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Julian Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Julian 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.

$2.3M
Granted FY2025still arriving
34
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$935k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Arts & Culture$16MEducation$156kEnvironment$116kCommunity Improvement$105kFood & Nutrition$75kHuman Services$74kAnimals$68kRecreation & Sports$52kOther$0
02FY2025 · 34 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k17 grants · $63k
  • $10k–50k9 grants · $153k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $645k
  • $250k+2 grants · $1.4M
$10,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$8.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA$935,000
MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC$500,000
WTTWWFMT - WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC$160,000
LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS (LAO)$150,000
LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO$140,000
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO$75,000
CEDILLE CHICAGO - RECORDING FOUNDATION$70,000
FRACTURED ATLAS EMPOWERING ARTISTS EVERYWHERE$50,000
ENSEMBLE DAL NIENTE$40,000
THIRD COAST PERCUSSION$25,000
GRANT PARK SYMPHONY & MUSIC FESTIVAL$17,500
COLLABORATIVE ARTS INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (CAIC)$15,000
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY$15,000
ARTS ALLIANCE ILLINOIS$10,000
SOLTI FOUNDATION$10,000
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 (FY21–25, $42k) land where the poverty rate runs at 7%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $17k → 7%KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $12k → 7%KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $6k → 7%KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $5k → 7%KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $3k → 7%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
OH
PA
CA
NM
AR
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.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$17M · 65 repeat orgs$187k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

65 repeat relationships: 33 still active in FY2025, 32 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

65
21

Total granted

$17M
$182k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
0%

Still filing today

55%
24%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $5k 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
Arts & CultureEducationHealthEnvironmentAnimalsRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • CS
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra
    9× · 2017–2025 · $9.0M · revenue +58%
  • MS
    MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $1.9M · revenue +113%
  • LO
    Lyric Opera of Chicago
    9× · 2017–2025 · $1.3M · revenue +33%

Funded once

  • RM
    Role Model Movement Inc
    one grant, 2020 · $50k · revenue -78%
  • IG
    I Grow Chicago NFP
    one grant, 2021 · $30k · revenue 0%
  • WT
    WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC (WWCIWTTWWFMT)
    one grant, 2019 · $26k
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
Chamber Opera of Chicago
—
2
Chicago Sinfonietta Inc

Chicago Sinfonietta is a professional orchestra dedicated to modeling and promoting diversity, inclusion, and both racial and cultural equity in the arts through the universal language of symphonic music. Our core values are built around…

Arts & Culture
3
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's mission as a professional orchestra is to utilize the universal expression of music to create profound, inspiring, and personal connections between the people and communities of Chicagos Southland.

Arts & Culture
4
The Chicago Philharmonic Society

To excite, engage, and transform diverse audiences with the beauty and power of music.

Arts & Culture
5
Music and Dance Theater Chicago Inc
Arts & Culture
6
Chicago Harp Quartet
—
7
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic

To present high quality arts programming and musical performances that will educate, enrich and improve the quality of life for the diverse Chicago cultural communities and beyond.

—
8
Music of the Baroque

Music of the baroque is a professional orchestra and chorus excelling in the performance of works from the 18th century and before. the organization also educates 2,900 chicago public school students each year through its 'strong voices'…

Arts & Culture
9
Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago
Arts & Culture
10
Camerata Chicago Association

Camerata chicago is a world class chamber orchestra serving chicago and its surrounding communities with performances of great music featuring musicians of global distinction, camerata chicago is committed to providing an incomparable…

Arts & Culture
11
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Inc

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University ("The Auditorium"), an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, is committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago and to the…

Arts & Culture
12
Cleveland Institute of Music

The cleveland institute of music's mission is to empower the world's most talented classical music students to fulfill their dreams and potential.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Music Institute of Chicago; the most unlike its peers is Company of Folk. 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

