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Patterson Family Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Patterson 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.

$272k
Granted FY2025still arriving
19
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$75k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Environment$684kFood & Nutrition$117kPhilanthropy$52kHealth$51kArts & Culture$39kHuman Services$37kYouth Development$29kEducation$20kOther$0
02FY2025 · 19 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k11 grants · $37k
  • $10k–50k6 grants · $110k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $125k
$5,200
Median grant
6
States reached
$3.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY$75,000
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY$50,000
THE NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION OF WISCONSIN$40,000
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER$25,000
RAINFOREST FOUNDATION US$15,000
CHICAGO LIGHTS$10,000
OLD GROWTH FOREST NETWORK$10,000
PROPUBLICA$10,000
ECONOMY POLICY INSTITUTE$5,500
BEAT THE STREETS$5,200
SARAH'S INN$5,000
FEEDING AMERICA$5,000
FACE THE FUTURE$5,000
PING$3,099
THRIVE COUNSELING CENTER$3,000
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 (FY17–25, $59k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 97% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%Camp Kesem: $500 → 14%MIDWEST SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: $1k → 7%MIDWEST SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: $1k → 7%THE NIGHT MINISTRY: $1k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $10k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $5k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $5k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $3k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $3k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $3k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $3k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $1k → 14%Sarah's Inn: $1k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $5k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $5k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $3k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $3k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $2k → 14%OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: $2k → 14%Opportunity Knocks: $1k → 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

WA
MT
IL
WI
NY
NJ
CA
MO
MD
DC
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 17% of Patterson Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 46% of the giving stays in IL; by stated purpose, 41%.

Patterson Family Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$887k · 23 repeat orgs$83k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +42% since the first grant, against +31% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 15 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
12

Total granted

$887k
$76k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+42%
+31%

Still filing today

87%
83%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $7k 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
Human ServicesEnvironmentFood & NutritionPhilanthropyCrime & LegalHealthOther
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

  • DA
    DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $252k · revenue +548%
  • EL
    ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER OF THE MIDWEST
    9× · 2017–2025 · $152k · revenue +72%
  • GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
    7× · 2018–2025 · $111k · revenue +97%

Funded once

  • PF
    PATTERSON FAMILY FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $50k · revenue +47%
  • NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC
    one grant, 2020 · $7k · revenue -54%
  • DU
    DOMINICAN UNIVERSITYgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $5k · revenue +31%
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
Chicago Parks Foundation

The Chicago Parks Foundation is a separate 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that also serves as the strategic partner for the coordination of fundraising and charitable resources for the Chicago Park District.

Recreation & Sports
2
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
3
Openlands

Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives.openlands' vision for the…

—
4
Minnesota Land Trust

The minnesota land trust protects and restores minnesota's most vital natural lands in order to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor experiences and scenic beauty for generations to come.

Environment
5
African Parks Foundation of America

To engage the united states and its citizens in the work of african parks and to promote access to american experience and expertise in the african parks actiities by 1) raising funds for specific projects, activities, training, equipment…

Recreation & Sports
6
Lincoln Park Zoological Society

Lincoln park zoo is dedicated to connecting people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of chicago and by advancing the highest quality of animal care, horticulture, education, science and…

Animals
7
Chicago Public Education Fund

The chicago public education fund (the fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves public schools in chicago by investing in the talented educators who lead them.

Education
8
Lincoln Park Conservancy

The mission of the lincoln park conservancy is to preserve and enhance the inspiring beauty of chicago's largest and most visited park for current and future generations. we believe that beauty matters. that it has the transformative power…

Recreation & Sports
9
Plant Chicago Nfp

Plant Chicago's mission is to cultivate local circular economies. We envision a paradigm shift in production, consumption, and waste driven at the local level, generating equity and economic opportunity for all residents.

