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.
Key facts about The Donnelley Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6066894
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $734,450
- Grants made (2024)
- 152
- Average grant
- $4,832
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (38 of 111, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The two geographic regions (Chicago and Lowcountry) maintain different application guidelines, requiring applicants to ensure they are using the correct guidelines for their location. 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 The Donnelley Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Donnelley Foundation's 152 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (37%), California (22%) and Florida (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (44 grants), Lake Forest, IL (11 grants), Sonoma, CA (9 grants) and Palm Beach, FL (6 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Donnelley Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 38 of 111 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
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 The Donnelley Foundation
- How to evaluate The Donnelley Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The Donnelley Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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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
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Donnelley Foundation?
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
Share of all 152 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
734 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include The Sonoma Teaching Project ($120,000 across 4 grants), MGH Leadership Council for Psychiatric Fund ($40,000 across 3 grants), Helping Hands ($30,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE SONOMA TEACHING PROJECT Sonoma, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $36,000 |
| THE SONOMA TEACHING PROJECT Sonoma, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $36,000 |
| THE SONOMA TEACHING PROJECT Sonoma, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $36,000 |
| THE SOCIETY OF THE FOUR ARTS Palm Beach, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| HELPING HANDS Countryside, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| LAKE FOREST COLLEGE Lake Forest, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| MGH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR PSYCHIATRIC FUND Boston, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Chicago, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David Farren serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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 two geographic regions (Chicago and Lowcountry) maintain different application guidelines, requiring applicants to ensure they are using the correct guidelines for their location. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Donnelley Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.