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Gurtz Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Gurtz Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$620k
Granted FY2025still arriving
28
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$75k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$1.4MPhilanthropy$730kHuman Services$515kCommunity Improvement$375kAnimals$374kReligion$358kArts & Culture$105kEducation$85kOther$0
02FY2025 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k5 grants · $30k
  • $10k–50k19 grants · $365k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $225k
$15,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$10.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION$75,000
LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FDN$50,000
ZACHARIAS CENTER$50,000
ST JUDE HOSPITAL$50,000
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE$40,000
FELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION$40,000
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION$40,000
RORY DAVID DEUTCH FOUNDATION$25,000
SATURDAY PLACE$25,000
THE WELL RESOURCE CENTER$20,000
HFS CHICAGO SCHOLARS$20,000
CHARLIE PROJECT DOG RESCUE$20,000
CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER$15,000
Individual grant recipient$15,000
HEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER$15,000
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 (FY23–25, $80k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES ILLINOIS: $50k → 14%THE WELL RESOURCE CENTER: $20k → 14%THE WELL RESOURCE CENTER: $10k → 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

IL
WI
NY
IA
PA
CA
AZ
TN
DC
TX
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.
$3.7M · 33 repeat orgs$405k to everyone else

33 repeat relationships: 24 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

33
10

Total granted

$3.7M
$355k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+18%
+24%

Still filing today

45%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $50k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
AnimalsHealthPhilanthropyHuman ServicesEducationYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • FF
    FELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
    8× · 2018–2025 · $193k · revenue +610% · 100% of their budget
  • HA
    HEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER NFP
    8× · 2018–2025 · $130k · revenue ×13
  • MF
    MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $115k · revenue +14%

Funded once

  • BJ
    B'NAI JEHOSHUA BETH ELOHIM
    one grant, 2017 · $105k
  • NM
    NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $75k
  • OF
    ONE FAMILY ILLINOIS
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue +24%
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
The Chicago Innovation Foundation
Philanthropy
2
Ch Foundation
—
3
American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation

The mission of the akc canine health foundation, inc. is to fund, advance, and communicate canine health research and science through knowledge and discovery.

Animals
4
Chicago's Environmental Fund
—
5
Chicago Canine Rescue Foundation

Chicago canine rescue foundation finds permanent homes for homeless dogs in our community with a specific emphasis on assisting the most vulnerable animals, who without our help, would have no other options. while in our care, they are…

Animals
6
Cardinal Health Foundation
Education
7
Chicago Toy & Game Foundation
—
8
Chicago Board of Trade Foundation
—
9
The Richard H Driehaus Foundation
Philanthropy
10
Foundation for Cardiovascular Research and Innovations
Philanthropy
11
Animal Cancer Foundation

Animal cancer foundation is dedicated to finding new treatments and eventual cures for cancer by funding research in and increasing public awareness of comparative oncology, the study of naturally occurring, similar cancers in people and…

Health
12
Chicago Sun Times Charity Trust
—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois Inc; the most unlike its peers is Executive Construction 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

23 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. 23 of the 47 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
14/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: $367,500 · OtherNORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATIONCITY OF HOPE: $350,000 · OtherCITY OF HOPEST JUDE HOSPITAL: $295,000 · OtherST JUDE HOSPITALNORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE: $255,000 · OtherNORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HEALTHCAREZACHARIAS CENTER: $247,500 · OtherZACHARIAS CENTERRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE: $240,000 · OtherRONALD MCDONALD HOUSESOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES: $160,000 · OtherSOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGESIndividual grant recipient: $140,000 · OtherMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS INC: $115,000 · OtherB'NAI JEHOSHUA BETH ELOHIM: $105,000 · OtherLURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FDN: $100,000 · Other+18 more: $612,500 · Other+18 moreHEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER NFP: $130,000 · AnimalsHEARTLAND …PAWS CHICAGO: $97,890 · AnimalsPAWS CHICA…The Anti-Cruelty Society: $72,110 · AnimalsThe Anti-C…CHARLIE PROJECT DOG RESCUE LIMITED: $45,000 · AnimalsCHARLIE PR…CHICAGOLAND LAB RESCUE INC: $28,500 · AnimalsCHICAGOLAN…RORY DAVID DEUTSCH FOUNDATION: $225,000 · HealthRORY DAVI…American Heart Association Inc: $100,000 · HealthAmerican …Northwest Community Hospital: $25,000 · HealthNorthwest…+1 more: $10,000 · HealthFELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION: $192,500 · PhilanthropyROFEH CHOLIM CANCER SOCIETY INC: $25,000 · PhilanthropyClayco Foundation: $17,500 · Philanthropy+1 more: $5,000 · PhilanthropyONE FAMILY ILLINOIS: $50,000 · Human ServicesThe Well Resource Center NFP: $30,000 · Human ServicesSaturday Place: $45,000 · Youth DevelopmentHFS CHICAGO SCHOLARS: $20,000 · EducationSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Education
Other$2,987,500Animals$373,500Health$360,000Philanthropy$240,000Human Services$80,000Youth Development$45,000Education$40,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetRORY DAVID DEUTSCH FOUNDATION: $225,000 over 8y, 66% of budgetFELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION: $192,500 over 8y, 100% of budgetHEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER NFP: $130,000 over 8y, 3.2% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS INC: $115,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $100,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetPAWS CHICAGO: $97,890 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetThe Anti-Cruelty Society: $72,110 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetONE FAMILY ILLINOIS: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSaturday Place: $45,000 over 2y, 8.7% of budgetCHARLIE PROJECT DOG RESCUE LIMITED: $45,000 over 3y, 12% of budgetThe Well Resource Center NFP: $30,000 over 2y, 2.3% of budgetCHICAGOLAND LAB RESCUE INC: $28,500 over 6y, 2.8% of budgetNorthwest Community Hospital: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetROFEH CHOLIM CANCER SOCIETY INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCHICAGO COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS: $20,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetHFS CHICAGO SCHOLARS: $20,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetClayco Foundation: $17,500 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetHIRE360: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEXECUTIVE CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetThe Chest Foundation: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% 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 RORY DAVID DEUTSCH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds FELDMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds HEARTLAND ANIMAL SHELTER NFP ↗
  • Who funds MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS INC ↗
  • Who funds American Heart Association Inc ↗
  • Who funds PAWS CHICAGO ↗
  • Who funds The Anti-Cruelty Society ↗
  • Who funds ONE FAMILY ILLINOIS ↗
  • Who funds Saturday Place ↗
  • Who funds CHARLIE PROJECT DOG RESCUE LIMITED ↗
  • Who funds The Well Resource Center NFP ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGOLAND LAB RESCUE INC ↗
  • Who funds Northwest Community Hospital ↗
  • Who funds ROFEH CHOLIM CANCER SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS ↗
  • Who funds HFS CHICAGO SCHOLARS ↗
  • Who funds STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Clayco Foundation ↗

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.

The Chicago Community…AbbVie FoundationJpmorgan Chase Founda…Network for GoodNational Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
The Chicago Community TrustIL12.9× affinity5 shared granteesties to 9 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · AbbVie Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Network for Good · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

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 Gurtz Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Gurtz Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
    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.

    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 47 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Gurtz Family’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