Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $8,593,050 (2024)
• Total Assets: $81,345,333
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Average $661,004
• Geographic Focus: Chicago-centric with national reach

Contact Details

• Location: Chicago, IL
• EIN: 47-6858270
• Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds

Overview

The Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust was established in 2015 to honor the legacy of pioneering Chicago entrepreneur Sue Ling Gin, who built Flying Food Group from a single airport kitchen into a $436 million international airline catering company. With assets exceeding $81 million, the foundation receives 100% of Flying Food Group's profits and has distributed over $21 million in grants since 2016. The foundation focuses primarily on Chicago-based initiatives in education, healthcare, public safety, and cultural institutions, with approximately half of its assets directed toward programs aimed at reducing gun violence in Chicago.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes large-scale transformational grants to preselected organizations:

• Major institutional support: $10-21 million multi-year commitments
• Healthcare initiatives: Supporting free health clinics and nursing education
• Education programs: Scholarship funds and educational access initiatives
• Violence prevention: Significant funding for gun violence reduction programs
• Cultural institutions: Support for museums and botanical gardens

Priority Areas

• Gun violence prevention and public safety (approximately 50% of foundation assets)
• Healthcare access and medical research
• Educational opportunities, particularly for first-generation college students
• Immigration rights and legal assistance
• Cultural institutions and public museums
• Support for Chinese American community services

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited grant requests
• Organizations outside their preselected network
• Individual requests

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by two trustees:

• David Cotton - CEO of Flying Food Group, serves without compensation. Cotton has stated: "We are giving sizable amounts of money to charity. That is the way that you maintain the legacy of Sue."
• Robert Hamada - Former Dean and professor of finance at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, receives $45,000 for his role

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 explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the foundation operates through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships, potential grantees should note:

• The foundation maintains strong ties to Chicago institutions where Sue Ling Gin had personal connections
• Focus areas align with Sue Ling Gin's personal interests: education, healthcare, immigrant communities, and Chicago's civic infrastructure
• The foundation partners with established Chicago institutions like DePaul University, Field Museum, Rush University, and the Chinese American Service League

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations that align with these characteristics receive funding:

• Established Chicago institutions with proven track records
• Organizations addressing gun violence and public safety in Chicago
• Institutions serving immigrant communities, particularly Chinese American populations
• Educational programs focused on first-generation college students
• Healthcare initiatives providing free or subsidized services to underserved communities
• Cultural institutions where Sue Ling Gin had personal involvement as a trustee or supporter

Recent Major Grants

• Chicago CRED (2023): $21 million over three years for gun violence prevention programs
• Field Museum (2023): $20 million to sustain education initiatives, resulting in the naming of the Sue Ling Gin Center for Education and Public Programs
• University of Chicago Crime Lab/Civic Committee (2024): $15 million for Chicago Police Department supervisor training programs
• Chinese American Service League: $10 million for community care model expansion in South Loop
• DePaul University: $10 million for the Sue Gin Scholars Initiative supporting first-generation college students

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals
• The foundation makes transformational gifts ($10+ million) to established institutions
• Strong preference for Chicago-based organizations, particularly those addressing gun violence
• Foundation honors Sue Ling Gin's immigrant heritage through support of diversity and education access
• Funding decisions are made by two trustees with deep Chicago connections
• Organizations must have existing relationships or connections to be considered
• Focus on demonstrating long-term systemic impact rather than short-term programs

References

• Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust 990 Report, Instrumentl (Accessed January 2025)
• "Flying Food Group CEO on The Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust," Southland Marquee (Accessed January 2025)
• "Sue Ling Gin Foundation commits $21 million to Chicago CRED," Philanthropy News Digest, November 2023
• "$15M Gift from Sue Ling Gin Foundation Will Help Reduce Gun Violence," University of Chicago Crime Lab, 2024
• "Field Museum Receives $20 Million Gift in Memory of Sue Ling Gin," Field Museum Press Release, October 2023
• "$10 million gift to DePaul University creates premier scholarship program," DePaul University Press Release
• "Sue Gin, 1941-2014: Entrepreneur launched airline catering business," Chicago Tribune, September 2014
• Foundation Directory, Candid (Accessed January 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Sue Ling Gin Foundation Trust (Accessed January 2025)