CME Group Foundation is a private corporate foundation established in 2008 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation was created with an initial endowment of $16 million from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Trust (CME Trust), which continues to make annual contributions to support its grantmaking activities. The foundation works to advance the economy by supporting education from cradle to career, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for low-income and at-risk students.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$6.7M
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
148
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+5.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: CME Group Foundation works to advance the economy by supporting education from cradle to career.
The foundation supports transformative solutions through:
- Driving systems transformation through collaboration and strategic partnerships
- Nurturing new or proven programs, research and development
- Empowering innovative partners
Primary Focus Areas:
- Early Childhood Education – Kindergarten readiness and preparation for low-income students, with emphasis on increasing assessment scores for Black, Latinx, and low-income children
- K-12 Education – Effective education that prepares disadvantaged students for success in college and career
- College to Career Success – Preparing university students for careers in financial services and risk management
- Violence Reduction and Intervention
- Special Opportunities – Including sports, arts, health, and homelessness initiatives
Approximately 90 percent of annual grants focus on the three education level categories.
Grantmaking
CME Group Foundation has very focused priorities and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation encourages potential grantees to reach out to discuss their projects, though grants are made by invitation.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports education in the Chicago region and Illinois, though it also makes grants in the District of Columbia and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $63,836,901
- Total Revenues: $11,247,059
- Total Expenses: $7,186,869
- Total Giving: $6,739,500
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $59.2 Million
- Total Revenues: $6.19 Million
- Total Expenses: $6.46 Million
- Total Liabilities: $111,000
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation; tax-exempt since July 2008; EIN 45-0575574
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City Colleges of Chicago Foundation ($200,000), Carole Robertson Center for Learning ($150,000), Chicago Public Education Fund ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY FOR URBAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CHICAGO, IL | CHICAGO TEACHER RESIDENCY - DIVERSE LEARNER ECE | $50,000 |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS NFP CHICAGO, IL | ILLINOIS EDUCATION AND CAREER SUCCESS NETWORK | $50,000 |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS INC CHICAGO, IL | COMPUTER SCIENCE INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION PROVIDENCE, RI | POWER OF PURPLE: A REASON TO HOPE LUNCHEON | $10,000 |
| AMERICA NEEDS YOU NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE & CAREER SERVICES | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LUBAVITCH (CHABAD) WASHINGTON, DC | NATIONAL MENORAH | $5,000 |
| ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF ILLINOIS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER S | $25,000 |
| AUTISM SPEAKS INC BOONE, IA | CHIP IN CASINO NIGHT | $5,000 |
| BELLWETHER EDUCATION PARTNERS INC SUDBURY, MA | E4E TEACHER ACTION TEAM | $22,000 |
| BETTER FUTURE FORWARD ALEXANDRIA, VA | FUELING DRAMATIC GROWTH OF BFF'S CHICAGO FUND | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Eva Giglio
Media Contact: Lauren Whalen (lauren.whalen@cmegroup.com)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES P CAREY | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| TERRENCE A DUFFY | VICE-CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| HOWARD J SIEGEL | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| EVA GIGLIO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANIEL GLICKMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TERRY L SAVAGE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Launched a $2 million grantmaking initiative to support mental health of young women and girls in Chicago
CME Group Foundation Launches $2 Million Grantmaking Initiative to SupportAwarded $360,000 in scholarships to first-generation college students in Illinois
CME Group Foundation Awards $360k in Scholarships to First Generation CollegeAwarded 2024 higher education scholarships to historically underrepresented students
CME Group Foundation Awards 2024 Higher Education Scholarships to HistoricallyAwarded nearly $3 million in grants to support kindergarten readiness and K-12 programming in Chicago and Illinois
CME Group Foundation Launches $2 Million Grantmaking Initiative to SupportSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cme Group Foundation fund?
**Mission:** CME Group Foundation works to advance the economy by supporting education from cradle to career. The foundation supports transformative solutions through: • Driving systems transformation through collaboration and strategic partnerships • Nurturing new or proven programs, research and development • Empowering innovative partners **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Early Childhood Education** – Kindergarten readiness and preparation for low-income students, with emphasis on increasing asse…
How do I apply for a grant from Cme Group Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$634,000 • The foundation makes grants to universities, school districts, charter networks, and nonprofit organizations **Application Process:** CME Group Foundation has very focused priorities and does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The foundation encourages potential grantees to reach out to discuss their projects, though grants are made by invitation. **Recent Grant Activity:** • 2024: 110+ grants totaling approximately $4.78 …
Where does Cme Group Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports education in the Chicago region and Illinois, though it also makes grants in the District of Columbia and New York.
What size grants does Cme Group Foundation award?
In 2024, Cme Group Foundation awarded 148 grants totaling $6.7M — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Cme Group Foundation's EIN?
Cme Group Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0575574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cme Group Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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