The Cuneo Foundation
The Cuneo Foundation is a private foundation based in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return and reports that the board agreed to dissolve the foundation, with dissolution to follow the transfer of its assets. The filing says the foundation began transferring its portfolio during June through December 2024; it appears to have wound down, so its past grantmaking and application information should not be treated as current.
The Cuneo Foundation at a glance
In short: The Cuneo Foundation gave $706K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $706,000
- +24.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,417
- +24.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $24,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Cuneo Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation did not accept unsolicited requests and made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. It describes a written request in letter form with supporting material, but this should not be treated as a current application process given the foundation’s final-return status. The filing also states that at least 60% of annual grants paid must be for purposes directly or indirectly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, and that grants were not being made to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- N/A, as stated in the filing.
- Deadline
- N/A, as stated in the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Fr Michael J Garanzini Sj
Mailing address: 111 E Pearson St Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 915-6400
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Cuneo Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Benedictine University ($50K). Together the top 10 received $370K.
Organizations only. It also paid 12 individual scholarships ($288,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 118 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Cuneo Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 262% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $566K (2023) to $706K (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $706K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictine University Lisle, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $50,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $50,000 |
| St Xavier University Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $50,000 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $50,000 |
| Depaul University Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $50,000 |
| 12 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $288,000 |
| Christ the King Jesuit College Prep Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $24,000 |
| Josephinum Academy Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $24,000 |
| Marmion Academy -Catholic college p Aurora, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $24,000 |
| Sacred Heart Academy Chicago, IL | Needs Based Scholarship | $24,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Cuneo Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $329,039 | $805,432 | $706,000 | 24 | $755,716 | $279,323 | $288,518 |
| 2023 | $12,663,353 | $-1,910,206 | $701,447 | $566,000 | 24 | $620,225 | $306,518 | $599,901 |
| 2022 | $11,394,134 | $946,986 | $787,942 | $670,000 | 23 | $715,471 | $874,515 | $605,654 |
| 2021 | $15,101,461 | $1,907,239 | $784,780 | $682,000 | 24 | $733,109 | $1,855,568 | $699,854 |
| 2020 | $14,244,209 | $41,870 | $769,306 | $670,000 | 23 | — | $220,372 | $631,974 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Cuneo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant descriptions show support for needs-based scholarships at colleges, universities, and high schools. Among the supported institutions, Loyola University of Chicago describes itself as a Jesuit, Catholic university; DePaul University describes itself as a Catholic, Vincentian university; and Benedictine University describes its academic community as inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $706,000. Grant amounts ranged from $24,000 to $50,000, with a median of $24,000. The largest listed awards were $50,000 each to Benedictine University, Loyola University, St. Xavier University, Dominican University, and DePaul University, all for needs-based scholarships. Other listed $24,000 awards went to Illinois high schools and preparatory schools for the same purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael J. Garanzini SJ as president; Msgr. Kenneth J. Velo and Pierce White as directors; Joan E. Steel as treasurer; and Kathryn White as secretary.
The Cuneo Foundation is led by Michael J. Garanzini Sj, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael J. Garanzini Sj
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Msgr Kenneth J. Velo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pierce White
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan E. Steel
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn White
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Andrea Hasten (2020–2023) — Vice Chairman
- Former: Jared Hasten (2020–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Cuneo Foundation
How much does The Cuneo Foundation give each year?
The Cuneo Foundation gave $706K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $566K across 24 grants.
What is The Cuneo Foundation's typical grant size?
The Cuneo Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $24,000, and its average grant was $29,417, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Cuneo Foundation give grants?
The Cuneo Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants) and River Forest, IL (2 grants).
Does The Cuneo Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Cuneo Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Needs Based Scholarship" (24 grants).
Who are The Cuneo Foundation's largest grantees?
The Cuneo Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Benedictine University ($50,000), Loyola University ($50,000) and St Xavier University ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 12 individual scholarships ($288,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does The Cuneo Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grant descriptions show support for needs-based scholarships at colleges, universities, and high schools. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Cuneo Foundation?
The filing states that the foundation did not accept unsolicited requests and made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Cuneo Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Cuneo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Cuneo Foundation's EIN?
The Cuneo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2261606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Cuneo Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-cuneo-foundation-morg_1d43b8bd0d864174865830eb27fafdcb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362261606_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Cuneo Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-cuneo-foundation-morg_1d43b8bd0d864174865830eb27fafdcb},
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 Cuneo 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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