David and Kirsten Cunningham
David and Kirsten Cunningham is a private foundation based in Naples, Florida. In filing year 2024, it reported giving $471,498 through 16 grants, including support for charitable organizations serving Chicago and surrounding communities.
David and Kirsten Cunningham at a glance
In short: David and Kirsten Cunningham gave $471K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in Illinois. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $471,498
- +93.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,469
- +45.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,205
- Total assets
- $5,088,604
- -2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David and Kirsten Cunningham
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7225 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples, FL 34108
Phone: (630) 617-9102
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David and Kirsten Cunningham funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($78K). Together the top 10 received $428K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 79 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The named 2024 grantees are predominantly based in Illinois, including many in Chicago and nearby communities. The Ability Experience in Charlotte, North Carolina, received $500. The filing’s reported grant-dollar share by recipient state is Illinois 100% and North Carolina 0%, which differs from the listed North Carolina grant.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is David and Kirsten Cunningham open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 135% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2021) to $471K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $471K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $78,381 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use | $75,146 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation Golf, IL | Unrestricted for General Use | $52,834 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $50,259 |
| American Red Cross Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $49,834 |
| St Isaac Jogues Niles, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $40,282 |
| American Cancer Society Lincolnshire, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $25,207 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $25,207 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries Chicago, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $15,202 |
| Carenet Pregnancy Services of Dupage County Inc Downers Grove, IL | Unrestricted for General Use of Charity | $15,202 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,088,604 | $177,656 | $476,131 | $471,498 | 16 | $471,524 | $176,798 | $604,781 |
| 2023 | $5,196,657 | $5,167,707 | $244,005 | $243,821 | 12 | $243,847 | $172,881 | $470,130 |
| 2022 | $2,117,870 | $79,226 | $278,901 | $273,860 | 18 | $273,881 | $77,997 | $244,142 |
| 2021 | $2,118,342 | $88,605 | $201,932 | $200,422 | 18 | $200,447 | $88,245 | $271,337 |
| 2020 | $2,073,606 | $69,466 | $215,965 | $214,395 | 15 | — | $69,431 | $205,613 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David and Kirsten Cunningham reported a distributable amount of $605K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations whose work includes education, food assistance, health, and social services. For example, Big Shoulders Fund says it supports underserved schools providing quality, values-based education for Chicago children. The Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger, and Inspiration Corporation says it serves people affected by homelessness and poverty through social services, employment training and placement, and housing.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $471,498 across 16 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $78,381, with a median grant of $20,204.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $78,381 to Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, $75,146 to Big Shoulders Fund, $52,834 to Evans Scholars Foundation, $50,259 to Greater Chicago Food Depository, and $49,834 to American Red Cross. Other grants included $40,282 to St Isaac Jogues and $25,207 each to American Cancer Society and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Cunningham as president, Kirsten Cunningham as secretary, and Brooke DeSapio as treasurer.
David and Kirsten Cunningham is led by David Cunningham, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Cunningham
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten Cunningham
Secretary
President → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Desapio
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kristen Cunningham (2020–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about David and Kirsten Cunningham
How much does David and Kirsten Cunningham give each year?
David and Kirsten Cunningham gave $471K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $244K across 12 grants.
What is David and Kirsten Cunningham's typical grant size?
David and Kirsten Cunningham's median grant in 2024 was $20,205, and its average grant was $29,469, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David and Kirsten Cunningham that year got $23K on average.
Where does David and Kirsten Cunningham give grants?
David and Kirsten Cunningham gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants).
Does David and Kirsten Cunningham give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of David and Kirsten Cunningham's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are David and Kirsten Cunningham's largest grantees?
David and Kirsten Cunningham's largest 2024 grantees include Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($78,381), Big Shoulders Fund ($75,146) and Evans Scholars Foundation ($52,834), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is David and Kirsten Cunningham?
David and Kirsten Cunningham reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $472K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $605K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does David and Kirsten Cunningham fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations whose work includes education, food assistance, health, and social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David and Kirsten Cunningham?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David and Kirsten Cunningham's EIN?
David and Kirsten Cunningham's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0446388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does David and Kirsten Cunningham accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David and Kirsten Cunningham funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-and-kirsten-cunningham-morg_aed24aee9ed943fab8055a44580f6ef3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200446388_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David and Kirsten Cunningham funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-and-kirsten-cunningham-morg_aed24aee9ed943fab8055a44580f6ef3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from David and Kirsten Cunningham's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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