Deering Foundation
The Deering Foundation is an independent private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Incorporated in 1956 and tax-exempt since March 1958, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Key facts about Deering Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6051876
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,005,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- Average grant
- $111,667
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Deering Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Deering Foundation's 9 itemized 2025 grants were Illinois (74%) and Florida (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants). None of its 9 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Other" (4 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
9
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$112K
+0.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Higher education
- Philanthropy and foundations
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
$489
Average Grant
$489
Ready to take the next step with Deering Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports projects across multiple states and cities, including:
- States: Florida, Hawaii, Illinois
- Cities: Chicago, Evanston, Maitland, Miami, Wailuku
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 9 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $23.4 million
- Total liabilities: $178,000
- Annual revenue: $1.54 million
- Annual expenses: $1.1 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 9 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Gibbet Hill Foundation ($200,000), James D Danielson Foundation ($200,000), The Danielson Foundation ($200,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team serves without compensation and includes:
- Robert J. Venable — President/Director
- Candida D. Burnap — Vice President/Director
- Jocelyn D. Tennille — Vice President/Director
- Additional directors and officers
Contact Information:
- Address: 410 N Michigan Ave Ste 590, Chicago, IL 60611-4220
- Telephone: 312-644-6720
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT J VENABLE | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CANDIDA D BURNAP | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOCELYN D TENNILLE | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEPHEN M STRACHAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CHARLES E SEITZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SUSAN D PATTOCK | SECRETARY/TREASURER | — | — |
| DAVID FUECHTMAN | ASST SEC./ASST TREAS. | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Deering Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on funding initiatives in the following areas: • Arts and culture • Education • Higher education • Philanthropy and foundations • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Deering Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $19.9 million (as of 2024) • Annual revenue: approximately $1.35 million • Annual expenses: approximately $1.05 million • Total awarded in recent year: approximately $1.0 million • Average grant size: $489 • Total grants awarded (previous year): 2,096 **Application Status:** The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does Deering Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports projects across multiple states and cities, including: • **States:** Florida, Hawaii, Illinois • **Cities:** Chicago, Evanston, Maitland, Miami, Wailuku
What size grants does Deering Foundation award?
In 2025, Deering Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $112K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Deering Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.