What Does the Skender Foundation Support in Chicago?

Skender is a Chicago-based company engaged in the local construction, manufacturing and design industries. The company’s team is comprised of over 300 people, and it has recently won awards for being among the most innovative companies in the world and the best places to work. Another thing to note about the company: it engages in philanthropy to invest in the communities it operates in.

Here are some insights into the Skender Foundation’s grantmaking and what it supports in Chicago.

Three main funding interests

The Skender Foundation conducts charitable giving, volunteering and affordable housing initiatives. Skender has broad charitable interests; however, most grants fall into the categories of education, wellness and affordable housing. The funder has defined as its mission to “empower and inspire mindful individuals and groups to achieve lifelong successes in education and wellness.”

Poverty alleviation has been a theme in Skender giving, especially around helping low-income families and promoting self-sufficiency. In addition to financial donations, Skender offers a construction career scholarship program, in-kind gifts of supplies and services, civic engagement through board representation, trade apprenticeships, mentoring and employee matching gifts.

Typical Skender support

Since 2010, Skender has donated approximately $8 million to over 300 organizations. The corporate funder is focused on Chicago and keeps the majority of its grants within the city. In addition to Chicago, the foundation also has an office in Indianapolis, so this may be a location of future grantmaking interest.

Recent grantees in Chicago include the Field Museum, United Way of Metro Chicago, Chicago High School for the Arts and Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other grantees include the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, Chicago Artists Coalition and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

In recent years, Skender has shown an increasing interest in collaboration and long-term support through multiyear commitments. Grants are often between $5,000 and $30,000.

Connecting with the Skender Foundation

Unlike some other corporate funders in Chicago, Skender does not make the process of applying for a grant especially easy. It does not publicly share grantmaking guidelines or offer an accessible application process through which nonprofits can request support. The company and its foundation are known for making grants on an invitation-only basis. However, Chicago-area grantseekers working in the fields of affordable housing, education and wellness may wish to contact the company’s headquarters by phone to inquire about potential opportunities.

Learn more about this funder and others that give locally in IP’s Chicago and Illinois Grants for Nonprofits Guide.

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