The Pritzker Pucker Family
The Pritzker Pucker Family is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation says it works to support healthy, safe, just, thriving, and culturally connected communities, with particular attention to Chicago communities affected by marginalization or historic disinvestment.
The Pritzker Pucker Family at a glance
In short: The Pritzker Pucker Family gave $10.0M across 96 grants in 2024 (avg $104K), mostly in Illinois. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,994,896
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 96
- +7.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $104,114
- -4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $60,029,055
- +1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (40 of 96, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% 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 Pritzker Pucker Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and considers proposals from preselected charitable organizations. It requires organizations to have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. The foundation provides both general operating support and program funding.
- Contact
Mailing address: 150 N Riverside Plz 3300, Chicago, IL 60606-1594
Phone: (312) 577-2600
Website: https://pritzkerpuckerfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Pritzker Pucker Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Columbia University ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $5.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
461 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 249 grants of 461 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it primarily funds organizations in the Metro Chicago area, with select grants elsewhere. In 2024, 51% of grant dollars went to Illinois recipients, 24% to New York, 12% to Massachusetts, 6% to Colorado, and 3% to California. Its strategy identifies Garfield Park and Englewood as priorities for place-based investment and continued support for work in Bronzeville related to the creative economy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 96 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Pritzker Pucker Family open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 96 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $142K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 253% 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 $7.1M (2021) to $10.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 96 grants totaling $10.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia University New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,550,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $716,667 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | General Operating Support | $600,000 |
| Chicago Community Trust Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $550,000 |
| Chicago Children's Museum Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Community Builders - New Hope Community Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | General Operating Support | $350,000 |
| Tectonic Theater Project New York, NY | General Operating Support | $265,000 |
| Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
| Reader Institute for Community Journalism Inc Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $250,000 |
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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 | $60,029,055 | $16,145,803 | $15,388,865 | $9,994,896 | 96 | $11,578,627 | $6,274,026 | $4,574,509 |
| 2023 | $59,272,117 | $5,444,283 | $11,460,910 | $9,693,641 | 89 | $10,520,037 | $4,516,659 | $4,429,729 |
| 2022 | $65,293,744 | $11,017,423 | $9,536,164 | $7,410,690 | 120 | $8,094,948 | $4,599,285 | $4,297,441 |
| 2021 | $63,807,485 | $11,921,924 | $8,484,092 | $7,075,159 | 78 | $7,592,306 | $10,300,983 | $5,297,168 |
| 2020 | $60,370,948 | $6,971,831 | $9,053,486 | $7,834,796 | 78 | — | $5,064,806 | $4,551,258 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pritzker Pucker Family reported a distributable amount of $4.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says its goal is to help people have the access, ability, opportunity, and agency to move freely through life. Its stated approaches include place-based investments, anchor organizations, research and evaluation, systems change, and family-inspired giving. Its community safety and wellness work includes support for violence prevention, community investment, and efforts to reimagine public safety. Its arts, culture, and creative economy work includes support for artists, storytelling and new work development, and creative businesses and organizations.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in health care, education, arts and theater, journalism, and international human rights. Planned Parenthood of Illinois describes its mission as providing and promoting reproductive health care, education, and rights. The Chicago Children’s Museum says it encourages families and caregivers to learn together through play. The Reader Institute for Community Journalism describes its work as advancing public discourse through local independent journalism in the greater Chicago area. Tectonic Theater Project says it creates and produces stage works that explore theatrical language and form.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 96 grants totaling $9,994,896. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,550,000, with a median of $50,000. The itemized grants list general operating support as the purpose for the largest awards.
The largest 2024 grant was $1,550,000 to Columbia University. Other major grants included $716,667 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois, $600,000 to the University of Colorado Foundation, $550,000 to Chicago Community Trust, and $500,000 each to Chicago Children’s Museum and Community Builders–New Hope Community. Additional grants included $350,000 to Northwestern University, $265,000 to Tectonic Theater Project, $250,000 each to Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative and Reader Institute for Community Journalism, $220,000 to the University of Chicago, and $200,000 to American Jewish World Service.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gigi Pritzker Pucker as president and director; Michael Pucker as director, treasurer, and vice president; Paula H McMenamin, Scott Stevens, and Julie Wilen as vice presidents; Marian Pritzker as director; Joshua S Abern as vice president and secretary; and Valerie Chang as chief executive officer.
The Pritzker Pucker Family is led by Valerie Chang, Chief Executive Officer on the 2024 filing; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Valerie Chang
Chief Executive Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$394K (2024)
Gigi Pritzker Pucker
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marian Pritzker
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Pucker
Director, Treasurer & V.p.
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Wilen
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$251K (2020) → $306K (2024)
Joshua S. Abern
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula H. McMenamin
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Stevens
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles J. Barron (2020) — Vice President & Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $394K, to Valerie Chang (Chief Executive Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Pritzker Pucker Family
How much does The Pritzker Pucker Family give each year?
The Pritzker Pucker Family gave $10.0M across 96 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.7M across 89 grants.
What is The Pritzker Pucker Family's typical grant size?
The Pritzker Pucker Family's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $104,114, across 96 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pritzker Pucker Family that year got $51K on average.
Where does The Pritzker Pucker Family give grants?
The Pritzker Pucker Family gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (24%) and Massachusetts (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (56 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).
Does The Pritzker Pucker Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Pritzker Pucker Family's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (96 of 96) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Pritzker Pucker Family's largest grantees?
The Pritzker Pucker Family's largest 2024 grantees include Columbia University ($1,550,000), Planned Parenthood of Illinois ($716,667) and University of Colorado Foundation ($600,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Pritzker Pucker Family?
The Pritzker Pucker Family reported $60.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Pritzker Pucker Family fund?
The foundation says its goal is to help people have the access, ability, opportunity, and agency to move freely through life. Its stated approaches include place-based investments, anchor organizations, research and evaluation, systems change, and family-inspired giving. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Pritzker Pucker Family?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and considers proposals from preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Pritzker Pucker Family's EIN?
The Pritzker Pucker Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0036022. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Pritzker Pucker Family 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 October 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 Pritzker Pucker Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-pritzker-pucker-family-morg_cdd2d23636ed437eb569245573a5bf8c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300036022_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Pritzker Pucker Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-pritzker-pucker-family-morg_cdd2d23636ed437eb569245573a5bf8c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Pritzker Pucker Family'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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