Robert R Mccormick Foundation
The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is a major private foundation established in 1955 following the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation invests in organizations working to build thriving communities where all individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed, without regard to income, race, ethnicity, gender, or ZIP code. Since its founding, the foundation has granted more than $1.8 billion to advance its mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8B
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$106.1M
+53.4% YoY
Grant Count
255
+8.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$416K
+41.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Robert R. McCormick Foundation invests in organizations working to build thriving communities in Chicagoland where all individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed, without regard to income, race, ethnicity, gender, or ZIP code.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Early Childhood Education – Supporting children from birth through kindergarten throughout Illinois, with particular focus on birth to three years
- Journalism – Augmenting investigative journalism and government accountability, including news literacy and journalism education
- Veterans – Supporting military service members, veterans, and their families
- Thriving Communities – Building community capacity and supporting public safety initiatives
- Strengthening Democracy – Supporting civic engagement and informed citizenship
Geographic Priorities: The foundation deepens its partnerships in specific Chicago neighborhoods including Englewood, Little Village, and several other communities in partnership with the United Way of Metro Chicago.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. No unsolicited applications are accepted. The foundation proactively identifies organizations with deep local knowledge and inclusive relationships to propel their communities forward.
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount: $5,206–$33,451,760
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Chicagoland region, particularly Chicago's South and West Sides. The foundation has deepened its partnerships in specific neighborhoods including Englewood and Little Village, working in partnership with the United Way of Metro Chicago. While the foundation's primary focus is Illinois, it also makes grants in New York and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $1,752,906,507
Annual Giving:
- Total giving (2024): $106,109,788
- Total giving (2023): $69,921,502
- Annual giving (2023): $69.9M
Revenue & Expenses:
- Total revenues (2024): $105,305,792
- Total expenses (2024): $114,636,034
Donor-Advised Funds: According to its 2024 tax filing, the foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,752,906,507 | $1,638,068,225 | $1,467,739,432 |
| Revenue | $105,305,792 | $97,553,776 | $64,881,149 |
| Expenses | $114,636,034 | $78,215,597 | $102,934,841 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $88,272,216 | $82,969,119 | $51,504,786 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Robert R Mccormick Foundation
Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund
ROBERT R MCCORMICK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Chicago Bulls Community Assist Fund
ROBERT R MCCORMICK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Chicago White Sox Community Fund
ROBERT R MCCORMICK FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cantigny Foundation ($33,451,760), Big Shoulders Fund ($2,024,208), Better Government Association ($1,173,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 456 PATHWAY TO ADVENTURE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP | $110,000 |
| A BETTER CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | SPONSORSHIP | $24,200 |
| A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | OPPORTUNITY YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM | $37,500 |
| ABOVE AND BEYOND FOOD PANTRY INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $37,500 |
| ACADEMY FOR URBAN SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CHICAGO, IL | CHICAGO TEACHER RESIDENCY | $30,000 |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| ADVOCATE HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION DOWNERS GROVE, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION OAK PARK, IL | HOUSING FOR JOBS PROGRAM | $22,500 |
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS INC CHICAGO, IL | OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING | $125,000 |
| AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS LOS ANGELES, CA | WE ARE READY | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENNIS FITZSIMONS | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 2 | $27,500 |
| LEE HENDERSON | DIRECTOR | 2 | $27,500 |
| MARY K LAWLER | DIRECTOR (AS OF 06/24) | 2 | $27,500 |
| WILLIAM MCCLEAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $27,500 |
| RUTHELLYN MUSIL | DIRECTOR | 2 | $27,500 |
| CELENA ROLDAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $27,500 |
| SCOTT SMITH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $27,500 |
| TIMOTHY KNIGHT | PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 28 | $566,311 |
| CARLA BEAL | CIO & TREASURER | 32 | $462,758 |
| ANDRES TORRES | VP-STRATEGY, PLANNING & OPS./SEC. | 24 | $183,199 |
| OSCAR REGALADO | VP-HUMAN RESOURCES | 24 | $168,951 |
| ANNA LAUBACH | DIRECTOR, SPECIAL INITIATIVES | 40 | $191,986 |
| KATYA NUQUES | DIRECTOR, LITTLE VILLAGE PORTFOLIO | 40 | $190,061 |
| MIRLENE DOSSOUS | DIRECTOR, ENGLEWOOD PORTFOLIO | 40 | $185,933 |
| JOSE RODRIGUEZ | DIRECTOR,COMMUNITY CAPITAL PORTFOLIO | 40 | $192,893 |
| BRYAN STOKES | DIRECTOR, EDUCATION PORTFOLIO | 40 | $199,112 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has funded several notable initiatives in recent years:
**News Literacy and Journalism Education:** The foundation has funded community-based approaches to news literacy and journalism education, reinforcing the importance of these areas to informed citizenship.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation Funds Community-Based Approaches to News Literacy**Northwestern University Medill Hub:** The foundation is supporting the launch of a hub at Northwestern University's Medill School to provide services to Chicago news outlets and continue programs to strengthen local news.
Medill will launch hub to provide services to Chicago news outlets ...**Youth Programs in Little Village:** The foundation awarded a $1 million grant to support youth programs in the Little Village neighborhood.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation\u2019s $500,000 Grant Fuels Expansion of\**Educator Test Prep Program:** A $500,000 grant was awarded to expand an educator test preparation program.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation\u2019s $500,000 Grant Fuels Expansion of\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert R Mccormick Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Robert R. McCormick Foundation invests in organizations working to build thriving communities in Chicagoland where all individuals have the resources and opportunities to succeed, without regard to income, race, ethnicity, gender, or ZIP code. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Early Childhood Education** – Supporting children from birth through kindergarten throughout Illinois, with particular focus on birth to three years • **Journalism** – Augmenting investigative journa…
How do I apply for a grant from Robert R Mccormick Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $30,000 to multi-million dollars (varies by program) • Average grant amount: $5,206–$33,451,760 • Early Childhood Education program: $4.2M–$6.2M annually **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. No unsolicited applications are accepted. The foundation proactively identifies organizations with deep local knowledge and inclusive relationships to propel their communities forward. **Recent Grant Activity:** • 235 awards made in 20…
Where does Robert R Mccormick Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Chicagoland region, particularly Chicago's South and West Sides. The foundation has deepened its partnerships in specific neighborhoods including Englewood and Little Village, working in partnership with the United Way of Metro Chicago. While the foundation's primary focus is Illinois, it also makes grants in New York and Virginia.
What size grants does Robert R Mccormick Foundation award?
In 2024, Robert R Mccormick Foundation awarded 255 grants totaling $106.1M — an average of about $416K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Robert R Mccormick Foundation's EIN?
Robert R Mccormick Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3689171. 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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