James S & Paula H Crown Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $42,634,523 (2024)
• Total Assets: $4,100,431 (2024)
• Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Chicago, IL with some national/international reach
• Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)
• Related Entity: Part of the broader Crown family philanthropic network

Contact Details

Address: 222 N La Salle St Ste 2000, Chicago, IL 60601-1109

Related Organization: Crown Family Philanthropies

• Website: https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/
• Phone: (312) 750-6671
• Email: [email protected] (for current grantees only)

Note: The James S & Paula H Crown Family Foundation (EIN: 93-6551492) is a separate entity from Crown Family Philanthropies (EIN: 36-3330462), though both are part of the Crown family's philanthropic network.

Overview

The James S & Paula H Crown Family Foundation was established through the estate of James Schine Crown (1953-2023), a prominent Chicago business leader and philanthropist who served as Chairman and CEO of Henry Crown and Company. The foundation is now managed by Paula H. Crown and her children—Victoria, Hayley, William Andrew, and Summer Crown—who serve as trustees.

Despite having minimal staff and assets relative to its annual giving ($4.1 million in assets versus $42.6 million distributed in 2024), the foundation demonstrates substantial philanthropic impact through estate-funded charitable distributions. The foundation operates as part of the broader Crown family philanthropic ecosystem, which has over 75 years of grantmaking history rooted in the Jewish principle of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

James Crown's philanthropic legacy centered on education, Jewish causes, arts and culture, gun violence prevention, and civic leadership, particularly in Chicago. His widow Paula Crown is a noted artist, educator, and philanthropist who has championed arts education, children's health, and progressive educational initiatives. The foundation continues this legacy through trustee-directed grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Historical Focus Areas (Based on Crown Family Legacy)

While specific grant programs for this foundation are not publicly documented, the Crown family's historical giving priorities include:

Education

• University of Chicago (major gifts including $75 million for the Crown Family School of Social Work)
• Urban education initiatives and Chicago Public Schools programs
• Arts integration in public education
• Early childhood education
• Higher education access and equity

Arts & Culture

• Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Arts education partnerships with public schools
• Theaster Gates collaborations
• Yo-Yo Ma educational initiatives

Jewish Causes & Israel

• Jewish United Fund
• Covenant Foundation
• Israel education and innovation programs
• Hebrew University (including brain sciences research)
• Programs supporting underrepresented populations in Israel's tech sector

Social Justice & Community Development

• Gun violence prevention initiatives
• Homelessness prevention
• Community-based health initiatives
• Programs serving communities of color in Chicago

Health & Human Services

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital (Crown Sky Garden)
• Brain sciences research
• Community health programs

What They Don't Fund

Based on the Crown family's documented priorities:

• Organizations outside their strategic focus areas
• Projects without clear connection to Chicago or their established interests
• General operating support to organizations they don't already support
• Unsolicited proposals (they do not accept public applications)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Paula H. Crown - Trustee (widow of James S. Crown; artist, educator, philanthropist)
• Victoria Crown - Trustee (daughter)
• Hayley Crown - Trustee (daughter)
• William Andrew H. Crown - Trustee (son)
• Summer Crown - Trustee (daughter)

All trustees serve without compensation.

About the Crown Family

James S. Crown (1953-2023) was a transformative figure in Chicago philanthropy, serving on numerous boards including the University of Chicago (where he was Board Chair), the Museum of Contemporary Art, and various civic organizations. He was deeply committed to education, Jewish causes, and addressing gun violence in Chicago.

Paula Crown is an accomplished artist with an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been instrumental in developing innovative arts education models and served on President Obama's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (2009). She chairs the Education Committee at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and has championed projects like the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park and the Crown Sky Garden at Lurie Children's Hospital.

Quote from Crown Family Philanthropies: "From generation to generation, we work together with our communities, in the spirit of tikkun olam, to catalyze and advance just and lasting social impact."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The James S & Paula H Crown Family Foundation operates through trustee discretion, with grants awarded based on the trustees' strategic priorities and existing relationships.

The foundation is supported by the Estate of James Schine Crown and makes grants based on decisions by Paula Crown and her children, who collectively determine funding priorities. Unlike foundations that accept proposals, this foundation proactively identifies organizations aligned with the Crown family's philanthropic values and legacy.

Related Opportunity: Crown Family Philanthropies

Organizations interested in Crown family support may want to be aware of Crown Family Philanthropies (the broader family foundation), though it also operates on an invitation-only basis. Crown Family Philanthropies:

• Does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals
• Proactively identifies organizations aligned with their nine "Lead Pursuits"
• Focuses on six program areas: Education, Environment, Global Health, Gun Violence Prevention, Health & Human Services, and Jewish Community & Israel
• Current grantees can contact [email protected] with questions

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Crown Family's Philanthropic Values

While this foundation doesn't accept applications, organizations seeking to align with Crown family values should understand their documented priorities:

1. Commitment to Chicago "While CFP partners with communities across the country and around the world, our deep focus on Chicago has remained central across decades of family leadership." Organizations with strong Chicago roots and impact have historically been prioritized.

