Dauten Family Foundation
The Dauten Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2014 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Kent and Liz Dauten, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on mental health and brain science. The foundation's work is rooted in personal experience—two of the Dautens' four children were diagnosed with bipolar disorder as teenagers, which shaped the foundation's strategic priorities and commitment to advancing mental health care and research.
Key facts about Dauten Family Foundation
In short: Dauten Family Foundation gave $18.3M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $1.7M), mostly in California. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 46-5053786
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $18,310,204
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $1,664,564
- Median grant
- $225,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not appear to have a public website. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$18.3M
-18.2% YoY
Grant Count
11
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.7M
-40.5% YoY
Is Dauten Family Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $373K; repeat grants $2.7M. How we count
Medians: $125K first-time, $363K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote mental health and ensure that those who suffer from mental illnesses can lead meaningful, productive, and happy lives.
Primary focus areas include:
- Mental Health & Brain Science: Particular emphasis on bipolar disorder research and treatment
- Basic Neuroscience: Investment in foundational brain science research
- Translational Research: Supporting research that moves from laboratory to clinical application
- Community Mental Health Organizations: Funding direct service providers
- Education & Stigma-Fighting Programs: Supporting awareness and destigmatization efforts
- Policy & Advocacy Work: Advancing mental health policy initiatives
- Education: Secondary focus area, particularly through support of Catholic schools in Chicago via the Big Shoulders Fund, which Kent Dauten co-chairs
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: $25,000 - $9.3 million
How to Apply
**: The foundation does not appear to have a public website. Contact should be made through the phone number provided.
Ready to take the next step with Dauten Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, with particular concentration in:
- Primary Focus Cities: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and New York City
- Additional Locations: Arlington, Cambridge, Des Plaines, Los Angeles, Northfield, Rutherford, and Santa Monica
- States: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE MILKEN INSTITUTE Santa Monica, CA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $13,591,510 |
| FOUNTAIN HOUSE New York, NY | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $1,955,694 |
| PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE Cambridge, MA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $1,000,000 |
| LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO Chicago, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $728,000 |
| JOSSELYN CENTER Northfield, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $500,000 |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL Boston, MA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $225,000 |
| MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY Boston, MA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $150,000 |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS Des Plaines, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $125,000 |
| BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION New York, NY | TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING CAUSED BY MENTAL ILLNESS BY AWARDING GRANTS THAT WILL LEAD TO ADVANCES AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH | $25,000 |
| MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE Arlington, VA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $32,412,441
- Total Revenue: $41,915,379
- Total Expenses: $22,636,227
- Total Liabilities: $0
2023 Financial Data:
- Annual Giving: $14,486,976
Historical Giving Trends:
- 2023: $31.4 million in grants (11 grants)
- 2022: $5.0 million in grants (13 grants)
- 2021: $3.2 million in grants (10 grants)
- 2020: $2.6 million in grants (7 grants)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Elizabeth D. Dauten: Director/President
- Kent P. Dauten: Director/VP/Treasurer
Board members serve without compensation. Kent Dauten serves as Board Chair of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and co-chairs the Big Shoulders Fund.
Dauten Family Foundation is led by Elizabeth D. Dauten, Director & President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth D. Dauten
Director & President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenna S. Toan
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent P. Dauten
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Dauten
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Dauten
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Kalpin
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several transformational gifts in recent years:
**$25 Million to Northwestern Medicine (2025)**: Established the Northwestern Medicine Dauten Behavioral Health Institute
Dauten Family Gifts $25 Million to Launch the Northwestern ...**BD² Initiative**: Served as a founding partner in the $150 million Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder initiative
**Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation**: The foundation supports ongoing research and current projects through this center
Our Research - Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation**2025 Big Shoulders Fund Humanitarian Award**: Kent and Liz Dauten were recognized as recipients of this award for their values-driven giving and investment approach
Contact Information
Address: 155 N Wacker Dr Ste 4150, Chicago, IL 60606-1788
Phone: 312-219-7970
EIN: 46-5053786
Frequently asked questions about Dauten Family Foundation
How much does Dauten Family Foundation give each year?
Dauten Family Foundation gave $18.3M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22.4M across 8 grants.
What is Dauten Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Dauten Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $225,000, and its average grant was $1,664,564, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dauten Family Foundation that year got $373K on average.
Where does Dauten Family Foundation give grants?
Dauten Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Massachusetts (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Dauten Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Dauten Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Program Services" (10 grants).
Who are Dauten Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Dauten Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Milken Institute ($13,591,510), Fountain House ($1,955,694) and President and Fellows of Harvard College ($1,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does Dauten Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote mental health and ensure that those who suffer from mental illnesses can lead meaningful, productive, and happy lives. Primary focus areas include: • **Mental Health & Brain Science**: Particular emphasis on bipolar disorder research and treatment • **Basic Neuroscience**: Investment in foundational brain science research • **Translational Research**: Supporting research that moves from laboratory to clinical application • **Community Mental Health Organiz…
How do I apply for a grant from Dauten Family Foundation?
The foundation does not appear to have a public website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dauten Family Foundation's EIN?
Dauten Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5053786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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