The Antonio J Gracias Family Foundation is a private operating foundation established in 2021 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaker, making strategic philanthropic investments rather than accepting unsolicited applications. It focuses on transformative gifts to preselected organizations, with particular emphasis on institutions where the founding family has personal connections.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$90.7M
-4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.0M
-25.7% YoY
Grant Count
15
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$802K
-15.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gracias Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $615K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass:
- Education
- Scientific research
- Arts and culture
- Humanitarian causes
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made exclusively to preselected organizations through trustee discretion.
Grant Range
$24,422 to $15,000,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in:
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New York
- District of Columbia
- California
- Colorado
- Virginia
- Wyoming
- Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $94.6 million
- Total revenue: $4.86 million
- Total expenses: $16.7 million
- Investment income and dividends: $4.37 million
- Total liabilities: $0
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $90.7 million
- Total giving: $12.0 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $90,702,268 | $94,606,157 | $70,920,396 |
| Revenue | $8,890,888 | $4,862,228 | $135,016,761 |
| Expenses | $12,893,006 | $16,692,137 | $32,908,869 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,061,553 | $16,201,672 | $32,649,655 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,059,435 | $4,371,763 | $134,757,547 |
| Distributable Amount | $614,737 | $4,478,743 | $4,498,490 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harvard College Trust ($3,162,500), Caf America ($2,000,000), Johns Hopkins University ($1,900,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASPEN INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $350,000 |
| BIG GREEN BOULDER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $250,000 |
| EAGLE HILL FOUNDATION OF MASS INC HARDWICK, MA | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $500,000 |
| FIRST DESCENTS DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $20,000 |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY GIVING WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $1,300,000 |
| HARVARD COLLEGE TRUST NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $3,162,500 |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $1,900,000 |
| PHILLIPS ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $1,000,000 |
| UCS FOUNDATION STERLING HEIGHTS, MI | GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES IN ITS ENTIRETY. | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers (unpaid):
- Antonio Gracias (Officer) — JD'98 from University of Chicago; founder and CEO of Valor Equity Partners; University of Chicago trustee
- Maria Gracias (Officer)
- James Star (Officer)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTONIO GRACIAS | OFFICER | 1 | — |
| MARIA GRACIAS | OFFICER | — | — |
| JAMES STAR | OFFICER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation committed $3 million to the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering for early-stage nanomedicine research aimed at reducing atherosclerosis and preventing heart disease. According to Antonio Gracias, the foundation's investment supports research and teaching activities focused on solving major societal health challenges.
Antonio J Gracias Family Foundation IncSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gracias Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass: • Education • Scientific research • Arts and culture • Humanitarian causes • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Gracias Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $16.2 million • Total giving in 2024: $12.0 million • Grant range: $24,422 to $15,000,000 • Median grant size: $350,000 • Since inception, the foundation has awarded 38 grants totaling $49.5 million **Application Process:** The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made exclusively to preselected organizations through trustee discretion. **Recent Major Grants (2023):** • Harvard Coll…
Where does Gracias Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • Illinois • Maryland • New York • District of Columbia • California • Colorado • Virginia • Wyoming • Florida
What size grants does Gracias Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gracias Family Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $12.0M — an average of about $802K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gracias Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gracias Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $615K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gracias Family Foundation's EIN?
Gracias Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3941297. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gracias Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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