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The Spencer Foundation

EIN: 36-6078558 • Chicago, IL
Total Assets
$664.8M
Foundation endowment scale
Annual Giving
$24.3M
Annual capital distribution
Typical Grant
$74,964
Most grants: $50K – $118K
Application Status
Invitation Only
Rolling review

About The Spencer Foundation Grantmaking

The Spencer Foundation is an institutional grantmaking foundation headquartered in Chicago, IL (EIN: 36-6078558). According to verified IRS Form 990-PF filings, the foundation maintains $664.8M in total assets and distributed $24.3M across 1,043 grants. Its typical award size is $74,964, with the middle 50% of awards falling between $50K and $118K. Its primary funding focus includes Education & Literacy (54%), Arts, Culture & Humanities (36%), Youth Development (5%), with the highest concentration of grants awarded in DC (34%) and IL (21%).

Top Funded Causes% Capital
Education & Literacy54%
$26.4M deployed354 awards
Arts, Culture & Humanities36%
$17.6M deployed32 awards
Youth Development5%
$2.3M deployed22 awards
Recreation & Sports3%
$1.6M deployed20 awards
Philanthropy & Grantmaking2%
$1.1M deployed33 awards
Top Recipient States% Dollars
DC State Recipients34%
$19.5M funded63 grants
IL State Recipients21%
$11.8M funded204 grants
CA State Recipients20%
$11.8M funded145 grants
NY State Recipients18%
$10.4M funded95 grants
MA State Recipients7%
$4.1M funded66 grants
Grant Size DistributionAward Scale
Major Grants ($100K+)21%
218 large institutional grants
Mid-Sized ($25K–$100K)58%
602 standard program grants
Micro & Small (<$25K)21%
223 grassroots micro-awards
Application Guidelines & DeadlinesPublic Filing Data
Application Policy
Invitation Only / Preselected Grantees
Submission Deadlines

Quarterly review cycles. Applications accepted continuously.

Geographic Focus & Restrictions

Priority given to organizations registered and operating in IL or regional districts.

Program Officer & Direct Contacts

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Recent Grant AwardsShowing 5 of 1,043 verified awards
Recipient OrganizationLocationTax YearAward AmountGrant Purpose
National Academy of EducationWashington, DC2024$2,532,835National academy of education/spencer postdoctoral fellowship programs (cohorts 24-25, 25-26, 26-27)
National Academy of EducationWashington, DC2024$1,753,042National academy of education/spencer dissertation fellowship programs (cohorts 24-25, 25-26, 26-27)
William T Grant FoundationNew York, NY2024$650,000Support for the 2024 institutional challenge grant program at the william t. grant foundation
William T Grant FoundationNew York, NY2024$650,000Support for the 2025 institutional challenge grant program at the william t. grant foundation
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY2024$593,600Spencer education journalism fellowship program, 2024 - 2028
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Spencer Foundation

Does The Spencer Foundation accept unsolicited grant proposals?

The Spencer Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and primarily funds preselected organizations. Direct unsolicited applications are not currently reviewed.

What is the typical grant size from The Spencer Foundation?

The median grant size from The Spencer Foundation is $74,964, with the middle 50% of awards ranging between $50K and $118K.

What causes does The Spencer Foundation fund?

Over recent Form 990-PF filings, The Spencer Foundation's primary funding areas have been Education & Literacy, Arts, Culture & Humanities, Youth Development.

How do I contact The Spencer Foundation about a grant?

The Spencer Foundation is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Verified NPO Grant subscribers can access direct program officer telephone extensions, verified work email addresses, and detailed submission guidelines.