Foundations that fund organizations in Aurora, Illinois
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Aurora nonprofits
209 private foundations gave $7.0M to Aurora organizations in their latest filings; 40 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
360 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Aurora around $10K. 60 of these funders are based in Illinois; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 209
- Accept applications
- 40
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Aurora
- $7.0M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 360
- Typical median grant
- $10K
- Based in IL
- 60%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Aurora organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunham Foundation | Aurora, IL | 22 | $1.9M | $13K | Yes | Program support |
| The Elburn Scholarship Fund | Wheaton, IL | 4 | $942K | $194K | Yes | Close out this account to new charit |
| Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation | Oak Brook, IL | 2 | $310K | $155K | Yes | Children's Mental Health Initiative; CMHI 2.0 Implementation - Kane County System of Care Project |
| Tru Needs Inc | Chicago, IL | 1 | $300K | $300K | Preselected only | General support |
| Nkc Family Foundation | Geneva, IL | 2 | $300K | $150K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Martha D & Herbert F Schingoethe Endowment Trust Old Second Natl Bank Tr | Aurora, IL | 1 | $277K | $277K | Preselected only | Educational |
| Clifton and Clara Ward Foundation | Nashville, TN | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Opearting fund |
| Clow Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $199K | $199K | Preselected only | Restricted |
| The Bolick Foundation | Conover, NC | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Global church planting |
| Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation | Aurora, IL | 5 | $149K | $30K | Yes | Program funding |
| The Bersted Foundation | Dallas, TX | 6 | $105K | $20K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| Mark Morton Memorial Fund | Chicago, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Charitable |
| Motorola Solutions Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $100K | $50K | Yes | General Operating Support |
| Juvenile Protective Association of Aurora Illinois | Aurora, IL | 14 | $91K | $5,000 | Yes | Child welfare |
| Southern Company Gas Charitable Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 3 | $78K | $23K | Preselected only | Provides food pantry services and hunger relief assistance; Supports community impact initiatives and partner agencies; Provides services and advocacy for survivors of domestic vi… |
| Hopelab Foundation Inc | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Support Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund |
| Ud Ht Edwards Char Tr 010494 | Dallas, TX | 1 | $70K | $70K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Wesley W Saul Charitable Organization | Carol Stream, IL | 2 | $65K | $33K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Raymond C and Linda M Stachowiak Foundation | St Charles, IL | 2 | $60K | $30K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Robert Galvin Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Public charity |
| The Melanie Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | To support ASF's mission of advancing research, clinical in… |
| The Rich Foundation | Sugar Grove, IL | 6 | $49K | $2,750 | Preselected only | Charitable to support organization's mission |
| Neil & Ginny Gerald Family Foundation | North Aurora, IL | 3 | $49K | $13K | Preselected only | Subaru share the love matching donation; Main stage co-sponsorship for fundraising event; Riveredge park sponsorship fund |
| Homecrest Foundation | Wilmette, IL | 2 | $46K | $23K | Preselected only | Rent support |
| Hansen-Furnas Foundation Inc | Batavia, IL | 6 | $43K | $5,000 | Yes | General; Preferred charities; Scholarships |
| Abboud Family Foundation Inc | Naperville, IL | 2 | $40K | $20K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| O'Bryan Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Albert M Zari Foundation C/O Sassetti LLC | Oak Brook, IL | 1 | $39K | $39K | Preselected only | To provide educational scholarships to qualifying students… |
| Carson Family Foundation C/O Susan Carson | Kildeer, IL | 9 | $35K | $2,920 | Yes | Contributions are for unrestricted purposes; Contributions are for unrestriced purposes |
| Pedersen Family Foundation | Aurora, IL | 1 | $32K | $32K | Preselected only | Assist victims of domestic violence |
| Naperville Rotary Charities Inc | Naperville, IL | 6 | $30K | $4,750 | Yes | Board designated fund; Community service grant; Diapers for the diaper bank |
| The Sai Kripalu Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Religious support |
| Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation C/O Impact House | Chicago, IL | 2 | $30K | $15K | Yes | For General Operating Support. Mobile Care provides no-cost…; For General Operating Support of women who are homeless/at-… |
| The Buchanan Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | General, operating, endowment or capital. |
| Power for Good Foundation | Chester, PA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| The Westerman Foundation | Plano, TX | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General purposes |
| Grand Victoria Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General Operating Support |
| Ben & Jerry's Foundation Inc | South Burlington, VT | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General support |
| Victor & Clara C Battin Foundation C/O McLaughlin & Stern (kbarkhorn) | New York, NY | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | For unrestricted use |
| Glass Solutions Foundation | Itasca, IL | 3 | $25K | $5,000 | Yes | Charitable |
| Lloyd a Fry Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $25K | $13K | Yes | For capital campaign for new residential facilities; For the capital campaign |
| Theo Sophia Charity | Bloomington, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Missions |
| Farms for Life Foundation | Batavia, IL | 2 | $24K | $12K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 12 | $23K | $566 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| Lennar Foundation | Miami, FL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | To advance the awareness and treatment of angelman syndrome… |
| Irene C Shea Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | General support |
| Richard and Gina Santori Charitable Foundation | Lisle, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | Literacy programs |
| George M Eisenberg Foundation for Charities | Arlington Heights, IL | 3 | $19K | $6,000 | Yes | Social assistance |
| The Elssy Fabela Foundation Inc | Aurora, IL | 2 | $16K | $7,898 | Yes | After school homework program; Needy family aid - clothing & food |
| Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation | Rosemont, IL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Community |
| Maverick Capital Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Medical research |
| Charles E and Barbara a Zidek Family Foundation | Batavia, IL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | General Purposes |
| Sending Support Foundation | Greenwood Village, CO | 5 | $15K | $2,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Donald E Fike Family Foundation | Galesburg, IL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Provide equitable access to leisure & recreation activities… |
| Hormel Foods Corporation Charitable Trust | Austin, MN | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Preselected only | Community support |
| Stella Maris Foundation C/O Mindy Everard | Green Bay, WI | 1 | $14K | $14K | Yes | Tutition financial support |
| Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation | Grand Junction, CO | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | Education |
| Bnsf Railway Foundation | Fort Worth, TX | 4 | $13K | $1,300 | Yes | Matching gifts 1; Health & human services; United way/red cross |
| McGowan Gin Rosica Family Foundation Inc | North Aurora, IL | 2 | $13K | $6,300 | Preselected only | Family fund grant; Homeless - transitional housing |
| Twelve Twenty-One Fund | Denver, CO | 5 | $13K | $2,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted donation |
| Aa Harvey Foundation | Springfield, IL | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | General support |
| Shodeen Family Foundation | Geneva, IL | 3 | $11K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Donation |
| Bob Barker Foundation Inc | Fuquayvarina, NC | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | General Operation |
| Columbia Family Foundation | Moses Lake, WA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Advance awareness of angelman syndrome |
| Salt and Light Foundation | Darien, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Foster an Environment for youth to learn about god |
| Round Room Gives Inc | Fishers, IN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Programming expense |
| Hansen Family Foundation Inc | Garden City, NY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| Fred J Brunner Foundation | Bensenville, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Unrestricted organization support |
| Ed Uihlein Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General |
| Best Walter & Edith Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $10K | $5,000 | Yes | Program support |
| Fisher Family Foundation Co Huck Bouma Pc Attorneys at Law | Wheaton, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Provide financial support. |
| Rubino Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Vernon H Haase Foundation | Aurora, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Education |
| Pat Mac's Pack Inc | Chicago, IL | 2 | $9,500 | $4,750 | Preselected only | Emergency Funds forPediatr. Brain CancerPatients and Famili… |
| International Paper Company Foundation | Memphis, TN | 4 | $8,900 | $2,000 | Yes | Aeef mini grant program; Mini-grant program; High school cardiac screenings |
| Kehe Cares Foundation Inc | Naperville, IL | 2 | $8,500 | $4,250 | Preselected only | Community development; Food insecurity |
| The Roche Family Foundation Inc | Oak Lawn, IL | 1 | $7,800 | $7,800 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Midland States Bank Foundation C/O Midland States Bank Trust Dept | Rockford, IL | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | Provide funds for operations |
| Tua M W Simpson Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $7,251 | $7,251 | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Scheidemantel Family Foundation | Wheaton, IL | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Preselected only | Women's Health Center |
| Frederick H Bedford Jr & Margaret S Bedford Charitable Foundation | Easton, PA | 2 | $7,000 | $3,500 | Preselected only | Charitable operations |
| James J Capone Charitable Foundati C/O Lisa Troy Trustee | Farmington, CT | 1 | $6,676 | $6,676 | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Timken Co Charitable & Educational Fund | North Canton, OH | 1 | $6,431 | $6,431 | Preselected only | General Operations |
| Oberweiler Foundation | Barrington, IL | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Yes | Healthy eating and active living projects |
| The Hope and Grace Charitable Foundation | Geneva, IL | 1 | $5,500 | $5,500 | Yes | General support |
| Mereo Foundation | Naperville, IL | 3 | $5,001 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Nonprofit organization empowering volunteers to pack meals…; To feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless…; Central illinois hindu religious society engaged in spreadi… |
| The Charles and Mary Crossed Foundation | Rochester, NY | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | pro-life public education |
| Sentry Insurance Foundation Inc | Stevens Point, WI | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Donations - education |
| Gcp Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Block Family Foundation | Niles, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | For operations |
| The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Human services |
| Mg O'Neil Foundation | Akron, OH | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | General support |
| American Eagle Outfitters Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Community charity |
| Ron and Mary Pott Family Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General usage |
| Benck Family Foundation | Naperville, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Podolsky Family Foundation C/O Randy Podolsky | Riverwoods, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Charitable Donation |
| The Pawlowski Family Foundation | Schaumburg, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General use |
| The Kneisel Foundation Inc | Beverly, MA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Faith in Families Foundation | Center Valley, PA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Faith in families foundation support initiative |
| Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation | Plainfield, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | To further the foundation's exempt purposes. |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Aurora, Illinois?
Dunham Foundation, The Elburn Scholarship Fund, Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, Tru Needs Inc, Nkc Family Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Aurora organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Aurora. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.