Funders for Make-Believe Association

Foundations and grantmakers with a track record of funding arts & culture organizations in IL — ranked by their actual grant history, most relevant first.

Every match below is backed by real grants this funder reported paying to organizations like yours. We never show a reason we can’t source to a filed grant record. Grants far larger than this organization’s budget are set aside so the matches stay realistic.

25 funders found

Strong match Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation $347K · 41 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $347K across 41 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $8KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (41 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Amazonsmile Foundation $4K · 72 grants to similar orgs
Public charity grantmaker · WA
Gave $4K across 72 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2022–2023
Avg grant $56Most recent 2023
Why this funder (72 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Field Foundation of Illinois INC $309K · 17 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $309K across 17 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $18KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (17 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Polk Bros Foundation INC $380K · 17 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $380K across 17 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $22KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (17 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund $248K · 17 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · MA
Gave $248K across 17 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2023
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $15KMost recent 2023
Why this funder (17 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Arie and Ida Crown Memorial $320K · 12 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $320K across 12 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $27KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (12 grants to similar orgs)
Possible match Regional Cultural & Performing Arts Development Commission $370K · 18 grants to similar orgs
Public charity grantmaker · MO
Gave $370K across 18 grants to arts & culture orgs in neighboring states, 2021–2024
Avg grant $21KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (18 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Ncrc Community Development Fund INC $275K · 13 grants to similar orgs
Public charity grantmaker · DC
Gave $275K across 13 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2023
Avg grant $21KMost recent 2023
Why this funder (13 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Lloyd a Fry Foundation $174K · 13 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $174K across 13 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2023
Avg grant $13KMost recent 2023
Why this funder (13 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Greater Milwaukee Foundation INC $312K · 15 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · WI
Gave $312K across 15 grants to arts & culture orgs in neighboring states, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $21KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (15 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor The Chicago Community Trust $156K · 12 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · IL
Gave $156K across 12 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2023
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $13KMost recent 2023
Why this funder (12 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Jpmorgan Chase Foundation $23K · 10 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · NY
Gave $23K across 10 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $2KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (10 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Amg Charitable Gift Foundation $61K · 8 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · CO
Gave $61K across 8 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $8KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (8 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines $199K · 14 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · IA
Gave $199K across 14 grants to arts & culture orgs in neighboring states, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $14KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (14 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Mayer and Morris Kaplan Foundation $35K · 8 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $35K across 8 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $4KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (8 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Network for Good INC $226K · 12 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · DC
Gave $226K across 12 grants to arts & culture orgs in neighboring states, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $19KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (12 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match United Way of Metropolitan Chicago INC $96K · 6 grants to similar orgs
Public charity grantmaker · IL
Gave $96K across 6 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $16KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (6 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor American Endowment Foundation $96K · 7 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · OH
Gave $96K across 7 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $14KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (7 grants to similar orgs)
DAF sponsor Charities Aid Foundation America $121K · 6 grants to similar orgs
DAF sponsor · VA
Gave $121K across 6 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
DAF sponsor — donor-directed. These gifts are recommended by individual donors through a fund, not awarded by a foundation you can approach directly.
Avg grant $20KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (6 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation (consolidated) $62K · 8 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $62K across 8 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2023
Avg grant $8KMost recent 2023
Why this funder (8 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Florence B & Cornelia a Palmer Foundation $48K · 6 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $48K across 6 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2022–2024
Avg grant $8KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (6 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Shubert Foundation INC $115K · 6 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · NY
Gave $115K across 6 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2024
Avg grant $19KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (6 grants to similar orgs)
Possible match Employees Community Fund of the Boeing Company $69K · 8 grants to similar orgs
Public charity grantmaker · IL
Gave $69K across 8 grants to arts & culture orgs in neighboring states, 2021–2024
Avg grant $9KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (8 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Generations of Giving Foundation INC $80K · 5 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · DE
Gave $80K across 5 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2022–2024
Avg grant $16KMost recent 2024
Why this funder (5 grants to similar orgs)
Strong match Allyn Foundation Incorporated a Delaware Corp $37K · 5 grants to similar orgs
Private foundation · IL
Gave $37K across 5 grants to arts & culture orgs in IL, 2021–2025
Avg grant $7KMost recent 2025
Why this funder (5 grants to similar orgs)
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Matches are computed live from arts & culture grants in public IRS Form 990-PF and Schedule I filings. A funder appearing here has given to similar organizations before; it is not a guarantee of future funding, an endorsement, or an application invitation. · philanthropy.org