Deering Foundation
Deering Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports nine grants totaling $1,005,000, including awards for education, arts and humanities, environmental work, social services, and other purposes.
Deering Foundation at a glance
In short: Deering Foundation gave $1.0M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $112K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,005,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $111,667
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Total assets
- $26,121,813
- +11.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Deering Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. It lists Susan Pattock as the contact and says to see the statement for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan Pattock
Mailing address: 410 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 644-6720
Email: spattock@miami-corp.com
Website: https://deeringestate.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Deering Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gibbet Hill Foundation ($200K). Together the top 9 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 30 grants of 44 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 26% to recipients in Florida. Listed recipients include organizations in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, and Miami and Maitland, Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Deering Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $905K (2020) to $1.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gibbet Hill Foundation Chicago, IL | OTHER | $200,000 |
| James D Danielson Foundation Chicago, IL | OTHER | $200,000 |
| The Danielson Foundation Chicago, IL | OTHER | $200,000 |
| Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc - General Operating Miami, FL | Arts and Humanities | $115,000 |
| Northwestern University - Deering Library Fund Evanston, IL | Educational | $115,000 |
| Deering Estate Foundation Miami, FL | OTHER | $115,000 |
| National Audubon Society Maitland, FL | Environmental | $30,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago - Luminary Chicago, IL | Arts and Humanities | $25,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Social Services | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,121,813 | $686,626 | $1,088,661 | $1,005,000 | 9 | $1,019,670 | $674,671 | $1,150,604 |
| 2024 | $23,402,447 | $1,538,003 | $1,096,801 | $1,005,000 | 9 | $1,018,503 | $1,523,109 | $1,054,352 |
| 2023 | $19,935,493 | $1,349,353 | $1,051,022 | $1,005,000 | 9 | $1,018,254 | $1,333,118 | $929,925 |
| 2022 | $19,693,445 | $550,506 | $1,040,938 | $1,005,000 | 9 | $1,018,448 | $505,159 | $969,614 |
| 2021 | $21,702,540 | $786,228 | $1,069,573 | $1,000,000 | 8 | — | $774,419 | $1,035,514 |
| 2020 | $19,617,120 | $678,185 | $970,111 | $905,000 | 8 | — | $678,936 | $875,259 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Deering Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing and website information does not state a mission for Deering Foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations and activities in education, arts and humanities, environmental work, social services, and other areas. For example, the Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger and serving Cook County, while the Deering Estate Foundation describes its mission as resourcing educational, environmental, historical, cultural, archaeological, scientific, park, and recreation facilities and programs associated with the Deering Estate.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported nine grants totaling $1,005,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $115,000. Among the largest were $200,000 each to Gibbet Hill Foundation, James D Danielson Foundation, and The Danielson Foundation; $115,000 to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust Inc. for general operating support, Northwestern University’s Deering Library Fund, and the Deering Estate Foundation; and $30,000 to the National Audubon Society.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert J Venable as president/director; Candida D Burnap and Jocelyn D Tennille as vice presidents/directors; Stephen M Strachan and Charles E Seitz as directors; Susan D Pattock as secretary/treasurer; and David Fuechtman as assistant secretary/assistant treasurer.
Deering Foundation is led by Robert J. Venable, President & Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert J. Venable
President & Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Candida D. Burnap
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Charles E. Seitz
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jocelyn D. Tennille
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen M. Strachan
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Fuechtman
Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan D. Pattock
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John Rau (2020–2022) — President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Deering Foundation
How much does Deering Foundation give each year?
Deering Foundation gave $1.0M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 9 grants.
What is Deering Foundation's typical grant size?
Deering Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $115,000, and its average grant was $111,667, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Deering Foundation give grants?
Deering Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).
Does Deering Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Deering Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Other" (4 grants).
Who are Deering Foundation's largest grantees?
Deering Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Gibbet Hill Foundation ($200,000), James D Danielson Foundation ($200,000) and The Danielson Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Deering Foundation?
Deering Foundation reported $26.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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 Deering Foundation fund?
The available filing and website information does not state a mission for Deering Foundation. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations and activities in education, arts and humanities, environmental work, social services, and other areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Deering Foundation?
The 2023 filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Deering Foundation's EIN?
Deering Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6051876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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