2. Focus on Equity and Justice The Crown family has emphasized racial equity, particularly in addressing systemic opportunity gaps for Black and Latine communities in Chicago. Projects demonstrating clear equity outcomes resonate with their values.

3. Systems-Level Change The family supports organizations working on systemic solutions rather than just direct services. Examples include the Crown Family School of Social Work's research on youth violence prevention and Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention.

4. Arts Integration Paula Crown has championed arts education as integral to comprehensive learning. The Arts and Education Partnership she helped develop brings together Theaster Gates, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to integrate arts throughout the school day.

5. Jewish Values and Tikkun Olam The Crown family's philanthropy is deeply rooted in the principle of "repairing the world." Organizations that demonstrate commitment to community betterment and social responsibility align with these values.

6. Partnership and Collaboration Crown Family Philanthropies emphasizes "trusting, responsive partnership" and works with organizations that demonstrate strong collaborative networks and anchor institution status.

7. Proven Track Record Historical grants have gone to established organizations with demonstrated impact, such as the University of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Jewish United Fund, and Chicago Public Schools Foundation.

Recent Grantee Examples (Crown Family Philanthropies Network)

Organizations that have received Crown family support include:

• Education: University of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools Foundation, Children First Fund, Partnership for College Completion, City Year, National Louis University, Ingenuity Incorporated
• Gun Violence: Chicago CRED, Choose to Change
• Homelessness/Housing: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Sarah's Circle
• Environment: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Friends of the Chicago River, Elevate Energy
• Jewish Causes: Jewish United Fund, Covenant Foundation, Israel Education Resource Center, Israel Policy Forum
• Arts: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Steppenwolf Theater, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates entirely through trustee discretion based on the family's established relationships and priorities.

2. Part of Broader Network: While distinct from Crown Family Philanthropies, this foundation is part of the Crown family's extensive philanthropic ecosystem spanning over 75 years and multiple generations.

3. Estate-Funded: Supported by James S. Crown's estate, this foundation makes substantial charitable distributions ($42.6 million in 2024) despite modest assets, suggesting significant estate transfers for grantmaking.

4. Chicago-Centric: The Crown family maintains deep commitment to Chicago, particularly organizations serving communities of color, addressing gun violence, promoting education equity, and supporting arts and culture.

5. Continuation of Legacy: Under Paula Crown and her children's leadership, the foundation likely continues James Crown's priorities in education (especially University of Chicago), Jewish causes, arts education, and community development.

6. Values-Driven: Organizations aligned with Jewish values of tikkun olam, commitment to racial equity, systems-level change, and collaborative partnership models reflect the Crown family's documented priorities.

7. Relationship-Based: With no staff and trustee-only governance, this foundation operates through personal relationships and the trustees' direct knowledge of organizations and causes they wish to support.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - James S & Paula H Crown Family Foundation (EIN: 93-6551492). Form 990-PF filings. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/936551492

• Crown Family Philanthropies official website. About, Our Work, and Working Together sections. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/

• Inside Philanthropy. "Crown Family Philanthropies." Grantmaker profile. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-c/crown-family-philanthropies

• University of Chicago News. "Landmark gift to UChicago is nation's largest ever for the study of social work, policy, and practice." November 2020. https://news.uchicago.edu/story/landmark-gift-uchicago-nations-largest-ever-study-social-work-policy-and-practice

• Crown Family Philanthropies. "Honoring Jim Crown." Accessed February 12, 2026. https://crownfamilyphilanthropies.org/honoring-jim-crown/

• eJewishPhilanthropy. "James Crown, mainstay of the Chicago Jewish community, dies in car crash on 70th birthday." June 2023. https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/james-crown-mainstay-of-the-chicago-jewish-community-dies-in-car-crash-on-70th-birthday/

• Chicago Tribune. "James Crown, scion of one of Chicago's leading philanthropic families, dies in Colorado motorsports park accident at 70." June 26, 2023.

• Paula Crown Art website. Bio section. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://paulahcrown.wordpress.com/about/

• SPACES Magazine. "Artist and Philanthropist Paula Crown on How Art and Activism Intersect." Accessed February 12, 2026.

• CauseIQ. James S and Paula H Crown Family Foundation organizational profile. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/james-s-and-paula-h-crown-family-foundat,936551492/

• Instrumentl. Crown Family Foundation 990 Report. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/crown-family-foundation