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.
Key facts about James and Catherine Denny Foundation
- EIN
- 36-7067862
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,386,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 40
- Average grant
- $34,663
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (7 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about application procedures. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James and Catherine Denny Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for James and Catherine Denny Foundation's 40 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (95%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (32 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is James and Catherine Denny Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 35 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $71K; repeat grants $32K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with James and Catherine Denny Foundation
- How to evaluate James and Catherine Denny Foundation as a funder
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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
Grant Range
& Activity:**
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with James and Catherine Denny Foundation?
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
Share of all 40 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include Catholic Extension ($275,000 across 2 grants), Chicago Jesuit Academy ($250,000 across 5 grants), DePaul College Prep ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DePaul College Prep Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $250,000 |
| Catholic Extension Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $247,848 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $157,320 |
| Illinois Policy Institute Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $125,000 |
| Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $50,000 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $30,097 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $29,791 |
| Catholic Extension chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $27,152 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $26,350 |
| Saints Faith Hope & Charity Winnetka, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,500 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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?
Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about application procedures. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.