The Buchanan Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyLake Forest, Illinois · EIN 36-6160998 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$2.5M
Organizations funded154
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$57.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $20,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
51% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avon Old Farms School | Avon, CT | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $100,000 |
| Smith College | Northhampton, MA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $100,000 |
| History Center of Lake Forest - Lake Buff | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $75,000 |
| Tall Pines Conservatory | Nashotah, WI | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $75,000 |
| Lake County Community Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $60,000 |
| Ohio State University College of Veterinary | Columbus, OH | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $55,000 |
| Bozeman Sports Park Foundation | Bozeman, MT | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $50,000 |
| Delta Waterfowl | Bismark, ND | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $50,000 |
| Feinstein Institute | Manhasset, NY | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $50,000 |
| Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation | Hobe Sound, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $50,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $50,000 |
| College of Lake County Foundation | Grayslake, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $45,000 |
| Shirley Ryan Ability Lab | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $40,000 |
| Sugar's Gift | Brandenton, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $40,000 |
| Dutchess Land Conservatory | Millbrook, NJ | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $35,000 |
| Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation | Dundee, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $35,000 |
| Raison D'etre - Dance Company | Bozeman, MT | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $35,000 |
| Lake Forest - Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $33,000 |
| Advocate Lutheran General Hospital | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Brookfield Zoo | Brookfield, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Eastern Illinois University Foundation | Charleston, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Equestrian Connection | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Fox Valley Food for Health | Aurora, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Association | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $30,000 |
| Community Center of Boca Grande | Boca Grande, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $25,000 |
| Friends of Thai Daughters | Trevett, ME | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $25,000 |
| Ravinia Festival | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $25,000 |
| United States Equestrian Team Foundation | Gladstone, NJ | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $25,000 |
| Founding Fish Network | Atlantic Highlands, NJ | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| Nature Conservancy of Illinois | Arlington, VA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| Our House of Hope Animal Rescue | North East, MD | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| Root | Susanville, CA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| United Way of Lake County | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| University of Miami Rosenstiel School | Key Biscayne, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| Wttw - Channel 11 | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $20,000 |
| The Lesotho Connection | Tacoma, WA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $18,000 |
| Billion Oyster Project | New York, NY | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Boca Grande Health Clinic Foundation | Boca Grande, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies | Millbrook, NY | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Lake Country | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Charlotte Central School | Charlotte, VT | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Elawa Farm Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Evergreen Climate Innovations | Menlo Park, CA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Green Mountain Horse Association | So Woodstock, VT | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Lake Forest Library | Lake Forest, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Marklund | Elgin, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Meals on Wheels - Northeastern Illinois | Evanston, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium | Sarasota, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Northern Illnois Food Bank | Geneva, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Rendezvous Arts | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Sigma Chi Foundation | Evanston, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| The Newberry Library | Chicago, IL | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Woodwell Climate Research Center | Falmouth, MA | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $15,000 |
| Wow Polo Series Inc | Wellington, FL | General, operating, endowment or capital | $15,000 |
| Weathersfield Foundation Inc | Amenia, NY | General, operating, endowment or capital. | $12,800 |
Showing the 60 largest of 154 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,510,300 | 154 |
| 2024 | $2,496,000 | 158 |
| 2023 | $2,237,000 | 147 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 4, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202601249349101850
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 36-6160998
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.