IDP Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2008 and registered in Delaware, with operations based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as a philanthropic organization dedicated to making philanthropy more sustainable by viewing grants and investments as catalytic capital. The organization functions as an active funder and champion of innovative, scalable, and replicable programs that move away from aid-based models.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$53.0M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+66.7% YoY
Grant Count
10
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$141K
+66.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Idp Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To create a world where everyone has an equal right to learn. The foundation supports sustainable investment in educational and social impact initiatives that move away from aid, while encouraging and supporting innovation, development, and progress in every program it supports or invests in.
Primary Focus Areas:
Education in Developing Countries: The foundation's core focus is improving access to quality education for all children in low and lower-middle income countries. The foundation champions the affordable non-state education sector (ANS), believing that low-fee private schools play a crucial role in complementing public education where access to quality education is a challenge.
Medical Research: The foundation also invests in cutting-edge medical research initiatives.
Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Initiatives: The foundation supports early-stage entrepreneurial ventures.
Key Beliefs: The foundation operates from the conviction that governments are responsible for providing quality free education, yet many developing countries fail to do so despite meeting UNESCO benchmarks on budget allocation. The foundation works in partnership with local actors to improve access to and quality of education for all children.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
Approximately $235 (based on 4,355 total grants in previous year data)
Average Grant
Approximately $235 (based on 4,355 total grants in previous year data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains an international presence with operations and partnerships in:
- Ghana: Long-standing presence with pilot launched in 2009 supporting 105 low-fee private schools
- Kenya: Extended programming beginning in 2022, reaching over 1,700 schools combined with Ghana operations
- United States: Primary office location in Chicago, Illinois; also funds initiatives in Washington and Colorado
- International: Partnerships and funding initiatives in London and Seattle
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $52,845,318
- Total revenues: $1,696,238
- Total expenses: $3,326,056
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $53,035,275
- Total giving: $1,408,104
The foundation's assets have grown modestly year-over-year, with a 2.6% increase from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $53,035,275 | $52,845,318 | $52,252,071 |
| Revenue | $4,372,016 | $1,696,238 | $3,703,692 |
| Expenses | $4,066,265 | $3,326,056 | $3,718,602 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,707,901 | $3,296,307 | $4,686,207 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,108,439 | $1,379,094 | $3,811,427 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,452,248 | $2,853,719 | $2,509,298 |
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
48 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northwestern University ($740,000), Global Schools Forum ($359,600), Dignitas Limited ($215,004).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DIGNITAS LIMITED | THE IDPF GRANT ALLOWS DIGNITAS TO CURATE AND DELIVER TRAINING TO LOW FEE PRIVATE SCHOOL CLIENTS OF IDPF PARTNER IN KENYA, PREMIER CREDIT. | $215,004 |
| Sabre Education | To support Sabre Education's goal of establishing a sustainable pathway to scale Play Base kindergarten teacher training in the private sector in Ghana. | $25,000 |
| GLOBAL SCHOOLS FORUM | TO SUPPORT AND REPRESENT NON-STATE OPERATORS IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES, SO THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO DELIVER QUALITY EDUCATION TO CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. | $359,600 |
| Musana Centennial, CO | To support community empowerment in Uganda are deeply aligned with the IDP Foundation belief that building capability beyond aid is the most effective answer. | $10,000 |
| GHANA NATIONAL ASSOC OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS | A GRANT TO FUND A DISCOVERY PHASE TO REVAMP THE INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF GNAPS AND STRENGTHEN IT FOR GREATER ADVOCACY FOR THE LOW-FEE PRIVATE SCHOOL SECTOR. | $20,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF MEDICAL RESEARCH. | $740,000 |
| INT'L EDUCATION FUNDERS GROUP CO GLOBAL DIALOGUE | TO SUPPORT A MEMBERSHIP THAT PROVIDES A NETWORK OF EDUCATION FUNDERS. | $3,500 |
