The Negaunee Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Negaunee Foundation supports arts, education and environmental causes in the Chicago area.

IP TAKE: This is not a transparent funder nor is it a very accessible one. It does not maintain a website or provide grantseekers with a clear way to get in touch beyond the phone number and address provided below. Additionally, it does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. It only contributes to preselected organizations.

Music is a strong focus for this foundation, and it makes almost three times as many grants in this area as in its next largest funding category. Grantseekers in the music space likely have a better chance than those in other areas. The foundation awards both restricted and unrestricted grants, and its grantmaking has been increasing in recent years.

Before reaching out to the Negaunee Foundation for support, grantseekers should know that the Colburns contribute to conservative causes. The family has contributed to conservative organizations like the Cato Institute and Heritage Foundation.

PROFILE: Established in 1987 in Illinois, the Negaunee Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Richard W. Colburn and his wife, Robin. The late Richard D. Colburn steered Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) and was also a major financier and advocate of music and music education in Los Angeles. The family continues to run CED. Colburn’s son, Richard W. Colburn, is also president of Henley Management Company in Illinois. Grantmaking areas of interest are arts and culture, art education, the environment and the elderly.

Grants for Music

The Negaunee Foundation does not appear to have dedicated focus areas; however, tax records indicate that music and music education is a strong priority. The foundation has given strong support to Chicago Lyric Opera and the Ravinia Festival, an outdoor music festival in Highland Park, Illinois. The family has also supported Steans Institute, Ravinia's summer conservatory. Other Chicago music grantees have included Chicago Youth Symphony, Baroque Band, Chicago Children’s Choir, the Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, Merit School of Music, and the Sherwood Conservatory of Music, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestral Society of Illinois.

Grants for Arts and Culture and Arts Education

As part of the Negaunee Foundation’s commitment to arts and culture, it steadily supports museums and culture groups in Chicago. The funder has given significantly to the Field Museum, Joffrey Ballet, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It gave a $21 million gift to the Chicago Botanic Garden in June 2023, which was the largest gift in the garden’s history.

The Negaunee Foundation's grantmaking has also supported the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago High School for the Arts. Occasionally, grants go to museums outside the region, including multiple grants to the American Foundation for National Museums Scotland, which is devoted to the preservation of Scottish culture and is based in New York City.

Grants for Environment

Negaunee Foundation's grantmaking also includes providing funds for environmental organizations in Chicago like Nature Conservancy of Illinois, Openlands, and National Audubon Society (Audubon Chicago Region). In 2019, the foundation awarded a $10 million grant to support conservation science and research at the Chicago Botanical Garden, the largest gift in the garden’s history. It established a Plant Conservation Synthesis Center to bring experts together to develop local and national solutions to environmental issues, such as controlling invasive species of plants.

Grants for Community Development

The foundation has also demonstrated interest in Chicago’s senior living and memory care, giving $2 million toward the renovation of Scottish House, a residence at the Caledonia Senior Living facility in North Riverside, Illinois.

Important Grant Details

Grants range from a few thousand up to over a million. $10,000 is the most common amount. Most grants stay in the Chicago area; however, some go throughout the nation. The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers and does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications. The funder’s phone number to get in touch is 847-480-4690.

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CONTACT:

555 Skokie Blvd Ste 555
Northbrook, IL 60062-2854
(847) 480-4690