McGraw Foundation Grant

The McGraw Foundation offers annual grants to not-for-profit organizations, primarily in the greater Chicago area, focusing on education, conservation, and human services. Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with larger grants available for particularly impactful projects. While supporting diverse initiatives, the Foundation does not fund individuals or specific events. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS regulations to qualify for funding. The Foundation encourages innovative approaches and partnerships in grant applications.

NOTE: We will be accepting grant proposals for the 2026 grant year by invitation only.
Background
McGraw Foundation, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, makes annual grants to not-for-profit organizations.  The Foundation’s areas of interest involve the fields of conservation, educational programs at all levels, and human services. Occasionally, grants are made in other areas such as health, medical research and cultural.
Grant requests are suggested to be within a range of $2,000 to $10,000. Grant recipients and amounts will be determined by several criteria. Naturally, availability of funds is a key factor.
The Foundation will occasionally make large grants ($25,000 or more) to support unusually promising efforts in any of its areas of interest. Innovative research, special education, and/or other activities will be considered if the Foundation’s support would assist an effort or a project in making a significant impact.
Education: Higher
The Foundation has been a pioneer in support of environmental education at the highest level by establishing three chaired professorships.
Education: Elementary & Special
McGraw Foundation supports a wide array of organizations that focus on assisting the education and advancement of children as well as adults. McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.
In addition to F.A.I.T.H., McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.
Human Services
Since 1949, McGraw Foundation has been concerned with helping people in need. While the emphasis is on organizations serving children, funding also extends to people of all ages.
Children's issues such as these have been supported throughout the years:

• child welfarefoster care and adoptionfamily counselingenriching summer campscrisis intervention
• Funding for quality-of-life issues for people of all ages has included:
• developmental disabilitieshealth clinicsdomestic violencehousing and homelessnessjob training and continued supportseniors needs
• Health & Medical

Since its inception, McGraw Foundation has made grants in the health and medical fields.  Health and medical funding has included:
specific medical researchrehabilitationsupport programs for patients and their familiesmedical attention for people without health insurancepalliative care and hospice organizations
Civic & Cultural
Complimenting it's main focus on education and the environment, McGraw Foundation has supported some of Chicago's distinctive cultural and arts organizations.
Areas of interest include zoological societies' animal conservation, public communication, musical organizations, and civic organizations' promotion of science and the general welfare of society.

Eligibility

Grants generally are limited to organizations located in the greater Chicago area.The Foundation will support only organizations qualified as tax-exempt, (i.e., 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1) or (a)(2) organizations), under the regulations of the United States Internal Revenue Service.Grants may be made for general operating support, specific projects, and occasionally, capital programs. Grants will be made on a single year basis.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not make grants directly to individuals. The Foundation does not make grants for purposes that are strictly religious in nature.The Foundation does not make grants for specific events, such as seminars, conferences, etc.The Foundation does not normally support theater groups.The Foundation does not normally support public or private high schools.The Foundation will make annual grants on a recurring basis to sustain operations of some organizations. However, long-term dependency situations are not considered desirable