Karen Pritzker: Donor Grants
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Hyatt
FUNDING AREAS: Children & Families, Mental Health, Health
OVERVIEW: Karen Pritzker moves philanthropy through the Seedlings Foundation, which aims to “nourish the physical and mental health of children and families and foster an educated and engaged citizenship.”
BACKGROUND: Karen Pritzker graduated from Northwestern University. She’s one of 11 billionaire Pritzker heirs. Her grandfather, A.N. Pritzker, built industrial conglomerate Marmon and the Hyatt hotels Karen Pritzker has invested in public companies like Apple, as well as hundreds of private biotech and medical device firms.
ISSUES:
SEEDLINGS FOUNDATION: Pritzker launched the Seedlings Foundation in the early 2000. This is one of the top giving foundations in Connecticut, with over $31 million in a recent year. This foundation aims to “nourish the physical and mental health of children and families and foster an educated and engaged citizenship.” Past support has gone to many Connecticut area organizations, including the Hartford Stage, the New Haven Independent, the Connecticut Mirror, Connecticut Voices for Children, the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology, and New Haven Reads. Other grantees have included Yale Medical School, The Yale School of Architecture, Long Wharf Theater, and The CT Mirror, as well as a foundational gift to the new Neo-Natal Unit at Yale New Haven Hospital.
The foundation also supports the Seedlings Educators Collaborative, which brings together educators to share skills and learn new skills. Seedlings Foundation also supports Truth in Advertising, a nonprofit aimed at empowering consumers. The nonprofit was launched by Pritzker’s late husband Michael Vlock who had a strong interest in this area.
OTHER: Pritzker is a major bankroller of Michael J. Fox Foundation. She’s also directed large funds to Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Teach for America.
LOOKING FORWARD: While Connecticut is a major region of giving, family ties to the Chicago region should also be noted. Pritzker is only in her 60s, and may ramp up her giving down the line.
CONTACT:
Seedlings Foundation
984 Main Street
Branford, CT 06405
