John D and Alexandra Nichols Family
The John D and Alexandra C Nichols Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Winnetka, Illinois. The foundation serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle for John D. Nichols, the former CEO of Illinois Tool Works and Marmon Holdings Inc., and his wife, Alexandra. The foundation maintains a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.4M
-15.3% YoY
Grant Count
42
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$129K
-11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking heavily focuses on arts and culture, with particular emphasis on Chicago arts and culture organizations. Additional funding areas include:
- Arts education
- Youth services
- Health
- Human services
- Education
The foundation strongly prioritizes Chicago and its suburbs, particularly Winnetka where the family resides.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is identified as key for obtaining the foundation's attention.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in:
- Illinois (particularly Chicago and its suburbs)
- New York
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $35,745,239
- Total Revenues: $4,142,530
- Total Expenses: $5,878,882
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $37.5M
- Total Revenues: $3.64M
- Total Expenses: $6.72M
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
236 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Art Institute of Chicago ($3,775,000), Writers Theatre ($500,000), Foundation for Homan Square ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $3,775,000 |
| BETTER GOVT ASSN CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHATTANOOGA ATLANTA, GA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FDN CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $4,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR HOMAN SQUARE CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $400,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Personnel:
- Alexandra C Nichols: President (as of 2024)
- John D. Nichols: Trustee (1930-2023)
John D. Nichols served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Illinois Tool Works Inc. from 1980 to 1996, and as President and CEO of The Marmon Group, Inc. He was named to the National Business Hall of Fame in 1999.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDRA C NICHOLS | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Nichols family has made significant naming gifts to major Chicago cultural institutions:
John D and Alexandra Nichols Family Foundation**Writers Theatre**: The Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre
John D and Alexandra Nichols Family Foundation**Lyric Opera of Chicago**: An endowed chair in the Nichols' name
**Harris Theater**: Alexandra has served as chair
**Art Institute of Chicago**: The Nichols Bridgeway, linking the Art Institute with Millennium Park
$25 million gift to art institute from John and Alexandra Nichols \u2013\The foundation's grantmaking reflects the family's deep commitment to enhancing the cultural and educational landscape of Chicago, with particular focus on institutions that have received major philanthropic support from the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John D and Alexandra Nichols Family fund?
The foundation's grantmaking heavily focuses on arts and culture, with particular emphasis on Chicago arts and culture organizations. Additional funding areas include: • Arts education • Youth services • Health • Human services • Education The foundation strongly prioritizes Chicago and its suburbs, particularly Winnetka where the family resides.
How do I apply for a grant from John D and Alexandra Nichols Family?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $100 to $3,775,000 • The foundation made 58 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $5,416,480 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Art Institute of Chicago: $3,775,000 (unrestricted) • Writers Theatre: $500,000 (unrestricted) • Foundation for Homan Square: $400,000 (unrestricted) **Application Process:** The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is iden…
Where does John D and Alexandra Nichols Family make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in: • Illinois (particularly Chicago and its suburbs) • New York • Virginia
What size grants does John D and Alexandra Nichols Family award?
In 2024, John D and Alexandra Nichols Family awarded 42 grants totaling $5.4M — an average of about $129K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is John D and Alexandra Nichols Family's EIN?
John D and Alexandra Nichols Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3858388. 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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