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Wayne And Nan Kocourek Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.6M
Grant Range
$250K - $1.5M

Wayne And Nan Kocourek Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,648,270 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $124.9 million (2024)
  • Number of Grants: Approximately 32 awards annually
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process
  • Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Illinois, Iowa, Hawaii, and Montana
  • Tax Status: Private foundation (established 2015)

Contact Details

Address: 750 W Lake Cook Rd Ste 460, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Wayne And Nan Kocourek Foundation was established in 2015 by Wayne C. Kocourek, founder and CEO of Mid Oaks Investments LLC, and his wife Nan Parks Kocourek. With assets exceeding $124 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $8.6 million, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking organization supporting cancer research, hospital initiatives, children's programs, animal welfare, and arts and culture. The foundation is led by Nan Kocourek as CEO, with Wayne serving as trustee. Their philanthropic approach emphasizes transformative gifts to organizations aligned with their personal values and connections, including healthcare institutions, military veteran support, animal welfare, and youth development programs. Recent major initiatives include an 85-acre land donation to Big Sky Bravery in Montana (2024) and a $1.5 million gift to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal, named grant programs. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Grant Range: While specific grant ranges are not published, documented gifts include:

  • Major transformative gifts: $750,000 - $1,500,000+
  • Healthcare infrastructure: $1,500,000 (HallMar Village)
  • Multi-organization giving: $750,000 divided among three organizations ($250,000 each)
  • Endowment support: Undisclosed endowment to PAWS Chicago
  • Land donations: 85 acres valued in millions (Big Sky Bravery)

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and foundation statements, funding priorities include:

Healthcare & Medical Research

  • Cancer research initiatives
  • Hospital capital projects and equipment
  • Cardiac care units
  • Neurology programs
  • Medical center infrastructure

Military & Veterans Support

  • Special Operations Forces programs
  • Post-deployment decompression initiatives
  • Family support services for military personnel

Animal Welfare

  • No-kill animal shelters
  • Veterinary medical centers
  • Animal welfare endowments

Children & Youth Development

  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Children's therapy and mental health services
  • Youth-serving nonprofit organizations

Arts & Culture

  • Cultural institutions (specific recipients not detailed in public records)

Geographic Preferences

While the foundation is based in Illinois, grants have been documented in:

  • Illinois: PAWS Chicago, local initiatives
  • Iowa: Cedar Rapids nonprofits (Mercy Medical Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, Tanager Place, Waypoint)
  • Hawaii: Maui Health (cardiac care and neurology)
  • Montana: Big Sky Bravery

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's policy of funding only preselected organizations effectively excludes:

  • Unsolicited applications from any organization
  • Organizations without established connections to the trustees

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Nan Kocourek, CEO

  • Compensation: $150,000 annually
  • Leads day-to-day foundation operations
  • Active in identifying and supporting healthcare initiatives
  • Quoted as believing "it's important to invest in specialty care" in communities

Wayne C. Kocourek, Trustee

  • Founder and CEO of Mid Oaks Investments LLC (established 1997)
  • Professional background includes Arthur Andersen & Co (11 years), Nekoosa Papers (Director of Finance), and CFO of a public building materials company
  • Holds accounting degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  • Former U.S. Army Ordnance Corps officer
  • Principal investing experience since 1986
  • Serves on Big Sky Bravery Board of Directors

Grantmaking Philosophy

Based on documented statements and giving patterns:

Wayne Kocourek on supporting Big Sky Bravery: "Once they learned about the Big Sky Bravery mission, they immediately felt the need to support the program." This reflects their approach of mission-driven giving based on personal connection and immediate conviction.

