Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation broadly supports public health, disease research and education. Illinois appears to be an area of geographic focus.
IP TAKE: This Chicago-based funder maintains a low profile and does not maintain a website. Little is known about its specific funding priorities, but tax filings suggest interests in public health, disease research and education.
This is not an accessible funder, but you can reach out to this funder through the contact information provided below.
PROFILE: The Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation was established in Illinois in 1991. Armin Hirsch was the founder of the Gold Eagle automotive chemicals company. This foundation maintains a low profile and does not articulate its funding priorities, but tax filings suggest that it broadly invests in public health, disease research and education. The Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation supports a broad range of organizations involved in disease research and treatments. Some of the foundation’s largest grants have gone to Children’s Oncology Services of Chicago, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the American Cancer Society and the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
Grants for Public Health
Recent tax filings suggest that the Hirsch Foundation maintains a strong, but broad interest in public health. Past health grantees include several organizations and programs that aim to increase access to quality healthcare. Past grantees include the Boston-based Partners in Health, the Homeless Prenatal Program of San Francisco and Creating Healthier Communities of Alexandria, Virginia.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation’s education grants appear to prioritize public and private colleges and universities in the Midwest. Recent grantees include Lewis University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University and the College of DuPage.
A handful of K-12 schools in Illinois have also received funding, including Hyde Park Day Schools and Deerfield High School.
The Hirsch Foundation has also supported Education Labs, Inc., a New York-based organization that helps connect students to online higher education courses and resources. However, the foundation’s education spending focuses on Illinois for the most part.
Important Grant Details:
The Hirsch Foundation makes about $500,000 in grants each year. Grants range from $500 to $80,000, with an average grant size of about $5,000 While the foundation does not set geographic limitations to its grantmaking, it prioritizes organizations and schools operating in the state of Illinois. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings [CP3] .
The Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding. An address and phone number are provided below.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Armin and Esther Hirsch Foundation
4400 S. Kildare
Chicago, Illinois 60632
(773) 376-4400
