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Grant funders / Illinois / The Knowles Foundation

The Knowles Foundation

Chicago, Illinois  ·  EIN 366051968  ·  Private foundation

The Knowles Foundation is a Illinois-based grantmaker. In its latest 990-PF filing it reported $1.1M in annual giving against $24.5M in assets. This page documents the 96 grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for The Knowles Foundation — who they fund, what they prioritize, and what to know before reaching out.

$1.1M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$24.5M
Total assets
96
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Knowles Foundation funds

The Knowles Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, health care, mental health.

Arts & CultureHealth CareMental Health

Populations it has supported include families.

families

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Knowles Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Merit School of Music
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Chicago, IL$188K2024
Lyric Opera of Chicago
STUDENT AND FAMILY PERFORMANCES FUND
Chicago, IL$100K2024
Ray Graham Association
HANSON CENTER
Lisle, IL$100K2024
Gigi's Playhouse Inc
GENERAL FUND
Hoffman Estates, IL$100K2024
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Sonifi and Hospital at Home Programs
Elmhurst, IL$100K2020
Lyric Opera of Chicago
STUDENT AND FAMILY PERFORMANCES FUND
Chicago, IL$100K2023
Gigi's Playhouse Inc
GENERAL FUND
Hoffman Estates, IL$100K2023
Loyola University Medical Center
Nursing Fund
Mayhood, IL$100K2022
Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Nursing Program
Elmhurst, IL$100K2022
Gigi's Playhouse Inc
General Fund
Hoffman Estates, IL$100K2022
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Student and Family Performances Fund
Chicago, IL$100K2022
Ray Graham Association
Hanson Center
Lisle, IL$100K2022
Gigi's Playhouse
General Fund
Hoffman Estates, IL$80K2020
Lyric Opera of Chicago
General Fund
Chicago, IL$75K2020
Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
COVID Relief Fund and Charity Research and Care
Chicago, IL$75K2020

The Knowles Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$1.1M
2022$1.3M
2023$1.1M
2024$1.5M

How to apply for funding from The Knowles Foundation

The Knowles Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal.

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Frequently asked questions about The Knowles Foundation

Does The Knowles Foundation accept grant applications?
The Knowles Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does The Knowles Foundation fund?
The Knowles Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Merit School of Music, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ray Graham Association. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Knowles Foundation give in grants?
The Knowles Foundation reported $1.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $4.9M over 96 grants.
Where is The Knowles Foundation located?
The Knowles Foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 366051968.
How can I find foundations similar to The Knowles Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Knowles Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to The Knowles Foundation

Other Illinois grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from The Knowles Foundation's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with The Knowles Foundation. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.