Hunter Family Foundation
The Hunter Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1993 by Maxine Morrison Hunter and Thomas Benton Hunter III. The foundation has evolved from its original focus on the arts to a comprehensive philanthropic organization dedicated to improving access to education, healthcare, economic development, and environmental resources across select communities in the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$420.5M
+46.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.2M
+54.3% YoY
Grant Count
138
+29.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+19.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hunter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core mission centers on the belief that "families should have equitable opportunities to learn, play, and grow together in their home communities."
The foundation supports three primary focus areas:
- LEARN: Supporting environments that foster cognitive and social-emotional development and pave the way for fulfilling careers
- PLAY: Providing access to vibrant, pollution-free natural surroundings, including green spaces and clean water, to enhance health, well-being, and happiness
- GROW: Supporting informed, patient-centered healthcare and access to high-quality food
Beyond these core areas, the foundation also supports:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
- Urgent Action & Special Initiatives
- Pressing Community Needs
- Family Legacy initiatives
The foundation operates with an approach centered on humility, empathy, and genuine collaboration with grantees and partners, prioritizing trust-based philanthropy that reimagines relationships among funders, grantees, and communities.
Grantmaking
Invitation only — the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus includes:
- Primary: 80% Illinois, primarily the Chicago area
- Secondary: Select communities in Colorado, Northern California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $420,468,469
- Total revenues: $148,386,207
- Total expenses: $15,686,171
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $287,000,000
- Total revenues: $234,000,000
- Total expenses: $9,450,000
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) designated organization
- Tax-exempt since September 2018
- EIN: 37-1887329
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $420,468,469 | $287,347,113 | $62,314,247 |
| Revenue | $148,386,207 | $234,140,854 | $6,425,506 |
| Expenses | $15,686,171 | $9,453,122 | $4,989,164 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,896,195 | $7,824,659 | $4,116,269 |
| Net Investment Income | $54,951,209 | $10,768,716 | $5,460,205 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,928,179 | $7,400,402 | $3,387,172 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Erie Family Health Center ($200,000), Greater Chicago Food Depository ($175,000), College of Lake County Foundation ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A THOUSAND SUMMERS (JOHN AUSTIN CHELEY) DENVER, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ANERA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM SAUSALITO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| BELOVED ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BERKSHIRE SCHOOL SHEFFIELD, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BERNIE'S BOOKS - BOOK BANK DONATIONS LAKE BLUFF, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Frank Baiocchi: Executive Director (compensation: $247,871 as of 2025)
- Trustees: Peter M Hunter, Willard K Hunter, Thomas B Hunter IV
The foundation employs 3-5 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER M HUNTER | TREASURER / BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| WILLARD K HUNTER | SECRETARY / BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| THOMAS B HUNTER IV | VICE PRESIDENT / BOARD MEMBER | 6 | — |
| WILLARD M HUNTER | PRESIDENT / BOARD CHAIR | 6 | — |
| BENJAMIN J HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TSCHARNER R HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| TSCHARNER G HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| THOMAS R HUNTER | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| SARA L HUNTER | ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| FRANK BAIOCCHI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $265,221 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant strategic investments in recent years:
**Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital**: A major gift to establish the Hunter Simulation and Education Center, honoring Maxine and the late Thomas B. Hunter III
The Hunter Program - Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship**Brushwood Center Partnership**: A $2.5 million gift to expand access to nature and the arts
HFF PARTNERS WITH BRUSHWOOD CENTER TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NATURE AND THE ARTS**University of Calgary**: The Hunter Family made a transformative investment in the Haskayne School of Business ten years ago that funded the establishment of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with further investments supporting the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking (launched 2017) and the Hunter Student Commons
The Hunter Program - Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship**Kids Help Phone (Alberta)**: Support for transforming e-mental health services in Alberta
Hunter Family Foundation supports Kids Help Phone to help transform e-mental**University of Pittsburgh**: The Hunter Program through the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Hunter Program - Office of Innovation and EntrepreneurshipThe foundation continues to expand its reach through urgent action and special initiatives in response to crises, as well as supporting pressing community needs through flexible funding for timely and innovative projects.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hunter Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's core mission centers on the belief that "families should have equitable opportunities to learn, play, and grow together in their home communities." The foundation supports three primary focus areas: • **LEARN**: Supporting environments that foster cognitive and social-emotional development and pave the way for fulfilling careers • **PLAY**: Providing access to vibrant, pollution-free natural surroundings, including green spaces and clean water, to enhance health, well-being, an…
How do I apply for a grant from Hunter Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 57 grants in 2024 and 107 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $11,199,500 (2024) • Annual giving: $7,256,600 (2023) **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $500 to $3,035,000 • Median grant: $25,000 • Typical awards: $500–$3,035,000 **Application Process:** Invitation only — the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Ravinia Festival Association: $3,035,000 (CSO Program Sponsorship for Maxine Hunter/the Hunter Pavilion) • Northwest…
Where does Hunter Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus includes: • **Primary**: 80% Illinois, primarily the Chicago area • **Secondary**: Select communities in Colorado, Northern California, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Florida
What size grants does Hunter Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Hunter Family Foundation awarded 138 grants totaling $11.2M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hunter Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hunter Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hunter Family Foundation's EIN?
Hunter Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1887329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hunter 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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