The Canning Foundation
The Canning Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1993. The foundation supports a diverse range of philanthropic initiatives across the United States with a broad geographic reach and varied funding interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$8.6M
+17.8% YoY
Grant Count
65
-27.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$133K
+63.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Arts and education, including Roman Catholic education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- K-12 education, including charter schools and Head Start programs
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its formal documentation, instead maintaining a broad approach to grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation has limited staffing, with board members and key employees working without compensation.
Grant Range
$1,000–$3.1 million
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across a broad geographic reach, including:
- Primary focus areas: Illinois, New York, and District of Columbia
- Additional funding in 19 states and numerous cities across the United States
- Major urban centers supported include Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving:
- Total assets: $21,153,373 (most recent filing)
- Total giving: $8,627,571 (most recent fiscal year)
- Total expenses: Approximately $7.5 million
- Total revenue: Approximately $8.3 million
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc ($3,058,350), Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($2,446,000), Big Shoulders Fund ($727,028).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
| AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $200,000 |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND CHICAGO, IL | ON 06/12/2024, THE FOUNDATION DONATED 2 SHS OF BRKA WITH A BOOK VALUE OF $204,565 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. | $727,028 |
| BRAIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $25,000 |
| BRAVEHEARTS HARVARD, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $15,000 |
| CATHOLIC EXTENSION CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| CHANGE ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $25,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN GLENCOE, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by:
- John A. Canning Jr. – Co-President and Director
- Rita J. Canning – Co-President and Director
- Robert J. Quinn – Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Director
- Sharon J. Kulak – Secretary and Director
- Elizabeth Canning Lupo – Director
- John F. Podjasek III – Director
- Timothy Canning – Director
- Michael Canning – Director
- Jeff Podjasek – Director
- Steve Podjasek – Director
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN A CANNING JR | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| RITA J CANNING | CO-PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SHARON J KULAK | SEC/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELIZABETH CANNING LUPO | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOHN F PODJASEK III | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT J QUINN | EXEC VP/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| TIMOTHY CANNING | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MICHAEL CANNING | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEFF PODJASEK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEVE PODJASEK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: Co Rjc 70 W Madison 4600 Chicago, IL 60602 United States
Telephone: 312-895-1100
EIN: 36-3913323
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Canning Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • Arts and education, including Roman Catholic education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • K-12 education, including charter schools and Head Start programs The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its formal documentation, instead maintaining a broad approach to grantmaking across multiple sectors.
How do I apply for a grant from The Canning Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $8,627,571 (most recent fiscal year) • Typical award range: $1,000–$3,058,350 • Median grant amount: $25,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$3.1 million • Recent grant activity: 65 grants awarded in the most recent filing period **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis only, meaning it does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation has limited staffing, with board members and key employees working without compensation.
Where does The Canning Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across a broad geographic reach, including: • Primary focus areas: Illinois, New York, and District of Columbia • Additional funding in 19 states and numerous cities across the United States • Major urban centers supported include Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
What size grants does The Canning Foundation award?
In 2024, The Canning Foundation awarded 65 grants totaling $8.6M — an average of about $133K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Canning Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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