations working specifically on bipolar disorder (rather than general mental health) appear to have the strongest alignment.

2. Comprehensive Approach Across the Research-to-Practice Continuum
The foundation explicitly uses a "portfolio approach ranging from investing in basic neuroscience to translational research, to community mental health organizations, to educational and stigma fighting programs, to policy and advocacy work." Applications should clearly articulate where they fit in this continuum.

3. Innovation and Treatment Advancement
The foundation's major gifts have supported centers and initiatives explicitly focused on "treatment innovation" and "breakthrough discoveries." Kent Dauten stated their "wildest dream is for scientists to be able to understand the genetic piece of it and develop therapies, even beyond that, we hope to see the development of personalized therapies that might be specific to individual patients."

4. Stigma Reduction and Lived Experience
The Dautens have publicly attached their family name to their giving specifically to fight stigma. Programs that combat stigma, incorporate lived experience perspectives, or support individuals with bipolar disorder to lead "meaningful, productive and happy lives" align with stated priorities. The foundation supports the Dauten Scholarship Fund, which provides free training for peer specialists with lived experience.

5. Institutional Credibility and Research Excellence
Major grant recipients include Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Northwestern Medicine. The foundation appears to value partnerships with leading research institutions and organizations with established track records in mental health.

6. Geographic Location in Priority Cities
While the foundation has supported organizations across the United States, documented priority cities are Boston, Chicago, and New York City.

7. Collaborative Potential
The Dautens co-founded BD² with the Brin and Baszucki families, indicating interest in collaborative funding models and partnerships with other major philanthropists working on mental health.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Bipolar disorder focus is essential: This is not a general mental health funder. The foundation's entire portfolio centers on bipolar disorder and related brain science.

  • Think strategically about the portfolio approach: Position your organization's work clearly within the foundation's framework of basic research, translational research, community services, education/stigma reduction, or policy/advocacy.

  • Contact first, apply second: Without public application guidelines, initial contact by phone or letter of inquiry is necessary to understand current priorities and application procedures.

  • Emphasize innovation and treatment advancement: The foundation seeks to advance the field, not simply maintain existing services. Highlight what is new, innovative, or breakthrough-oriented about your work.

  • Large grants are possible: With grants ranging up to $9.2 million and a median of nearly $300,000, this foundation makes substantial investments in aligned organizations.

  • Geographic alignment matters: Priority cities are Boston, Chicago, and New York City, though the foundation has supported work in other locations.

  • Lived experience and stigma reduction resonate: The foundation's personal connection to bipolar disorder and public commitment to fighting stigma suggest these themes should be woven throughout applications where relevant.

References

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