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Dunham Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.3M
Grant Range
Up to $1.0M00
Decision Time
3mo
0

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,284,486 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 30 days for grants ≤$50,000; June 30/October 30 for larger grants
  • Grant Range: Up to $1,000,000 (generally one-year grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Aurora, Illinois area (Kane, DuPage, and Kendall counties)

Contact Details

Overview

The Dunham Foundation was established in 1996 by John C. Dunham, founder of the renowned Aurora-based manufacturing company Equipto, to "make the world a more comfortable, safer place for mankind to live and prosper." The foundation became active in 2007 following John's death in 2006. Converted from the Dunham Fund in 2021, the foundation has since provided over $54 million in 675 grants to 208 nonprofits as of 2022. In 2023, the foundation awarded 39 grants totaling approximately $3.3 million. The foundation prioritizes innovative, collaborative programs that create measurable and permanent impact through startup support of new or uniquely enhanced educational and community development programs and capital projects. In 2024, the foundation launched the Ready for the Future Initiative with $2 million in grants to transform education in the Aurora area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Dunham Foundation offers five distinct grant categories:

  • Education Grants: Focused on educational initiatives (Deadline: February 1)
  • General Grants (over $50,000): Two-stage process with Letter of Intent required (Deadlines: February 1 and June 1)
  • Abbreviated Grants ($50,000 or less): Streamlined application process (Deadline: October 1)
  • Sponsorship Requests: Support for events and programs (Deadline: October 1)
  • Capacity Building Grants: Organizational development support (Deadline: October 1)

Grants are ordinarily made for one year only and are generally limited to $1 million. The foundation encourages matching funds and challenge grants.

Priority Areas

The foundation invests in three key areas:

  • Education: Investment in education as the foundation for child success; accelerating academic achievement and addressing learning loss in local school districts
  • Economic Growth: Building economic opportunities and supporting workforce development initiatives
  • Community Development: Creating equitable access to community resources; supporting youth services, mental health programs, and social services

The foundation gives preference to organizations within the defined service area bounded by Illinois State Route 38 (north), U.S. Route 34 (south), Illinois State Route 59 (east), and Illinois State Route 47 (west), though applicants outside this area may be considered if the project significantly impacts the service area.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not explicitly detailed on their website, the foundation requires organizations to be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status, and projects must align with their three priority areas of education, economic growth, and community development.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Robert Vaughan - Chair
  • Theodia Gillespie - Vice Chair & Treasurer
  • Ryan Maley - Secretary
  • Stewart Beach - Board Member
  • Michael Morcos - Board Member
  • Mark Truemper - Board Member

Management Team

  • Vicki Morcos - President & CEO
  • Lindsay Cochrane - Program Director
  • Holly Sambucetti - Administrative Manager

The foundation describes its board as "a diverse board of visionary leaders committed to promoting a strong and vibrant Greater Aurora Area that affords every resident opportunity."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Dunham Foundation accepts applications through an online grant portal on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year. The application process varies by grant amount:

For grants over $50,000:

  1. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the online portal by February 1 (Cycle 1) or June 1 (Cycle 2)
  2. If invited, submit a full proposal
  3. Review the Grant Application Guidelines before beginning the online process

For grants of $50,000 or less:

  1. Submit an Abbreviated Application directly through the online portal
  2. Deadline: October 1 (applications submitted after this date will not be considered until the following calendar year)

All grant types:

  • Organizations must first contact the Program Director at info@dunhamfoundation.org
  • Download and review the Grant Application Guidelines before proceeding
  • The online portal features intuitive applications with in-form commenting for real-time communication with Foundation staff

Decision Timeline

For grants over $50,000:

  • All applicants receive notification by June 30 (Cycle 1) or October 30 (Cycle 2)
  • Two-stage process: LOI review followed by invitation to submit full proposal

For grants of $50,000 or less:

  • Board of Directors reviews applications
  • Notification within 30 days of submission

Upon approval:

  • Program Director sends notification with award letter and grant agreement
  • Final report required after project completion

Success Rates

The foundation made 39 awards in 2023 and 38 awards in 2022. In September 2024, the Ready for the Future Initiative reviewed applications totaling nearly $6 million before selecting four organizations to receive $2 million. Specific overall success rates and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated on the foundation's website. Interested organizations should contact the Program Director at info@dunhamfoundation.org for guidance on reapplication procedures.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and recent grant-making patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Mission: Projects must "measurably and permanently impact" the Aurora service area through "startup support of new or uniquely enhanced educational and community development programs and capital projects." The foundation explicitly prioritizes:

  • Innovative programs
  • Collaborative efforts
  • Potentially self-sustaining initiatives
  • Programs addressing documented community needs

Recent Funding Examples: The Ready for the Future Initiative (2024) selected four organizations demonstrating these principles:

  • Lutheran Child and Family Services: Expanded All Youth Leadership Project in partnership with East Aurora School District's Resilience Center
  • NIU's P-20 Network: "In the Workplace Aurora" training program equipping businesses to provide work-based learning for high school and community college students
  • SciTech: Project Elevate—expanding hands-on STEM learning through a dedicated makerspace (The Next Level Lab) for youth ages 11-18
  • 360 Youth Services: Mental Health Juvenile Justice program (2025 grant)

Application Quality Indicators:

  • Clear demonstration of how the project addresses documented community needs
  • Evidence of innovation or unique enhancement to existing programs
  • Plans for collaboration with other organizations
  • Pathways to sustainability beyond the grant period
  • Focus on education, economic growth, or community development
  • Measurable outcomes and impact metrics

Enhanced Application Features: The foundation offers "in-form commenting to communicate with Foundation staff in real time" through their online portal, suggesting they value dialogue and clarification during the application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Know the threshold: Grants over $50,000 require a two-stage Letter of Intent process with specific cycle deadlines (Feb 1/June 1), while grants of $50,000 or less use a streamlined Abbreviated Application with faster turnaround (30 days vs. months)
  • Geographic focus is critical: Strong preference for organizations within the defined Aurora service area (bounded by Routes 38, 34, 59, and 47), though compelling projects serving this area from outside may be considered
  • Innovation and collaboration matter: The foundation explicitly seeks "innovative" and "collaborative" programs—demonstrate how your project breaks new ground or brings partners together
  • Sustainability is valued: Projects should be "potentially self-sustaining" beyond the initial grant period—show your sustainability plan
  • Leverage the portal: Use the online portal's in-form commenting feature to clarify questions with foundation staff in real-time during application development
  • Timing matters: October 1 is the final submission date for the calendar year; applications after this date roll to the following year
  • Foundation legacy: Understanding John C. Dunham's entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to Aurora demonstrates respect for the foundation's origins—he grew Equipto into a global business while remaining deeply committed to his hometown

References

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