James and Catherine Denny Foundation
The James and Catherine Denny Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1993–1994, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across education, religion, and human services sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+85.8% YoY
Grant Count
40
+37.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+34.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Roman Catholic education, organizations, and churches
- Education (44% of recent giving)
- Religion (29% of recent giving)
- Social and Human Services (15% of recent giving)
The foundation provides unrestricted charitable gifts to its grantees.
Grantmaking
Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about application procedures. There are no stated deadlines.
Grant Range
& Activity:**
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 90% of grants remain in Illinois. The foundation also funds organizations in Florida and New York, with a national scope for select initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $5,766,005
- Total Giving: $736,378
- Total Revenues: $143,905
- Total Expenses: $811,627
- Investment Income and Dividends: $146,946
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include DePaul College Prep ($250,000), Catholic Extension ($247,848), Chicago Jesuit Academy ($157,320).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Clinic Martin Health Foundation Stuart, FL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $15,000 |
| Clearbrook Arlington Heights, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| Hobe Sound Community Chest Hobe Sound, FL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,000 |
| Shirley Ryan AbilityLab chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| American Enterprise Institute WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $50,000 |
| The Ireland Funds America New York, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,000 |
| Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| The Field Museum Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,000 |
| Leo Catholic High School Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Founder: James M. Denny
- Donors: James M. Denny and Catherine M. Denny
- Director: Catherine M. Denny
- Trustee: James M. Denny
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES M DENNY | TRUSTEE/P/T | — | — |
| CATHERINE M DENNY | TRUSTEE/P/T | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 180 N Stetson Ave, Suite 2550 (or Suite 3500) Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-551-0058
EIN: 36-7067862
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James and Catherine Denny Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • **Roman Catholic education, organizations, and churches** • **Education** (44% of recent giving) • **Religion** (29% of recent giving) • **Social and Human Services** (15% of recent giving) The foundation provides unrestricted charitable gifts to its grantees.
How do I apply for a grant from James and Catherine Denny Foundation?
**Grant Size & Activity:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$250,000 • Total giving: $736,378–$1,386,500 (depending on fiscal year) • Recent grants made: 50 grants in 2023 **Recent Grantees Include:** • Chicago Jesuit Academy ($243,552) • The Adler Planetarium ($25,000) • Shirley Ryan AbilityLab ($25,000) • Catholic Extensions ($243,552) • DePaul University ($10,000) • Mundelein Seminary ($5,000) • American Enterprise Institute ($25,000) • Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation ($15,000) **Applicatio…
Where does James and Catherine Denny Foundation make grants?
Approximately 90% of grants remain in Illinois. The foundation also funds organizations in Florida and New York, with a national scope for select initiatives.
What size grants does James and Catherine Denny Foundation award?
In 2024, James and Catherine Denny Foundation awarded 40 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is James and Catherine Denny Foundation's EIN?
James and Catherine Denny Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7067862. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James and Catherine Denny 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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