| Ashesi University Seattle, WA | Patrick Awuah, Jr. Presidential Leadership Fund at Ashesi. This fund is envisioned to provide Patrick and his leadership team with a flexible pool of funds to nurture exploration and creativity as they usher Ashesi into a new decade and embark on a new strategic plan. | $5,000 |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT SHEDD'S GENERAL OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE EXTRAORDINARY CARE SHEDD PROVIDES FOR OUR MORE THAN 32,000 ANIMALS, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, COMMUNITY ACCESS, AND CONSERVATION. | $15,000 |
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S WELCOME TO SCIENCE INITIATIVE THAT SUPPORTS FIELD TRIP EXPERIENCES, AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE CLUBS, TEEN PROGRAMS, SUMMER LEARNING, TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MORE. | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Irene D. Pritzker: Chair and Co-founder
- Liesel Pritzker Simmons: Vice Chair and Co-founder
- Corina Gardner: CEO and Director
- Alison A. Ehlke: Chief Operating Officer
The foundation operates as an international team with global representation in the United States, Ghana, and the United Kingdom.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRENE D PRITZKER | chair and co-founder | 40 | $30,000 |
| DONNA D SCALI | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ROBERT WEXLER | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| ALISON A EHLKE | ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND C.O.O. | 40 | $200,837 |
| LIESEL PRITZKER SIMMONS | vice chair and co-founder | 0.25 | — |
| CORINA GARDNER | C.E.O. AND DIRECTOR | 40 | $174,838 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Program Developments:**
**2024:** Launch of Incentives for Learning (IfL), a new blended edufinance initiative designed to catalyze learning improvements in low-fee private schools in Kenya
Incentives for Learning (IfL): A new blended edufinance initiative to ...**2023:** Selected as part of a consortium for an SDG Impact Finance Initiative Award to develop a Global Finance for Education fund
Incentives for Learning (IfL): A new blended edufinance initiative to ...**2022:** Extended programming to Kenya, expanding total reach to over 1,700 schools
**2021:** Contributed to the GEM Report on non-state actors
**2020:** Commissioned Covid-19 impact research and provided targeted relief grants enabling 144 vulnerable schools to reopen
**2018:** Rising Schools Program reached 600 schools with a 90% repayment rate
**Core Programs:**
The foundation operates several key initiatives including:
**Educational Content Program:** Provides trainings to school proprietors, teachers, and caterers on business management, quality of education, health, and safety, with access to six targeted loan products addressing school cash flow challenges
**Educational Training and Research:** Supports research and training initiatives in partnership with local organizations
**The School in the Market:** An innovative financing program created by IDP Foundation Cofounder Irene Pritzker
The foundation's work is guided by core values emphasizing capability building beyond aid, market-based solutions, partnership and local empowerment, effective alliances, risk-taking for inclusive results, and acting as a catalyst for further funding.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Idp Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To create a world where everyone has an equal right to learn. The foundation supports sustainable investment in educational and social impact initiatives that move away from aid, while encouraging and supporting innovation, development, and progress in every program it supports or invests in. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Education in Developing Countries:** The foundation's core focus is improving access to quality education for all children in low and lower-middle income countries…
How do I apply for a grant from Idp Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $1,408,104 • Total grants awarded (2023): 10 grants totaling $845,000 • Average grant size: Approximately $235 (based on 4,355 total grants in previous year data) • Typical award range: $2,500–$740,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University: $200,000 (medical research support) • Absolute Return for Kids US: $40,000 (research study on learning factors in Ghanaian schools) • Shedd Aquarium: $10,000 (general operations…
Where does Idp Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation maintains an international presence with operations and partnerships in: • **Ghana:** Long-standing presence with pilot launched in 2009 supporting 105 low-fee private schools • **Kenya:** Extended programming beginning in 2022, reaching over 1,700 schools combined with Ghana operations • **United States:** Primary office location in Chicago, Illinois; also funds initiatives in Washington and Colorado • **International:** Partnerships and funding initiatives in London and Seattle
What size grants does Idp Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Idp Foundation Inc awarded 10 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $141K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Idp Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Idp Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Idp Foundation Inc's EIN?
Idp Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2753703. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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