Scanlan Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 52-7240192
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

The Scanlan Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2003. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and focuses on philanthropic giving across the United States.

Key facts about Scanlan Family Foundation

EIN
52-7240192
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$16,894,526
Grants made (2024)
11
Average grant
$1,535,866
Median grant
$1,000,000
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2024)
Total assets
$103,358,555
Primary geography
Iowa (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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 Scanlan Family Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Scanlan Family Foundation's 11 itemized 2024 grants were Iowa (29%), Vermont (24%) and Connecticut (24%). None of its 11 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

Is Scanlan Family Foundation open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $185K; repeat grants $2M. How we count

Medians: $250K first-time, $1.4M repeat.

  • 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 328% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 259% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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 Scanlan Family Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$103.4M

-22.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$16.9M

+12.5% YoY

Grant Count

11

+22.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$1.5M

-8.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Scanlan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's mission statement indicates that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Primary funding areas include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services

Grantmaking

How to Apply

**

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Scanlan Family Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs
Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:

States: California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, New York, and Vermont

Cities: Bennington, Chicago, Harpswell, Iowa City, New York, Orono, Portland, Sausalito, Washington, Waukee, and Windsor

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaIowaIllinoisMassachusettsMaineNew YorkVermont

Cities

PortlandBenningtonIowa CityWindsorAspenChicagoHarpswellNew YorkOronoWaukeeBasaltBinghamtonBostonEast BoothbayPoughkeepsieSausalitoTorringtonWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Giving (Most Recent Data):

  • Total Assets: $103,358,555 (2024)
  • Total Giving: $16,894,526 (2024)
  • Total Expenses: $17,504,486 (2024)
  • Total Revenue: $6,359,870 (2024)

Historical Assets:

  • $133,000,000 (2023)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$14M$19M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$103,358,555$132,991,717$132,163,171
Revenue$6,359,870$1,853,775$3,185,114
Expenses$17,504,486$15,390,079$6,065,164
Qualifying Distributions$16,894,526$15,023,308$5,690,200
Net Investment Income$3,958,414$3,118,186$4,508,670
Distributable Amount$6,532,363$6,261,889$6,756,968

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$8M$13M$17M9 grants20205 grants20213 grants20229 grants202311 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Bennington College: $4.0MBennington College$4.0MLoomis Chaffee School: $4.0MLoomis Chaffee School$4.0MState University of Iowa Foundation: $3.9MState University of IowaFoundation$3.9MNorthwestern University: $1.5MNorthwestern University$1.5MGulf of Maine Research Institute: $1.3MGulf of Maine ResearchInstitute$1.3MDesmoines Jewish Foundation: $1.0MDesmoines Jewish Foundation$1.0MUniversity of Maine Foundation: $524KUniversity of Maine Foundation$524KFoundation of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary: $300KFoundation of theMassachusetts Eye and Ear…$300KJazz at Aspen - Snowmass: $250KJazz at Aspen - Snowmass$250KQuahog Bay Conservatory: $140KQuahog Bay Conservatory$140K

Grant Size Distribution

37 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K1$50–100K6$100–250K5$250–500K2$500K–1M17$1–5M1$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Bennington College ($4,000,000), Loomis Chaffee School ($4,000,000), State University of Iowa Foundation ($3,925,998).

RecipientPurposeAmount
BENNINGTON COLLEGE Bennington, VTALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$4,000,000
LOOMIS CHAFFEE SCHOOL Windsor, CTALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$4,000,000
STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION Iowa City, IAALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$3,925,998
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Chicago, ILALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$1,500,000
GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE Portland, MEALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$1,250,000
DESMOINES JEWISH FOUNDATION Waukee, IAALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$1,000,000
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION Orono, MEALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$523,528
FOUNDATION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY Boston, MAALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$300,000
JAZZ AT ASPEN - SNOWMASS Aspen, COALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$250,000
QUAHOG BAY CONSERVATORY Harpswell, MEALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES$140,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is led by three uncompensated directors:

  • Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan – President and Director
  • Patrick Scanlan – Vice President and Director
  • Catherine O'Brien – Treasurer, Secretary, and Director

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Mary Bucksbaum ScanlanPresident/Director1—
Patrick ScanlanVice President/Director1—
Catherine O'BrienTreasurer/Secretary/Director1—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2022

In 2022, the Scanlan Family Foundation made a historic $15 million gift to the University of Iowa College of Education to establish a named mental health center and expand mental health services to schools and veterans. This represented the largest gift in the college's history at that time.

Scanlan Family Foundation gives $15 million to name school mental health

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Scanlan Family Foundation fund?

The foundation's mission statement indicates that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services

How do I apply for a grant from Scanlan Family Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Scanlan Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, New York, and Vermont **Cities:** Bennington, Chicago, Harpswell, Iowa City, New York, Orono, Portland, Sausalito, Washington, Waukee, and Windsor

What size grants does Scanlan Family Foundation award?

In 2024, Scanlan Family Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $16.9M — an average of about $1.5M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Scanlan Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Scanlan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Scanlan Family Foundation's EIN?

Scanlan Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-7240192. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Scanlan Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Scanlan Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Grants for NonprofitsIllinois GrantsCalifornia GrantsColorado Grants

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

Assets

$6.0B

Grants

3,976

Total Given

$1.4B

Boston Foundation Inc

Boston, MA

Assets

$1.9B

Grants

2,046

Total Given

$169.9M

IBM International Foundation

Armonk, NY

Assets

$357.7M

Grants

16

Total Given

$11.7M

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Shell USA Company Foundation

Houston, TX

Assets

$52.3M

Grants

4,650

Total Given

$16.0M

Arthur J Gallagher Foundation

Rolling Meadows, IL

Assets

—

Grants

2,692

Total Given

$1.6M

The Allstate Foundation

Northbrook, IL

Assets

—

Grants

2,010

Total Given

$38.0M

Elks National Foundation Inc

Chicago, IL

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$885.0M

Grants

1,485

Total Given

$31.9M

Baxter International Foundation

Deerfield, IL

Assets

$67.5M

Grants

1,300

Total Given

$13.7M

John D and Catherine T Macarthur

Chicago, IL

Assets

$9.3B

Grants

1,086

Total Given

$356.1M

Arie and Ida Crown Memorial

Chicago, IL

Assets

—

Grants

897

Total Given

$115.2M

The Pfizer Foundation Inc

New York, NY

Assets

$255.3M

Grants

9,306

Total Given

$23.2M

More Funders in Illinois

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Scanlan Family Foundation by hand.

Want AI to do this for you? See how it works