Highwater Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Highwater Foundation supports Entrepreneurialism, STEM education, robotics, scholarships, youth and technology in the Chicago area and beyond.

FUNDING AREAS: Entrepreneurialism, STEM education, robotics, scholarships, youth, technology

IP TAKE: This is a relatively new foundation with very specific interests led by local entrepreneurs who are involved with Chicago-area youth. 

PROFILE: Established in 2011, the Highwater Foundation is a foundation based in Lemont, Illinois. Lemont is a suburb of Chicago, and this funder has been recognized as a recent nominee for the Chicago Innovation Awards. The executive director of the foundation is Jeremie Bacon, an entrepreneur, CEO and serial software company innovator in the financial services technologies outdoor recreation and relationship management industries. The foundation is "dedicated to helping young entrepreneurs and future technologists reach their full potential.” It funds local efforts for entrepreneurialism, STEM education, robotics, scholarships, youth and technology.

The Highwater Foundation is committed to the futures of young people and helping them change the world through their positive interests. This funder has very specific funding interests that all revolve around entrepreneurship, education and technology. Its support of Chicago Tech Rocks helps prepare more youth for jobs in technology and tech-related entrepreneurship. It funds middle school robotics teams and provides scholarships to graduating high school students who are pursuing undergraduate degrees at four-year colleges or universities. To help youth get passionate about tech entrepreneurship, the foundation also supports community projects at parks, shopping centers and other locations.

Grants range between about $1,000 and $10,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking largely focuses on the Chicago metropolitan area of Illinois. Past local grantees include GenesysWorks, Chicago Leadership Alliance and the MATE Robotics Team.

This foundation does not typically accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. It does not share grantmaking guidelines or processes on its website. Direct general questions to the staff at 312-967-6479.

PEOPLE:

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