The Donnelley Foundation
The Donnelley Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1952, the foundation maintains a dual geographic focus on the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The foundation was founded by Gaylord Donnelley, grandson of Richard Robert Donnelley, founder of the R.R. Donnelley & Sons printing company, and his wife Dorothy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$734K
-8.1% YoY
Grant Count
152
+2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-9.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
Primary funding areas include:
Chicago Artistic Vitality: Supporting small, professional producing arts organizations of all disciplines and traditions with budgets under $1 million. The foundation provides multi-year general operations grants and technical assistance support to help arts partners sustain their artistry and strengthen their operations.
Land Conservation: Preserving and restoring natural lands on a landscape scale, recognizing their critical importance to the well-being of wildlife, plant life, and human communities.
Regional Collections: Supporting efforts related to cultural and historical collections in both regions.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications for its primary funding areas. However, the "Broadening Narratives" initiative operates by invitation only.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- Chicago, Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area
- Lowcountry of South Carolina
The foundation maintains offices in both Chicago and Charleston to serve these two regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of most recent filings:
- Total assets: $12.78 million (2024)
- Total giving: $734,450 (2024)
- Revenue: $712,251 (2023)
- Expenses: $910,000 (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
The foundation has been tax-exempt since July 1957 (EIN: 36-6066894).
| 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 Chicago Youth Centers ($20,000), 4those ($15,000), Friends of Historic Second Church ($12,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4THOSE LOUISVILLE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| 4THOSE LOUISVILLE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| 4THOSE LOUISVILLE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| 4THOSE LOUISVILLE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| AFRORACK CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| ARLINGTON ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM INC ARLINGTON, VT | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| AUSTEN RIGGS CENTER STOCKBRIDGE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| AWHS FALCON FOUNDATION SAN ANSELMO, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BATH & TENNIS CLUB HISTORIC BUILDING PALM BEACH, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BERKSHIRE SCHOOL SHEFFIELD, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Farren serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS E DONNELLEY II | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| NICOLE C HERWECK | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| DAVID E DONNELLEY | VP/SECRETARY | — | — |
| ROBERT G DONNELLEY | VP/TREASURER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has recently emphasized grant funding to illuminate underrepresented stories, particularly through its "Broadening Narratives" initiative. Recent grants have supported projects sharing underrepresented Lowcountry history and Chicago-area narratives. The foundation has been described as "a consistent and helpful source of general operating funds" and is considered an accessible funder for Chicago and Lowcountry nonprofits working in arts and environmental conservation.
Chicago Gallery News | <!-- -->Donnelley Foundation Announces Grant FundingFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Donnelley Foundation fund?
The foundation supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. **Primary funding areas include:** • **Chicago Artistic Vitality**: Supporting small, professional producing arts organizations of all disciplines and traditions with budgets under $1 million. The foundation provides multi-year general operations grants and technical assistance support to help arts partners sustain their artistry and s…
How do I apply for a grant from The Donnelley Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications for its primary funding areas. However, the "Broadening Narratives" initiative operates by invitation only. **Grant characteristics:** • Typical award range: $200–$60,000 • Multi-year general operations grants available for arts organizations • Technical assistance support provided alongside grants **Application process:** The two geographic regions (Chicago and Lowcountry) maintain different application guidelines, requiring applicants to e…
Where does The Donnelley Foundation make grants?
• **Chicago, Illinois** and the greater Chicagoland area • **Lowcountry of South Carolina** The foundation maintains offices in both Chicago and Charleston to serve these two regions.
What size grants does The Donnelley Foundation award?
In 2024, The Donnelley Foundation awarded 152 grants totaling $734K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Donnelley Foundation's EIN?
The Donnelley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6066894. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Donnelley 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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