The Satter Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation functions as a philanthropic vehicle focused on supporting innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations addressing critical global challenges.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.9M
-20.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$152K
+16.0% YoY
Grant Count
12
+71.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-32.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Satter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $506K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "The Satter Foundation aims to empower the powerless and to preserve our world's land and water by investing in bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations."
Vision: The foundation envisions a world where all people—regardless of where or in what circumstances they are born—have the resources and opportunities to live a free, educated, prosperous, and healthy life.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education and higher education
- Health and human services
- Human rights and democracy
- Environment and natural resources
- Job creation and economic opportunity
- Veterans support
- The arts
- Mental health resources
Grantmaking
The Satter Foundation employs a venture funding model to philanthropy. The foundation seeks to invest in innovative leaders and organizations tackling difficult challenges including human rights abuses, poverty, educational disparities, disease, environmental issues, and lack of mental health resources.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across the United States and internationally, with particular emphasis on the greater Chicago area. Geographic areas of support include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Miami, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and international locations including London.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $16.9 million to $21.2 million
- Revenue: -$3.79 million (2024)
- Expenses: $412,000 to $513,000 (2024)
- Total Liabilities: $0
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since October 1997. EIN: 13-3936468
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,861,350 | $21,168,093 | $21,919,010 |
| Revenue | $-3,794,157 | $-338,545 | $-38,066 |
| Expenses | $512,586 | $412,372 | $1,537,912 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $316,669 | $324,877 | $1,338,946 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $505,888 | $560,876 | $715,189 |
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
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($50,000), New Horizon House ($25,000), Renew Venture Lab 2 ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRIGHT STAR COMMUNITY OUTREACH CHICAGO, IL | PROVIDING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | $10,000 |
| GATEWAY FOR CANCER RESEARCH SCHAUMBERG, IL | PROVIDING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | $10,000 |
| HIPPOCRATIC CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | PROVIDING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | $1,000 |
| INVEST FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | BUILDING FINANCIAL STABILITY & OPPORTUNITY | $5,000 |
| NEW HORIZON HOUSE LITTLETON, CO | PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS | $25,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | PROVIDING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | $5,000 |
| PMC JIMMY FUND NEEDHAM, MA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $1,000 |
| PREVENT CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS | $5,000 |
| RENEW VENTURE LAB 2 DENVER, CO | BUILDING FINANCIAL STABILITY & OPPORTUNITY | $25,000 |
| SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITY LAB CHICAGO, IL | PROVIDING HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders & Trustees:
Muneer A. Satter – Founder and trustee. Former Goldman Sachs partner who joined the firm in 1988. Moved to London in 1992 to launch Goldman Sachs' European merchant banking division and returned to New York in 1997 to head the firm's mezzanine fund. Retired from Goldman Sachs in 2012 and founded Satter Investment Management, specializing in healthcare companies. Holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and J.D. and MBA degrees from Harvard University.
Kristen Hertel – Founder and trustee. Graduate of Northwestern University.
Administrative Support:
- Satter Management Co LP and Satter Investment Management LLC provide investment and administrative services to the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUNEER A SATTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KRISTEN HERTEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SATTER MANAGEMENT CO LP | INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICE PROVIDER | 1 | $37,745 |
| SATTER INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC | INVESTMENT & ADMINISTRATION PROVIDER | 1 | $105,189 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in recent years across its focus areas, with grant announcements in fields including sarcoidosis research, humanities programming, and animal welfare initiatives.
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) AnnouncesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Satter Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** "The Satter Foundation aims to empower the powerless and to preserve our world's land and water by investing in bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations." **Vision:** The foundation envisions a world where all people—regardless of where or in what circumstances they are born—have the resources and opportunities to live a free, educated, prosperous, and healthy life. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education and higher education • Health and human s…
How do I apply for a grant from The Satter Foundation?
The Satter Foundation employs a venture funding model to philanthropy. The foundation seeks to invest in innovative leaders and organizations tackling difficult challenges including human rights abuses, poverty, educational disparities, disease, environmental issues, and lack of mental health resources. The foundation provides steady, long-term, unrestrictive support to grantees and invests its time and leadership as appropriate to help organizations develop strategies for rapid growth. The fou…
Where does The Satter Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across the United States and internationally, with particular emphasis on the greater Chicago area. Geographic areas of support include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Miami, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and international locations including London.
What size grants does The Satter Foundation award?
In 2024, The Satter Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $152K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Satter Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Satter Foundation reported a distributable amount of $506K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Satter Foundation's EIN?
The Satter Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3936468. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Satter 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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