The Negaunee Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. The organization operates as a philanthropic institution dedicated to supporting initiatives across multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on arts, culture, and education throughout the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$615.6M
+16.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$33.8M
-19.3% YoY
Grant Count
114
+8.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$296K
-25.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Negaunee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $29.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass:
- Arts and culture
- Performing arts
- Music
- Education
- Higher education
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Range
$2,000
Average Grant
$2,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates across multiple states, including:
California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $527.6 million
- Annual Revenue: $111.5 million
- Annual Expenses: $44 million
- Tax ID: 36-3555046
- Ruling Year: 1988
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $615,618,721 | $527,628,201 | $331,313,275 |
| Revenue | $65,286,969 | $111,485,176 | $44,044,070 |
| Expenses | $37,509,871 | $44,081,806 | $23,078,485 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $37,153,862 | $43,837,190 | $2,123,878 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,884,166 | $8,316,548 | $12,856,274 |
| Distributable Amount | $29,712,933 | $23,860,425 | $19,091,848 |
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 The Colburn School ($2,050,000), Wttw - Network Chicago ($1,650,000), Merit School of Music ($550,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WTTW - NETWORK CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | RESTRICTED USE | $1,650,000 |
| ALS ASSOCIATIONS BOONE, IA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $2,000 |
| American Friends of Monteverdi Wilmington, DE | UNRESTRICTED USE | $60,000 |
| American Writers Museum Chicago, IL | RESTRICTED USE | $50,000 |
| AMERICANS FOR OXFORD INC NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED USE | $90,000 |
| ANTIOCH COLLEGE YELLOW SPRINGS, OH | UNRESTRICTED USE | $200,000 |
| Bat Conservation International Austin, TX | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| BELLA VOCE CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $5,000 |
| CATO Institute Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED USE | $100,000 |
| Cedille Chicago NFP Chicago, IL | RESTRICTED USE | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard Colburn — President and Director
- Robin T. Colburn — Vice President and Director
Foundation leadership does not receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD COLBURN | PRESIDENTDIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBIN T COLBURN | VICE PRESIDENTDIRECTOR | 15 | — |
| EWA JONES | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DALE KUNTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEBBIE CREEK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HEATHER MCCOWEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant contributions to cultural institutions, including a $21 million gift to a major arts organization. The foundation also administers a Community Contributions grant program that accepts applications from local nonprofits.
Community contribution grants awarded to local nonprofits in Negaunee | News,Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Negaunee Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass: • Arts and culture • Performing arts • Music • Education • Higher education • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from The Negaunee Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total awarded in the most recent year: $41.8 million • Average grant size: $2,000 • Total grants awarded (previous year): 23,800 **Geographic Distribution:** The foundation funds projects across numerous U.S. cities and states, including major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, as well as smaller communities.
Where does The Negaunee Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates across multiple states, including: California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin
What size grants does The Negaunee Foundation award?
In 2024, The Negaunee Foundation awarded 114 grants totaling $33.8M — an average of about $296K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Negaunee Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Negaunee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $29.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Negaunee Foundation's EIN?
The Negaunee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3555046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Negaunee 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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