The foundation's giving demonstrates a preference for:

  • Transformative, capital-intensive projects
  • Endowment support for long-term sustainability
  • Healthcare infrastructure and specialty care
  • Organizations supporting underserved populations
  • Causes with personal family connections (e.g., introduced to Big Sky Bravery through Nan's son, Hunter Parks)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Wayne And Nan Kocourek Foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and initiative
  • Personal connections and relationships
  • Board member identification of worthy causes
  • Direct solicitation by the foundation (not by applicants)

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's documented giving patterns reveal specific pathways through which organizations have received support:

Personal Connections Through Family and Board Service

  • Wayne Kocourek serves on the Big Sky Bravery Board of Directors, leading to the foundation's 85-acre land donation
  • Nan's son, Hunter Parks, introduced the Kocoureks to Big Sky Bravery after providing his Montana homes for program lodging
  • This suggests board involvement and family network connections are significant pathways

Geographic and Personal Ties

  • The Kocoureks maintain residences in Chicago and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and have vacation ties to Maui
  • Organizations in their communities of residence and recreation (Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Montana) have received support
  • Healthcare institutions in communities where they have property or connections (Maui Health, Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids) have benefited

Demonstrated Impact in Foundation Priority Areas

  • Organizations with established reputations in cancer research, hospital care, military veteran support, animal welfare, and youth development align with documented interests
  • The foundation appears to favor organizations capable of receiving and deploying large transformative gifts ($250,000+)

Important Note: Given the foundation's explicit policy against unsolicited applications, traditional outreach strategies are not appropriate. Organizations aligned with the foundation's priorities should focus on excellence in their mission areas, as the foundation identifies and approaches grant recipients rather than responding to proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, decision timelines are determined by trustee discretion rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications, so traditional success rate metrics cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept applications, understanding what motivates their giving can provide insight:

Alignment with Personal Values and Experiences The Kocoureks' giving reflects deep personal connections to causes:

  • Support for Special Operations Forces stems from appreciation for military sacrifice
  • Healthcare giving focuses on specialty care in communities where they have homes
  • Animal welfare support through PAWS Chicago demonstrates commitment to no-kill missions with endowment-level support

Capacity for Transformative Impact Documented grants suggest preference for:

  • Organizations that can effectively deploy six-figure and seven-figure gifts
  • Capital projects with naming opportunities (PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center, Wayne and Nan Kocourek Neighborhood at HallMar Village)
  • Infrastructure development that creates lasting impact
  • Endowment support ensuring perpetual operations

Mission-Driven Organizations with Clear Impact Wayne Kocourek's statement about Big Sky Bravery - that upon learning about the mission, "they immediately felt the need to support the program" - suggests the foundation values:

  • Clear, compelling mission statements
  • Demonstrated impact on underserved populations
  • Organizations addressing critical needs (post-deployment mental health, specialty medical care, youth development)

Strategic Positioning in Communities of Connection Organizations in the Kocoureks' sphere of personal connection have received support:

  • Chicago area (primary residence)
  • Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (lake home)
  • Maui, Hawaii (vacation destination)
  • Cedar Rapids, Iowa (possible family connections)
  • Big Sky, Montana (recreational connections through family)

Relationship-Based Pathways

  • Board service by Wayne Kocourek created the pathway for Big Sky Bravery support
  • Family introduction (through Nan's son) facilitated the Big Sky Bravery relationship
  • Sustained relationships with healthcare institutions (multiple gifts to Maui Health over time)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a prospect for traditional grant applications - The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals, making traditional grant writing efforts inappropriate
  • Relationship pathways are essential - All documented grants stem from personal connections, board service, geographic ties, or family networks rather than competitive application processes
  • Think transformatively - The foundation makes substantial gifts ($250,000 to multi-million dollar range) to organizations capable of deploying large-scale funding for infrastructure and endowment
  • Geographic proximity matters - Organizations in communities where the Kocoureks maintain homes or recreational properties (Chicago, Lake Geneva, Maui, Cedar Rapids, Big Sky) have received support
  • Mission alignment is immediate and personal - The foundation appears to make quick decisions based on strong mission alignment rather than lengthy evaluation processes
  • Capital projects and naming opportunities - Multiple grants support infrastructure development with recognition naming (medical centers, neighborhoods)
  • Focus on organizational excellence - Rather than pursuing this funder, organizations should concentrate on mission excellence in the foundation's interest areas (healthcare, military veterans, animal welfare, youth development), as the foundation identifies worthy recipients proactively

References

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