Finnegan Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Finnegan Family Foundation’s grantmaking includes support for K-12 education and youth organizations. Most grants stay in the Chicago area.

IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals.

PROFILE:  Founded in 1992 and based in Evanston, Illinois, the Finnegan Family Foundation was established by Madison Dearborn Partners Co-Founder Paul Finnegan and his wife, Mary. The Finnegan Family Foundation’s grantmaking prioritizes education and youth organizations. To a lesser extent, Harris has supported human services in the Chicago area.

The Finnegans have given seven-figure sums to Youth & Opportunity United (YOU), a local nonprofit that works with underserved teens in Evanston. Mary sits on the board of YOU as well as on the board of Evanston Scholars, which the Finnegans also support. The foundation has also supported Chicago area charter schools, including the Noble, Kipp and Citizen networks. Other education grantees include Teach for America, YearUp Chicago and One Million Degrees, which works to retain high school students and increase graduation rates among at-risk students. Human service grantees include Chicago’s Metropolitan Family Services, a Better Chicago and the Great Chicago Food Depository.

In a recent year, the foundation gave away around $2.2 million. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $105,000. Review the funder's recent tax records to learn more about past grantees. Funding prioritizes but is not limited to the greater Chicago area.

The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications. The funder's phone number to get in touch is 312-346-6000.

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CONTACT:

Finnegan Family Foundation

500 Davis St., Ste. 508

Evanston, IL 60201

(312) 346-6000