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Illinois · Private foundation

James and Catherine Denny 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.

$1.4M
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
40
Grants FY2024
25
Organizations funded FY2023
8%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$25,000
Largest grant, FY2024
$250,000
Organizations funded a year
25 to 44
FY2018 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
5
Total assets, FY2024
$5.1M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 8% of the organizations James and Catherine Denny Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 4% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $27k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23
Arts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesPhilanthropyPublic BenefitHealthOther
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.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving34$1.4M12%
FY202325$741k8%
FY202234$595k21%
FY202141$988k39%
FY202040$2.4M43%
FY201944$2.7M50%
FY201836$789kn/a
97% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Education$5.5MReligion$1.6MFood & Nutrition$585kArts & Culture$462kHealth$365kPhilanthropy$294kHuman Services$238kPublic Benefit$167kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

ID
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
IN
CT
VA
MD
DC
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2018 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Chicago Jesuit Academy$4,396,7866n/a
Catholic Church Extension Society of US of Amer$585,2694n/a
Loyola Academy$260,0005n/a
Catholic Bishop of Chicago$205,0001n/a
Teach for America Inc$187,50060%
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research$150,00060%
Catholic Charities Inc$147,5001n/a
Illinois Policy Institute$125,50022%
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago$125,00050%
Clearbrook$125,00050%
Show all 62 grantees
All grantees of James and Catherine Denny Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Chicago Jesuit Academy$4,396,7866n/a
Catholic Church Extension Society of US of Amer$585,2694n/a
Loyola Academy$260,0005n/a
Catholic Bishop of Chicago$205,0001n/a
Teach for America Inc$187,50060%
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research$150,00060%
Catholic Charities Inc$147,5001n/a
Illinois Policy Institute$125,50022%
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago$125,00050%
Clearbrook$125,00050%
The Adler Planetarium$125,00040%
Lyric Opera of Chicago$100,00050%
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc$100,00030%
Depaul University$95,00070%
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Inc$89,75070%
Navy Seal Foundation Inc$60,00050%
Loyola University of Chicago$55,00040%
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs$45,00070%
Academy for Urban School Leadership$35,00020%
Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry$35,00070%
Field Museum of Natural History$30,00060%
Hobe Sound Community Chest Inc$30,00060%
Leo High School$30,0006n/a
The Art Institute of Chicago$29,00060%
College of Saint Benedict$27,50030%
Chicago Shakespeare Theater$26,00020%
Jesuit Refugee Service USA$25,0001n/a
Rumsfeld Foundation$25,00015%
Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers$25,00011%
Brain Research Foundation$25,00011%
Metropolitan Planning Council$20,00040%
Lumen Christi Institute$20,00050%
Lincoln Park Zoological Society$20,00010%
Metropolitan Family Services$20,00010%
Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching$17,50020%
The Civic Federation$15,00030%
St Mary of the Lake Seminary$15,0003n/a
Catholic Relief Services$12,5001n/a
Smithsonian Institution$10,00010%
Sacred Heart$10,0002n/a
The Antiquarian Society$6,00021%
Lewis University$5,00010%
The American Writers Museum$5,00010%
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago$5,00010%
Chicago Historical Society$5,00010%
Children's Home & Aid Society of Ill$5,00010%
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation$5,00010%
The Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation)$2,50010%
St Christophers Catholic Church$1,0001n/a
American College of the Roman Catholic Church of the US$1,0001n/a
Trinity College$1,00010%
American Jewish Committee$1,00010%
Canterbury School Inc$1,00010%
Aid for Women Inc$1,00010%
Josephinum Academy$1,0001n/a
United Way of Martin County Inc$1,00010%
Big Shoulders Fund$1,00010%
Empower Illinois$1,00010%
Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc$50010%
Family Matters Inc$29510%
Franciscan Brothers of Peace Inc$1001n/a
The Community House$10010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 42 recipients with no EIN on record ($2.1M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget James and Catherine Denny Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTeach for America Inc: $187,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research: $150,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetIllinois Policy Institute: $125,500 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetRehabilitation Institute of Chicago: $125,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetClearbrook: $125,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetThe Adler Planetarium: $125,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetLyric Opera of Chicago: $100,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetUnited Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc: $100,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetDepaul University: $95,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMarine Corps Scholarship Foundation Inc: $89,750 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetNavy Seal Foundation Inc: $60,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetLoyola University of Chicago: $55,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Chicago Council on Global Affairs: $45,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetAcademy for Urban School Leadership: $35,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetKenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: $35,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetField Museum of Natural History: $30,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetHobe Sound Community Chest Inc: $30,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetThe Art Institute of Chicago: $29,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCollege of Saint Benedict: $27,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Shakespeare Theater: $26,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRumsfeld Foundation: $25,000 over 1y, 4.6% of budgetMidtown-Metro Achievement Centers: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetBrain Research Foundation: $25,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetMetropolitan Planning Council: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetLumen Christi Institute: $20,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetLincoln Park Zoological Society: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMetropolitan Family Services: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGolden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching: $17,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetThe Civic Federation: $15,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetSmithsonian Institution: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Antiquarian Society: $6,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetLewis University: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe American Writers Museum: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetThe YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Historical Society: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChildren's Home & Aid Society of Ill: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation): $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTrinity College: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Jewish Committee: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCanterbury School Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAid for Women Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUnited Way of Martin County Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBig Shoulders Fund: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEmpower Illinois: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMedecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFamily Matters Inc: $295 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Community House: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 48.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

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.

Patrick G and Shirley W Ryan FoundationIL26.2× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Patrick G and Shirley W Ryan Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · The Chicago Community Trust · The Canning Foundation · Charles H and Beverly E Shaw Foundation · Robert R McCormick Foundation · The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Lavin Family Foundation · The Ayco Charitable Foundation · The King Family Foundation · Carol Bernick Family 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.

Compare James and Catherine Denny Foundation with peer funders

About James and Catherine Denny Foundation

How much does James and Catherine Denny Foundation give?
James and Catherine Denny Foundation reported 40 grants totaling $1,386,500 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 25 and 44 organizations a year over FY2018 to FY2023.
What does James and Catherine Denny Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2018 to FY2024, its largest causes are Education (57%), Religion (16%), Food & Nutrition (6%).
Who are James and Catherine Denny Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2018 to FY2024: Chicago Jesuit Academy ($4.4M), Catholic Church Extension Society of US of Amer ($585k), Loyola Academy ($260k).
Does James and Catherine Denny Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 8% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does James and Catherine Denny Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as James and Catherine Denny Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Patrick G and Shirley W Ryan Foundation, Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc, The Chicago Community Trust.
Where is James and Catherine Denny Foundation based?
James and Catherine Denny Foundation is based in IL.

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 106 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

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