Driehaus Design Initiative
Driehaus Design Initiative is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $226K. Net investment income was $231K.
Driehaus Design Initiative at a glance
In short: Driehaus Design Initiative gave $226K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $75K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $226,000
- +88.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $75,333
- +151.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $5,851,719
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Driehaus Design Initiative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($76K). Together the top 3 received $226K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 13 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Driehaus Design Initiative gives
- Giving grew 115% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 212% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 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 $105K (2020) to $226K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $226K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | To support production and presentation of student work in Grantee's Fashion Design Program | $76,000 |
| Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL | To support the production and presentation of student work in Grantee's Department of Fashion Studies | $75,000 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL | To support production and presentation of student work in Grantee's Fashion Design program | $75,000 |
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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 | $5,851,719 | $294,877 | $648,891 | $226,000 | 3 | $585,951 | $231,012 | $276,401 |
| 2024 | $5,705,191 | $273,819 | $411,464 | $120,000 | 4 | $350,709 | $213,116 | $274,196 |
| 2023 | $5,393,204 | $156,780 | $183,534 | $105,000 | 3 | $124,874 | $116,918 | $250,160 |
| 2022 | $4,892,162 | $80,458 | $173,208 | $105,000 | 3 | $141,244 | $48,494 | $246,993 |
| 2021 | $5,158,093 | $5,000,022 | $33,725 | — | — | — | $17 | — |
| 2020 | $332,854 | $311,281 | $348,749 | $105,000 | 3 | — | $15 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Driehaus Design Initiative reported a distributable amount of $276K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Driehaus Design Initiative is led by Stuart Ellison, President & Director on every filing since 2024; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stuart Ellison
President & Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Yu
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Angelo Cavello
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheryl Dyer Schmidt
Secretary & Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Michelle Molise (2020–2023) — President & Director
- Former: Tracey Tarantino (2020–2023) — Treasurer, Secretary & Director
- Former: Richard H. Driehaus (2020–2021) — 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 Driehaus Design Initiative
How much does Driehaus Design Initiative give each year?
Driehaus Design Initiative gave $226K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $120K across 4 grants.
What is Driehaus Design Initiative's typical grant size?
Driehaus Design Initiative's median grant in 2025 was $75,000, and its average grant was $75,333, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Driehaus Design Initiative give grants?
Driehaus Design Initiative gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Driehaus Design Initiative give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Driehaus Design Initiative's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Driehaus Design Initiative?
Driehaus Design Initiative reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $586K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $276K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Driehaus Design Initiative?
Driehaus Design Initiative is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $5.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Driehaus Design Initiative's EIN?
Driehaus Design Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1694951. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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