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Foundations / Illinois

Perkins Hunter Foundation

Preselected recipients only Chicago, Illinois · EIN 363486609

Perkins Hunter Foundation is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2025 it gave $1.2 million in 73 grants; the typical grant was $10,000 and the largest $125,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $423,500 the year before.

85% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$625,60016$9.7 million
2024$423,50019$8.3 million
2025$1.2 million73$9.2 million

How to apply

Perkins Hunter Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What Perkins Hunter Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 10 states, the most to California.

StateGrantsAmount
California54$928,930
District of Columbia6$107,000
Massachusetts3$60,000
New York3$35,000
Vermont1$35,000
Washington2$17,500
Missouri1$10,000
Oregon1$10,000
Ohio1$1,000
Virginia1$1,000

Grants paid in 2025

The 40 largest of 73 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Tipping Point Community
San Francisco, CA
General use$125,000
San Francisco University High Schoo
San Francisco, CA
General use$125,000
La Luz Bilingual Center
Sonoma, CA
General use$65,000
San Francisco Educational Fund
San Francisco, CA
General use$60,000
Technoserve
Washington, DC
General use$40,000
Kqed Northern Ca Public Radio
San Francisco, CA
General use$35,000
Population Media Center
Shelburne, VT
General use$35,000
Teach for America-Bay Area
Los Angeles, CA
General use$35,000
San Francisco General Hospital
San Francisco, CA
General use$30,000
Battery Foundation
San Francisco, CA
General use$30,000
Believe in SF Action
San Francisco, CA
General Use$30,000
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
General use$25,000
Care Message
San Francisco, CA
General use$25,000
Individual
MA
General use$25,000
Remake
San Francisco, CA
General use$25,000
Greenlight Fund
Boston, MA
General Use$25,000
Individual
CA
General Use$25,000
Bay Educational Fund
Oakland, CA
General Use$25,000
Media Matters for America
Washington, DC
General Use$25,000
Muso
San Francisco, CA
General Use$25,000
Individual
CA
General Use$25,000
Individual
CA
General Use$25,000
National Council of Jewish Women
Los Angeles, CA
General Use$25,000
Engenderhealth
New York, NY
General use$20,000
Individual
WA
General use$15,000
Individual
DC
General Use$12,000
UCSF Foundation
San Francisco, CA
General use$10,000
World Monuments Fund
Ny, NY
General use$10,000
Individual
CA
General use$10,000
Hopewell Fund
Washington, DC
General use$10,000
Safe and Sound
San Francisco, CA
General use$10,000
Individual
DC
General use$10,000
All May See Foundation
San Francisco, CA
General Use$10,000
Basic Fund
Oakland, CA
General Use$10,000
Individual
OR
General Use$10,000
Individual
CA
General Use$10,000
Democracy Forward Foundation
Kansas City, MO
General Use$10,000
Lawyers Defending American Homjeown
Boston, MA
General Use$10,000
Wilkes Bashford Helping Hands Emerg
San Francisco, CA
General Use$10,000
Meto
Washington, DC
General Use$10,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does Perkins Hunter Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does Perkins Hunter Foundation give?

$1.2 million in tax year 2025, across 73 grants, with a typical grant of $10,000.

Who runs Perkins Hunter Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists Thomas Perkins (Director), Alec Perkins (Director) and Jamel Perkins (Director).

What does Perkins Hunter Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education, arts and culture and health.

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