Largest private foundations in Illinois
| # | Foundation | City | Focus area | Total assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $9.3 billion |
| 2 | Builders Initiative | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $1.7 billion |
| 3 | Arie And Ida Crown Memorial | Chicago | Not listed | $1.4 billion |
| 4 | Joyce Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $1.3 billion |
| 5 | Paul M Angell Family Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $903.3 million |
| 6 | St George Corporation | Burr Ridge | Health Care | $808.3 million |
| 7 | Howard G Buffett Foundation | Decatur | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $718.1 million |
| 8 | Spencer Foundation | Chicago | Education | $664.8 million |
| 9 | Negaunee Foundation Ltd | Northbrook | Not listed | $615.6 million |
| 10 | Circle Of Service Foundation | Chicago | Not listed | $592.0 million |
| 11 | 1111 Foundation | Highland Park | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $539.8 million |
| 12 | Pritzker Foundation | Chicago | Not listed | $478.2 million |
| 13 | Hunter Family Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $420.5 million |
| 14 | The Richard H Driehaus Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $386.7 million |
| 15 | Polk Bros Foundation Inc | Chicago | Not listed | $334.3 million |
| 16 | The Poetry Foundation | Chicago | Arts, Culture & Humanities | $313.2 million |
| 17 | Pritzker Traubert Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $297.4 million |
| 18 | Steans Family Foundation | Chicago | Not listed | $293.8 million |
| 19 | Pritzker Family Foundation | Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $281.3 million |
| 20 | Caterpillar Foundation | Peoria | Not listed | $265.8 million |
| 21 | Abbvie Foundation | North Chicago | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $265.6 million |
| 22 | The Bobolink Foundation | Chicago | Not listed | $263.2 million |
| 23 | Caerus Foundation Inc | Northbrook | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations | $251.6 million |
| 24 | Dunard Fund Ltd | Northbrook | Not listed | $231.8 million |
| 25 | William G McGowan Charitable Fund | Chicago | Not listed | $229.4 million |
The full list includes all 5,566 Illinois foundations with street address, ZIP, EIN, focus area, income and tax period, plus every other state.
Illinois cities with the most private foundations
- Chicago: 2,485
- Northbrook: 87
- Highland Park: 75
- Lake Forest: 72
- Evanston: 60
- Rockford: 60
- Winnetka: 57
- Naperville: 55
- Oak Brook: 49
- Deerfield: 47
Most common focus areas in Illinois
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations: 2,556
- Education: 407
- Human Services: 165
- Arts, Culture & Humanities: 156
- Recreation & Sports: 105
- Religion-Related: 97
- Health Care: 56
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building: 51
Where does this data come from?
The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File, downloaded in October 2026 and filtered to private foundations. Assets are as reported on each foundation's latest return on file. Foundations with no focus area code are shown as Not listed.