The McNamara Purcell Foundation
The McNamara Purcell Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It reported 25 grants totaling $1,388,500 in 2024, supporting organizations that include universities, medical and research organizations, and charitable foundations.
The McNamara Purcell Foundation at a glance
In short: The McNamara Purcell Foundation gave $1.4M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $56K), top state Indiana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,388,500
- +78.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -26.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $55,540
- +142.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $12,923,931
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Indiana (32% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The McNamara Purcell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 230 West Monroe St Ste 700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 405-1069
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McNamara Purcell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of ND - 1M Endowment to ND Grads ($400K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 169 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states. The largest shares went to Indiana (32%), Illinois (22%), New York (13%), Texas (9%), and North Carolina (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The McNamara Purcell Foundation gives
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $777K (2023) to $1.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of ND - 1M Endowment to ND Grads Notre Dame, IN | Unrestricted | $400,000 |
| St Joseph and St Francis Wilmette, IL | Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| Ms Research Center of NY - Annual Dinner New York, NY | Unrestricted | $175,000 |
| Loyola Academy Rex Englebert First Responders Awar Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $80,000 |
| Multiple Myeloma - Chicago Dinner Norwalk, CT | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Texas Christian University - DEANS DISCR FUND Fort Worth, TX | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| University of Notre Dame - Friends of ND Nil Effor Notre Dame, IN | Unrestrcited | $50,000 |
| TCU Flying T Club (NIL) Forth Worth, TX | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| High Point University Friends of HPU Collective High Point, NC | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| USD - the Ole Foundation San Diego, CA | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The McNamara Purcell 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 | $12,923,931 | $2,587,485 | $1,457,670 | $1,388,500 | 25 | $1,390,130 | $2,383,090 | $1,372,680 |
| 2023 | $11,788,635 | $1,036,263 | $835,159 | $777,419 | 34 | $777,449 | $860,693 | $1,068,864 |
| 2022 | $11,598,589 | $2,072,321 | $1,133,168 | $1,057,000 | 33 | $1,057,000 | $1,796,222 | $1,022,208 |
| 2021 | $10,653,631 | $728,297 | $1,526,501 | $1,515,000 | 41 | $1,515,000 | $595,848 | $1,149,988 |
| 2020 | $11,406,907 | $599,653 | $1,001,044 | $999,000 | 36 | — | $592,609 | $1,021,394 |
| 2019 | $11,822,326 | $608,572 | $1,019,279 | $999,500 | 1 | — | $485,459 | $1,058,516 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McNamara Purcell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 grants included support for higher education, medical research, and charitable organizations. For example, the Brain Research Foundation describes its work as supporting neuroscience research on brain function and brain-related disorders. The Navy SEAL Foundation says it provides support for Naval Special Warfare service members, veterans, and their families. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $1,388,500. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $400,000, with a median of $25,000. Among its largest grants were $400,000 to the University of ND for a graduate endowment, $200,000 to St Joseph and St Francis, and $175,000 to MS Research Center of NY for an annual dinner. Each was listed as unrestricted. Other 2024 recipients included Impact Through Golf Foundation Napa Valley ($25,000), Navy SEAL Foundation ($25,000), Brain Research Foundation ($20,000), and Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation ($5,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David P Purcell, Michael J Purcell, and Paul M Purcell as trustees, and Philip J Purcell as manager.
The McNamara Purcell Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David P Purcell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J Purcell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul M Purcell
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip J Purcell
Manager
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 McNamara Purcell Foundation
How much does The McNamara Purcell Foundation give each year?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation gave $1.4M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $777K across 34 grants.
What is The McNamara Purcell Foundation's typical grant size?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $55,540, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The McNamara Purcell Foundation give grants?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 32% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (22%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants), Notre Dame, IN (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Fort Worth, TX (2 grants).
Does The McNamara Purcell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of The McNamara Purcell Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The McNamara Purcell Foundation's largest grantees?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of ND - 1M Endowment to ND Grads ($400,000), St Joseph and St Francis ($200,000) and Ms Research Center of NY - Annual Dinner ($175,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The McNamara Purcell Foundation?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The McNamara Purcell Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for higher education, medical research, and charitable organizations. For example, the Brain Research Foundation describes its work as supporting neuroscience research on brain function and brain-related disorders. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McNamara Purcell Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The McNamara Purcell Foundation's EIN?
The McNamara Purcell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7293187. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does The McNamara Purcell 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 2019 (received by the IRS September 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work The McNamara Purcell Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The McNamara Purcell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The McNamara Purcell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcnamara-purcell-foundation-morg_f418967bb92549c18a13fcbfc0127241
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_367293187_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The McNamara Purcell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-mcnamara-purcell-foundation-morg_f418967bb92549c18a13fcbfc0127241},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 McNamara Purcell 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.
The McNamara Purcell Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?