Food & Nutrition
10
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
11
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
12
Native Plant Trust Inc

The organization's mission is to conserve and promote new england's native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Inc; the most unlike its peers is Patterson Family Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

34 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. 34 of the 40 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)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
34/34
Grantees still filing
24/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC: $252,000 · EnvironmentDRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INCENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER OF THE MIDWEST: $152,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER OF THE MIDWESTRAINFOREST FOUNDATION INC: $80,000 · EnvironmentRAINFOREST FOUNDATION INCOLD-GROWTH FOREST NETWORK INC: $20,000 · Environment+1 more: $2,500 · EnvironmentNATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION OF: $133,150 · OtherNATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATIO…ECONOMY POLICY INSTITUTE: $13,500 · OtherPING: $13,267 · OtherFACE THE FUTURE: $10,500 · OtherBeat The Streets Inc: $20,200 · OtherBeat The Streets IncVISION TO LEARN: $10,000 · OtherTHRIVE COUNSELING CENTER: $9,066 · OtherHOME OF OUR OWN INC: $13,000 · OtherMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $10,000 · Other+12 more: $32,377 · Other+12 moreGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $111,000 · Food & NutritionGREATER CHIC…Feeding America: $5,000 · Food & Nutrition+1 more: $1,100 · Food & NutritionPATTERSON FAMILY FOUNDATION: $50,000 · PhilanthropyCHICAGO LIGHTS: $25,500 · Philanthropy+1 more: $2,000 · PhilanthropySARAH'S INN: $34,120 · Human ServicesOPPORTUNITY KNOCKS INCORPORATED: $21,100 · Human ServicesMIDWEST SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS INC: $2,055 · Human Services+3 more: $2,320 · Human ServicesTHE DELTA INSTITUTE: $43,500 · Community ImprovementPRO PUBLICA INC: $36,035 · Arts & Culture
Environment$506,500Other$265,060Food & Nutrition$117,100Philanthropy$77,500Human Services$59,595Community Improvement$43,500Arts & Culture$36,035

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 budgetDRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC: $252,000 over 9y, 3.2% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICY CENTER OF THE MIDWEST: $152,000 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATION OF: $133,150 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $111,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetRAINFOREST FOUNDATION INC: $80,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetTHE DELTA INSTITUTE: $43,500 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetPRO PUBLICA INC: $36,035 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetSARAH'S INN: $34,120 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetCHICAGO LIGHTS: $25,500 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetOPPORTUNITY KNOCKS INCORPORATED: $21,100 over 7y, 0.5% of budgetBeat The Streets Inc: $20,200 over 6y, 3.8% of budgetOLD-GROWTH FOREST NETWORK INC: $20,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetHOME OF OUR OWN INC: $13,000 over 3y, 7.7% of budgetVISION TO LEARN: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHRIVE COUNSELING CENTER: $9,066 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetNAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC: $6,777 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDOMINICAN UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO COMMUNITY BOND FUND: $4,517 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPAWS CHICAGO: $4,083 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE OAK PARK CONSERVATORY: $3,000 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetAMERICAN PRAIRIE FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMIDWEST SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS INC: $2,055 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetOAK PARK-RIVER FOREST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetVIOLENCE POLICY CENTER: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NIGHT MINISTRY: $1,300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBEYOND HUNGER: $1,100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTs INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRestoring Lifeways: $520 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCamp Kesem National: $500 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.

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 Lumpkin Family Fo…Oak Park-River Forest…The Chicago Community…John D and Catherine …Good Heart Work Smart…Robert R McCormick Fo…Polk Bros Foundation …Baird Foundation IncThe Manaaki FoundationThe Kraus Family Foun…Joseph R & Helen Shak…Hazard Family Foundat…
The Lumpkin Family FoundationIL19.8× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Lumpkin Family Foundation · Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Good Heart Work Smart Foundation · Robert R McCormick Foundation · Polk Bros Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · The Manaaki Foundation · The Kraus Family Foundation Co Emanuel V Dinatale · Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family Foundation · Hazard 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.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Patterson Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Patterson Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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 40 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 Patterson 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