The Satter Foundation
The Satter Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports organizations and social entrepreneurs working to create lasting change in people’s lives and the environment, including through work addressing human rights, poverty, education, health, and environmental issues.
The Satter Foundation at a glance
In short: The Satter Foundation gave $152K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Illinois. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $152,000
- +16.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +71.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,667
- -32.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $16,861,350
- -20.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (6 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (60% 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 Satter 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. Its stated approach includes steady, long-term, unrestricted support and, as appropriate, time and leadership for grantees.
- Contact
Mailing address: 500 N Michigan Ave Ste 1700, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 642-0006
Website: https://satterfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Satter Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($50K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
201 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 201 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, Colorado, Florida, and Massachusetts. The reported shares were Illinois 60%, Colorado 33%, Florida 7%, and Massachusetts 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Satter Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 17% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 96% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 63% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $131K (2023) to $3.5M (2021). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $152K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Chicago, IL | Providing Health & Human Services | $50,000 |
| New Horizon House Littleton, CO | Promoting Human Rights | $25,000 |
| Renew Venture Lab 2 Denver, CO | Building Financial Stability & Opportunity | $25,000 |
| Bright Star Community Outreach Chicago, IL | Providing Health & Human Services | $10,000 |
| Gateway for Cancer Research Schaumberg, IL | Providing Health & Human Services | $10,000 |
| Vet Jobs Fort Myers, FL | Supporting & Honoring Veterans | $10,000 |
| Invest for Kids Chicago, IL | Building Financial Stability & Opportunity | $5,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Providing Health & Human Services | $5,000 |
| Prevent Child Abuse in America Chicago, IL | Promoting Human Rights | $5,000 |
| The Golden Apple Foundation Chicago, IL | Providing Educational Opportunities | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Satter 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 | $16,861,350 | $-3,794,157 | $512,586 | $152,000 | 12 | $316,669 | — | $505,888 |
| 2023 | $21,168,093 | $-338,545 | $412,372 | $131,000 | 7 | $324,877 | — | $560,876 |
| 2022 | $21,919,010 | $-38,066 | $1,537,912 | $1,124,000 | 30 | $1,338,946 | — | $715,189 |
| 2021 | $23,494,988 | $1,704,258 | $4,163,698 | $3,466,500 | 79 | $3,857,300 | $1,402,860 | $1,230,498 |
| 2020 | $25,954,428 | $3,467,590 | $3,084,010 | $2,482,200 | 73 | — | $3,142,660 | $1,363,139 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to “empower the powerless and to preserve our world’s land and water” by investing in “bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations.” Its stated vision is a world where everyone has the resources and opportunities to live a free, educated, prosperous, and healthy life.
Its stated areas of concern include human rights abuses, poverty, educational disparities, disease, environmental issues, and a lack of mental health resources. Its 2024 grants included support for health and human services, human rights, financial stability and opportunity, veterans, education, and program services.
Among its grantees, Gateway for Cancer Research describes its mission as accelerating practice-changing discoveries in cancer care and empowering patients. Bright Star Community Outreach says it works to build community through partnerships and programs addressing community engagement, economic development, education, children and youth, and families. Invest for Kids says it raises funds for Chicago-area children’s charities through an annual conference.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $152,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $7,500. The largest awards included $50,000 to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for health and human services, $25,000 to New Horizon House for promoting human rights, and $25,000 to Renew Venture Lab 2 for building financial stability and opportunity.
Other 2024 grants included $10,000 each to Bright Star Community Outreach, Gateway for Cancer Research, and VetJobs; and $5,000 each to Invest for Kids, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, Prevent Child Abuse in America, and The Golden Apple Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Muneer A. Satter and Kristen Hertel as trustees. It also lists Satter Management Co LP as an investment management service provider and Satter Investment Management LLC as an investment and administration provider.
The Satter Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kristen Hertel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Muneer A. Satter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Satter Investment Management LLC
Investment & Administration Provider
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$264K (2020) → $105K (2024)
Satter Management Co Lp
Investment Management Service Provider
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$149K (2020) → $38K (2024)
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 $105K, to Satter Investment Management LLC (Investment & Administration Provider). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Satter Foundation
How much does The Satter Foundation give each year?
The Satter Foundation gave $152K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $131K across 7 grants.
What is The Satter Foundation's typical grant size?
The Satter Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $12,667, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Satter Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Satter Foundation give grants?
The Satter Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (33%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does The Satter Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Satter Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Providing Health & Human Services" (5 grants).
Who are The Satter Foundation's largest grantees?
The Satter Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($50,000), New Horizon House ($25,000) and Renew Venture Lab 2 ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Satter Foundation?
The Satter Foundation reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $317K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $506K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Satter Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to “empower the powerless and to preserve our world’s land and water” by investing in “bold, tactical, and innovative social entrepreneurs and organizations.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Satter 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 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.
Does The Satter 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Satter Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-satter-foundation-morg_80963c1cf84e43508b12ce250c06cf7e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133936468_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Satter Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-satter-foundation-morg_80963c1cf84e43508b12ce250c06cf7e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Satter 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.
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