44 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. 44 of the 87 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)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
42/44
Grantees still filing
29/44
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Chicago Symphony Orchestra: $8,997,973 · Arts & CultureChicago Symphony OrchestraMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $1,931,713 · Arts & CultureMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSICLyric Opera of Chicago: $1,300,532 · Arts & CultureLyric Opera of Chicago+19 more: $1,007,081 · Arts & Culture+19 moreLEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS (LAO): $757,020 · OtherLEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORC…GRANT PARK SYMPHONY & MUSIC FESTIVAL: $589,500 · OtherGRANT PARK SYMPHONY & …WTTWWFMT - WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC: $550,000 · OtherWTTWWFMT - WINDOW TO T…CEDILLE CHICAGO - RECORDING FOUNDATION: $260,000 · OtherCEDILLE CHICAGO - RECO…WTTWWFMT: $240,000 · OtherWTTWWFMT+54 more: $1,016,334 · Other+54 moreTHE MORTON ARBORETUM: $98,459 · EnvironmentCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $17,500 · EnvironmentGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $75,000 · Food & NutritionChicago Zoological Society: $67,500 · AnimalsNorthwestern University: $52,000 · Recreation & SportsTHE SOLTI FOUNDATION US CO Fiona Queen: $50,274 · Philanthropy
Arts & Culture$13,237,299Other$3,412,854Environment$115,959Food & Nutrition$75,000Animals$67,500Recreation & Sports$52,000Philanthropy$50,274

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 budgetChicago Symphony Orchestra: $8,997,973 over 9y, 2.0% of budgetMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $1,931,713 over 9y, 14% of budgetLyric Opera of Chicago: $1,300,532 over 9y, 0.8% of budgetMUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: $282,000 over 8y, 1.6% of budgetCEDILLE CHICAGO NFP: $195,381 over 4y, 10% of budgetTHIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP: $180,000 over 7y, 8.5% of budgetELMHURST UNIVERSITY: $111,324 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE MORTON ARBORETUM: $98,459 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $75,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Zoological Society: $67,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SANTA FE OPERA: $62,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetILLINOIS ARTS ALLIANCE: $58,656 over 6y, 4.2% of budgetNorthwestern University: $52,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SOLTI FOUNDATION US CO Fiona Queen: $50,274 over 9y, 16% of budgetDAL NIENTE NEW MUSIC NFP: $50,000 over 5y, 13% of budgetRole Model Movement Inc (NFP): $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetKING-BRUWAERT HOUSE: $42,400 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetClassical Music Chicago: $32,000 over 8y, 1.1% of budgetARTSMART: $30,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetI Grow Chicago NFP: $30,000 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetCHICAGO OPERA THEATER: $29,750 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetWellness House: $28,600 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetThe People's Music School: $26,500 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetPHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION: $26,450 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $25,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetKARTEMQUIN EDUCATIONAL FILMS: $20,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetChicago Architecture Foundation: $18,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $17,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetCIVITAS EDUCATION PARTNERS II: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetURBAN GATEWAYS: $13,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetJOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $12,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS: $11,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetELGIN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: $10,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetTHE CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS: $10,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMetropolitan Opera Association Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NEWBERRY LIBRARY: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO A CAPPELLA: $4,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetMUSICIANS CLUB OF WOMEN: $3,000 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $1,250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $1,000 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 Chicago Symphony Orchestra ↗
  • Who funds MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC ↗
  • Who funds Lyric Opera of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO ↗
  • Who funds CEDILLE CHICAGO NFP ↗
  • Who funds THIRD COAST PERCUSSION NFP ↗
  • Who funds ELMHURST UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds THE MORTON ARBORETUM ↗
  • Who funds GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Zoological Society ↗
  • Who funds THE SANTA FE OPERA ↗
  • Who funds ILLINOIS ARTS ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds Northwestern University ↗
  • Who funds THE SOLTI FOUNDATION US CO Fiona Queen ↗
  • Who funds DAL NIENTE NEW MUSIC NFP ↗
  • Who funds Role Model Movement Inc (NFP) ↗
  • Who funds KING-BRUWAERT HOUSE ↗
  • Who funds Classical Music Chicago ↗
  • Who funds ARTSMART ↗
  • Who funds I Grow Chicago NFP ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO OPERA THEATER ↗
  • Who funds Wellness House ↗
  • Who funds The People's Music School ↗
  • Who funds PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC ↗
  • Who funds KARTEMQUIN EDUCATIONAL FILMS ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Architecture 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…John D and Catherine …Zell Family FoundationNcrc Community Develo…Elizabeth F Cheney Fo…The Negaunee Foundati…Prince FoundationThe Irving Harris Fou…Lloyd a Fry FoundationAbbVie FoundationLouise K Smith Founda…John R Halligan Chari…
The Chicago Community TrustIL28.9× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Zell Family Foundation · Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc · Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation · The Negaunee Foundation · Prince Foundation · The Irving Harris Foundation · Lloyd a Fry Foundation · AbbVie Foundation · Louise K Smith Foundation · John R Halligan Charitable Fund

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 87 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 Julian 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