OVERVIEW: The Gies Foundation’s grantmaking includes support of educational and health causes. More than half of this foundation’s grantmaking stays in Chicago.
IP TAKE: The Gies Foundation is a funder with strong connections to the greater Chicago area that prefers to keep its philanthropy close to home. It keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. However, tax records show that many of its grants go to organizations with some sort of connection to the family. Because it doesn’t have a website or provide a clear means of contact beyond the phone number and address listed below, this can be a tricky funder to reach, and grantseekers best bet will be to network.
PROFILE: Founded in 2004, the Gies Foundation was established by Larry and Beth Gies. Larry Gies founded what became Madison Industries in 1994, which is now regarded as one of the largest and most successful privately held companies in the world. Larry Gies graduated with a B.S. from University of Illinois and earned his MBA from Northwestern University in 1992. Gies founded Madison Capital Partners in 1994 and spun his investment firm, whose companies generated more than $5 billion in revenue, into Madison Industries, a holding company that now acquires and builds businesses. While the foundation is not transparent about its grantmaking areas of interest, tax filings suggest that the Gies Foundation’s supports primarily education.
Grants for Education
The foundation does not outline specific aims for its education programs, preferring to fund them more broadly. Larry and Beth Gies recently gave a $150 million gift to Larry’s alma mater, the University of Illinois, home of the Gies College of Business, to focus on expanding the business school’s programming and scholarships.
- The Gies Foundation was also instrumental in establishing the Gies Campus of Chicago Jesuit Academy, a full scholarship school for boys on Chicago’s West Side.
- Other education grantees include Accelerate Institute, Glenwood Academy, Midwestern Christian Academy, Holy Trinity High School, and Northwestern University (Gies has a degree from the school).
Grants for Health
Gies health grantmaking is not as robust or headline making as the couple’s education support, but the foundation has supported several groups in this area in the past.
- The family foundation made a seven-figure gift to the Lucile Packard Foundation in the Bay Area in 2015.
- Other past grantees also include Huntington Disease Society, Sarcoidosis Foundation, and Misericordia Women’s League.
Important Grant Details
Grants typically range between $1,000 and $ 1 million, but the most common amount is closer to $15,000. In a recent year the foundation gave about $1.2 million.
- Grantmaking is largely centered on the Chicago area.
- The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant requests.
- However, the foundation phone number to get in touch is (312) 277-0159.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
500 W. Madison St., Ste. 3890
Chicago, IL 60661-4593
(312) 277-0159
