OVERVIEW: The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is a huge player in Chicago philanthropy, giving millions of dollars to local causes each year. Its areas of grantmaking are community development and safety, journalism, early childhood education, and veterans causes.
IP TAKE: The Robert R. McCormick Foundation works toward equity and opportunity for all residents of Chicago and its surrounding areas, and it has funded a broad range of organizations whose programs align with their causes. This is an accessible foundation that invites potential grantees to reach out with grantmaking questions or general inquiries; however, McCormick does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
PROFILE: Established in 1955 by the longtime Chicago Tribune publisher and editor, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States, with over $1 billion in assets. The foundation works in Chicago and the state of Illinois to “assist communities, to strengthen democracy, and help ensure that all families and children have the opportunities they need to flourish.” McCormick’s grantmaking initiatives are community development, community justice, democracy, education and veterans causes.
Grants for Community Development
Operating only in Chicago, the Thriving Communities program focuses on economic opportunity through collaborations with nonprofits and community leaders. It focuses on Chicago’s South and West Sides, specifically, the Little Village and Englewood neighborhoods, as well as United Way Neighborhoods.
- The Community Capital program invests “in entrepreneurship programs, business support services, and job training in Englewood and Little Village to accelerate economic development throughout the communities.”
- The Public Safety program, meanwhile, aims to reduce violence and simultaneously reform criminal justice. The initiative has worked toward steering youth away from engagement with violence, reducing incarceration and improving outcomes for the formerly incarcerated.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement and Journalism
The McCormick Foundation was established by a newspaper man and consequently, support for journalism is a vital part of its mission. According to its website, the foundation views “a robust free press” as an essential component of maintaining a healthy democracy. Its Journalism program is centered on Chicago and Illinois and aims to promote government transparency, hold decision-makers accountable, and ensure “public investments are creating and supporting opportunities for all, especially Chicago’s South and West Side residents.”
Grants for Early Childhood Education
In Early Childhood Education, McCormick funds efforts to support children from birth through kindergarten and works extensively in the areas of increasing access to early childhood education, providing safe learning environments, and promoting kindergarten readiness and literacy. Funding prioritizes Chicago’s most vulnerable children.
Grants for Veterans and Military Families
McCormick’s Veterans program supports veterans and military families in the Chicago area who are making the transition back to civilian life from active duty. Grants have gone to organizations that work in veterans employment, behavioral health and service coordination programs. Additionally, the foundation continuously supports the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park and the Col. Robert R. McCormick Research Center.
Other Funding Areas
In addition to these named funding programs, the McCormick Foundation sustains the museums, parks, gardens and golf course at the founder’s Cantigny Park estate in suburban Wheaton, Illinois. This 500-acre farm was owned by Robert McCormick, and he arranged for it to become a public park in his will.
McCormick partners with several of Chicago’s sports teams, media organizations and corporate-related foundations. It matches contributions to the foundation from these partners and uses the funds to support Chicago’s South and West sides.
Important Grant Details
Foundation grants tend to range from $10,000 to $500,000, with an average grants size of about $50,000. While most grants support organizations in Chicago, funding supports projects and organizations in other parts of Illinois, as well. Interested grantseekers can look through the foundation’s Impact page for more information about past grantees and funding recipients.
The foundation makes grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Grantseekers can reach out to the foundation with general questions at (312) 445-5000 or info@mccormichfoundation.org.
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