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David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$471k
Granted FY2024still arriving
16
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$78k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$554kReligion$416kFood & Nutrition$317kHealth$228kPublic Safety & Disaster$111kHousing & Shelter$104kYouth Development$40kHuman Services$32kOther$0
02FY2024 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k3 grants · $4k
  • $10k–50k9 grants · $211k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $257k
$25,207
Median grant
2
States reached
$5.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND$78,381
BIG SHOULDERS FUND$75,146
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION$52,834
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY$50,259
AMERICAN RED CROSS$49,834
ST ISAAC JOGUES$40,282
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY$25,207
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO$25,207
CARENET PREGNANCY SERVICES OF DUPAGE COUNTY INC$15,202
INSPIRATION CORPORATION$15,202
MISERICORDIA$15,202
BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES$15,202
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE$10,040
BUTTERFIELD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM$2,000
THE O'BRIEN SCHOOL FOR THE MASSAI$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $102k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $16k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $15k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $15k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $15k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $15k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $15k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $5k → 14%INSPIRATION CORPORATION: $5k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
NY
OR
OH
CA
UT
NC
DC
LA
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.7M · 22 repeat orgs$181k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +72% since the first grant, against +38% for those funded once.

22 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2024, 9 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
38

Total granted

$1.7M
$100k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+72%
+38%

Still filing today

50%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 83% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $81k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthEducationInternationalAnimalsFood & NutritionEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • BS
    Big Shoulders Fund
    7× · 2018–2024 · $350k · revenue +67%
  • GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
    8× · 2017–2024 · $317k · revenue +140%
  • IC
    Inspiration Corporation
    8× · 2017–2024 · $102k · revenue +102%

Funded once

  • IF
    INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS
    one grant, 2017 · $15k
  • CR
    CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • SF
    SPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INCgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +305%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Uchicago Medicine Network Inc

Uchicago medicine network, inc. supports and encourages health and human service by providing support, directly or indirectly to ingalls memorial hospital, the university of chicago medical center, and other related tax-exempt…

Health
2
Lurie Children's Surgical Foundation Inc

Provide pediatric and subspecialty surgical, research, and educational services.

—
3
Mercy Foundation Inc

We, mercy health system of chicago and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.mercy foundation is a member of mercy health system of chicago…

Philanthropy
4
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
5
National Opinion Research Center

See schedule onorc at the university of chicago conducts research and data science on critical societal issues to guide decision-making and the development of programs and public policy. our experts identify relationships and trends, and…

Social Science
6
Gastro Intestinal Research Foundation Inc

The GI Research Foundation works to treat, prevent, and cure digestive diseases. In collaboration with the physicians and scientists at the University of Chicago Digestive Diseases Center, we fund innovative clinical and laboratory…

Health
7
University Family Physicians Inc

Engage actively and continuously in medical research, education and training in the practice of medicine in conjunction with the department of family medicine of the indiana university school of medicine and indiana university…

—
8
University Hospital & Clinics Inc

The organization provides medical care to improve, maintain, and restore the health of the people in the communities we serve.

Health
9
St Charles Hospital Foundation

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

—
10
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation

To optimize philanthropy in support of the mission and future of the children's hospital of chicago medical center.

Health
11
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
12
Allosource

Inspired by the gift of donation from our communities, allosource responsibly provides innovative cellular and tissue allografts to advance patient healing.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is March of Dimes Inc; the most unlike its peers is Starkey Hearing Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

33 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 33 of the 63 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/33
Grantees still filing
24/33
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ST ISAAC JOGUES: $214,954 · OtherST ISAAC JOGUESBREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES INC: $101,345 · OtherBREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES INCMISERICORDIA: $96,652 · OtherMISERICORDIAAMERICAN RED CROSS: $85,266 · OtherAMERICAN RED CROSSDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $78,381 · OtherDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDEVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION: $62,809 · OtherEVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATIONAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: $60,790 · OtherAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETYLURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO: $56,260 · OtherLURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGOCHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY: $34,931 · Other+32 more: $110,925 · Other+32 moreBig Shoulders Fund: $349,615 · EducationBig Shoulders FundNEWROOT LEARNING INSTITUTE F/K/A UMOJA STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CORP: $40,477 · EducationNEWROOT LEARNING INSTITU…+1 more: $9,921 · EducationGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $316,936 · Food & NutritionGREATER CHICAGO FOO…+1 more: $500 · Food & NutritionInspiration Corporation: $101,564 · Human ServicesCARING NETWORK NFP: $86,213 · HealthTHE H FOUNDATION: $5,000 · HealthNATIONAL PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION INC: $4,833 · Health+9 more: $2,930 · HealthThe Cara Program: $30,625 · EmploymentOBRIEN SCHOOLS FOR THE MAASAI NFP: $7,500 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $4,833 · InternationalDIRECT RELIEF: $4,833 · International
Other$902,313Education$400,013Food & Nutrition$317,436Human Services$101,564Health$98,976Employment$30,625International$17,166

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetBig Shoulders Fund: $349,615 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $316,936 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetInspiration Corporation: $101,564 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES INC: $101,345 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetCARING NETWORK NFP: $86,213 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $78,381 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetNEWROOT LEARNING INSTITUTE F/K/A UMOJA STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CORP: $40,477 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetThe Cara Program: $30,625 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: $15,218 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INC: $9,921 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOBRIEN SCHOOLS FOR THE MAASAI NFP: $7,500 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetTHE H FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetNATIONAL PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION INC: $4,833 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $4,833 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $4,833 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $4,833 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPAWS CHICAGO: $2,544 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS: $1,040 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMARCH OF DIMES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTRINITY FOUNDATION INC: $900 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetLOYOLA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ABILITY EXPERIENCE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMISS CARLY'S INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetREMEDIES RENEWING LIVES: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHINSDALE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHENRY AUCOIN FOUNDATION INC: $200 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA FOUNDATION: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChildrens Cancer Therapy Development Institute: $90 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: $80 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetStarkey Hearing Foundation: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Big Shoulders Fund ↗
  • Who funds GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY ↗
  • Who funds Inspiration Corporation ↗
  • Who funds BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES INC ↗
  • Who funds CARING NETWORK NFP ↗
  • Who funds DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND ↗
  • Who funds NEWROOT LEARNING INSTITUTE F/K/A UMOJA STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CORP ↗
  • Who funds The Cara Program ↗
  • Who funds Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds SPONSORS FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INC ↗
  • Who funds OBRIEN SCHOOLS FOR THE MAASAI NFP ↗
  • Who funds THE H FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds DIRECT RELIEF ↗
  • Who funds THE CONSERVATION FUND A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds PAWS CHICAGO ↗
  • Who funds THE ANDREW WEISHAR FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF ILLINOIS ↗
  • Who funds HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds MARCH OF DIMES INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Arie and Ida Crown Me…Arthur J Gallagher Fo…Charities Aid Foundat…The Blackbaud Giving …The Bank of America C…AbbVie FoundationNational Philanthropi…American Endowment Fo…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…The Pfizer Foundation…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…
Arie and Ida Crown MemorialIL17.5× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Arie and Ida Crown Memorial · Arthur J Gallagher Foundation · Charities Aid Foundation America · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · AbbVie Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Endowment Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 44%
  • Childrens Cancer Therapy Development Institute: 44% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation?

Find your warmest path to David and Kirsten Cunningham Charitable Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 63 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on David and Kirsten Cunningham’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home