The Canning Foundation
The Canning Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2025, it reported grants to charitable organizations including schools, universities, healthcare organizations, and cultural and conservation organizations.
The Canning Foundation at a glance
In short: The Canning Foundation gave $7.0M across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $142K), mostly in Illinois. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,980,580
- -19.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- -24.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $142,461
- +7.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $24,793,036
- +17.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (13 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Canning Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Rjc 70 W Madison 4600, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 895-1100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Canning Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Big Shoulders Fund ($1.9M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,905,796), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
390 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 267 grants of 390 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois recipients received 90% of grant dollars. Recipients in Ohio and North Carolina each received 3%, while those in Virginia received 2% and Maryland recipients received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Canning Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 46 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $198K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 349% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2021) to $8.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $7.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | On 02/28/2025, the foundation donated 12,850 shs of sui with a book value of $350,465 to help further the organization's program services. Valuations are based on the average of the high/low share price on the date of the contribution. | $1,739,569 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,905,796 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | To Further Program Services | $475,644 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | To further program services of the canning inspire fund | $250,000 |
| Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield, IL | To Further Program Services | $200,000 |
| Denison University Granville, OH | To Further Program Services | $200,000 |
| Harper College Educational Foundation Palantine, IL | To Further Program Services | $200,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | To further program services of the biochemistry & molecular genetics fund | $200,000 |
| Duke University Durnham, NC | To Further Program Services | $199,999 |
| Hope Education and Outreach of St Sabina Chicago, IL | To Further Program Services | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,793,036 | $7,976,919 | $7,328,946 | $6,980,580 | 49 | $6,987,864 | $7,865,837 | $2,003,954 |
| 2024 | $21,153,373 | $22,546,325 | $8,719,182 | $8,627,571 | 65 | $8,636,930 | $6,844,970 | $2,104,823 |
| 2023 | $15,446,196 | $8,332,723 | $7,463,758 | $7,326,939 | 90 | $7,332,082 | $905,357 | $1,404,936 |
| 2022 | $10,948,734 | $8,728,276 | $7,245,394 | $7,182,604 | 89 | $7,185,533 | $3,380,448 | $1,431,231 |
| 2021 | $10,832,220 | $16,512,867 | $3,698,780 | $3,590,034 | 97 | $3,593,678 | $1,728,265 | $1,269,007 |
| 2020 | $4,433,305 | $9,695,344 | $5,729,557 | $5,653,515 | 114 | — | $2,483,927 | $497,243 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Canning Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, healthcare, music, and conservation. For example, Big Shoulders Fund says it supports underserved schools providing quality, values-based education for Chicago children. Merit School of Music says it works to remove barriers to high-quality music education for young people. The Chicago Zoological Society describes its mission as inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $6,980,580. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,739,569, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest reported grants were $1,739,569 to Big Shoulders Fund, $1,506,440 and $399,356 to an individual recipient, $475,644 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, and $250,000 and $200,000 to Northwestern University. Other grants included $200,000 each to the Chicago Zoological Society, Denison University, and Harper College Educational Foundation, and $150,000 each to Hope Education and Outreach of St. Sabina and Merit School of Music.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John A. Canning Jr. and Rita J. Canning as co-presidents and directors; Sharon J. Kulak as secretary and director; Robert J. Quinn as executive vice president, treasurer, and director; and Elizabeth Canning Lupo, John F. Podjasek III, Timothy Canning, Michael Canning, Jeff Podjasek, and Steve Podjasek as directors.
The Canning Foundation is led by John A. Canning Jr., Co-President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John A. Canning Jr.
Co-President & Director
President, Treasurer & Director → Co-President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rita J. Canning
Co-President & Director
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Co-President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Canning Lupo
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John F. Podjasek III
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert J. Quinn
Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Director
Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director → Executive Vice President, Treasurer & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sharon J. Kulak
Secretary & Director
Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director → Secretary & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeff Podjasek
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Michael Canning
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Steve Podjasek
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Timothy Canning
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Canning Foundation
How much does The Canning Foundation give each year?
The Canning Foundation gave $7.0M across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8.6M across 65 grants.
What is The Canning Foundation's typical grant size?
The Canning Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $142,461, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Canning Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Canning Foundation give grants?
The Canning Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (22 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does The Canning Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on The Canning Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Program Services" (44 grants).
Who are The Canning Foundation's largest grantees?
The Canning Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Big Shoulders Fund ($1,852,069 across 2 grants), Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($475,644) and Northwestern University ($450,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($1,905,796), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Canning Foundation?
The Canning Foundation reported $24.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Canning Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including education, healthcare, music, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Canning Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Canning Foundation's EIN?
The Canning Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3913323. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Canning Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Canning Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Canning Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-canning-foundation-morg_86eac72ce5b34676baabe0d76dff1756
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363913323_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Canning Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-canning-foundation-morg_86eac72ce5b34676baabe0d76dff1756},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Canning Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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