The Northern Trust Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes general operating support and programme grants to organisations serving young people aged 16 to 24 in Chicago's South and West Sides, with priorities in food security, affordable housing, educational excellence and accessible healthcare, so work outside these areas is unlikely to fit.
- Its stated grant range is $10,000 to $50,000, and the filing reports $3,339,000 paid out, so a modest request within that range is a sensible starting point.
- Begin with a Letter of Inquiry during a stated grant cycle, since only organisations the foundation judges eligible are invited to submit a full online application.
- Do not apply if you are not a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charity, if you are less than three years old, or if you seek multi-year funding, capital campaigns, endowments, event sponsorship, or support for individuals.
- Organisations that receive funding for three consecutive years must sit out one year before applying again, so plan for that gap.
Overview
The Northern Trust Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Northern Trust Foundation provides general operating support and programme grants for organisations serving young people aged 16–24 in Chicago’s South and West Sides. It focuses on low-income youth and essential human needs, with priorities in food security, affordable housing, educational excellence and accessible healthcare. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt charitable organisations under section 501(c)(3) that provide direct services to young people in the area. Its approach emphasises removing barriers to stable housing, education and healthcare, alongside access to food and nutrition assistance. Organisations may receive funding for three consecutive years, followed by a one-year period when they are ineligible to apply.
Themes
- Food security
- Affordable housing
- Educational excellence
- Accessible healthcare
Geographic Focus
Priority: Chicago's South and West Sides.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations that are not tax-exempt nonprofit, charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Organizations discriminating based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status, political affiliation, US Armed Forces service, disability, or any other classification protected by law
- Organizations less than three-years old
- Multi-year funding requests
- Event sponsorship, fundraising events and campaigns (e.g., galas, golf tournaments, awards ceremonies, raffles, runs/walks, auction purchase, memorial campaigns, etc.)
- Single-disease-specific projects
- Capital campaigns or endowments
- Individuals, including those seeking scholarships or fellowship assistance
- Religious organizations for sectarian purposes
- Requests focused primarily on advocacy or research
- Individual K-12 schools
- Fraternal groups
- Travel-related events unless specific to a qualifying program or project request
- Advertising or marketing activities unless specific to a qualifying program or project request
- Political, labor, or civic clubs (this includes advocacy, government agency, and political entities)
- Development or production of books, films, videos, or television programs
- Any organization not aligned with our corporate values or could involve Northern Trust in controversial issues
How to apply
Organisations first submit a Letter of Inquiry. If the foundation deems an organisation eligible, it emails an invitation to submit the full application online.
Deadlines: Letters of Inquiry are submitted during stated grant cycles.
Application success factors
What the foundation says:
- It prioritizes programs that increase access to, awareness of, and participation in free food distribution programs and services.
- It gives highest priority to programs that move young people efficiently into permanent housing solutions.
- It prioritizes programs supporting low-income students to and through college, including trade schools, and removing barriers to that progress.
- It prioritizes free or sliding-scale access to physical or mental healthcare.
Officers and directors
- Michael G O'Grady — Director
- Lauren Allnutt — Treasurer
- Shana Hayes — Director / Secretary
- Kelly M Mannard — Director / President
- Connie L Lindsey — Director
- Steven L Fradkin — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,995,285 | $3,995,220 | $11,283,703 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,538,350 | $2,531,830 | $12,560,100 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,710,194 | $3,339,000 | $81,611,498 | Filing for 2024 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 The Northern Trust Foundation?
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Applying to The Northern Trust Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required