OVERVIEW: The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation works mainly in Chicago to support economic opportunity through education, vocational training and community development.
IP TAKE: This Chicago grantmaker acknowledges that “increasing economic opportunity for individuals and families will require our city to come together, dream big, and act boldly.” In addition to grantmaking for broad economic development and opportunity, the Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation works closely with grantees to find “innovative solutions” to expand opportunity for all Chicagoans. Only a few grants each year support national organizations and nonprofits operating in other areas of the country.
This funder supports both small and large organizations alike with a wide range of grant sizes, so if your organization is on the smaller size, don’t hesitate to consider this foundation. Pritzker Traubert accepts one-page synopses of “bold ideas” from organizations working in its areas of interest on a rolling basis.
PROFILE: The Chicago-based Pritzker Traubert Foundation (PTFF) was established in 2000 by husband and wife Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker. Pritzker is the daughter of Donald Pritzker, a co-founder of the Hyatt hotel chain, and the sister of Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker. She has worked extensively in her family’s real estate business and served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 2013 to 2017, during the Obama presidency. Penny Pritzker graduated with a bachelor’s in economics from Harvard University and a J.D. and M.B.A. from Stanford University. She is one of 11 billionaire heirs in the Pritzker clan and is the founder and chairman of PSP Partners, a private investment firm with ventures in real estate, hedge funds and startups. Her husband, Bryan Traubert, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a nationally renowned medical expert.
The Pritzker Traubert foundation aims to increase economic opportunity for Chicagoans through three grantmaking initiatives: Community Development, Workforce and Strengthening Democracy. The foundation also runs the Chicago Prize and Chicago Talent Challenge award programs. This funder’s grantmaking spans the areas of education, work and opportunity, community development and arts and culture. Grantmaking is mainly limited to Chicago, but some national organizations have also received funding in recent years.
Grants for Work and Opportunity, Higher Education and Community Development
Economic opportunity for the people of Chicago is at the core of Pritzker Traubert’s grantmaking. The foundation’s overarching goal is to “partner with visionary leaders to implement their bold plans to connect talent to jobs, build an inclusive and growing economy, and strengthen communities in Chicago.”
- The foundation’s Community Development focus area invests “in the economic future of Chicago communities” by supporting “local leaders and catalytic development projects.” The foundation acknowledges that many of the city’s BIPOC communities have lagged far behind in economic development, and prioritizes these areas in its giving.
- One grantee, Chicago Trend, is a social enterprise that works to improve the local economies of majority-Black neighborhoods through real estate investments and “retail economics.”
- Other grantees include the food business incubator the Hatchery, the Back of the Yard Neighborhood Council and the Emerald South Economic Development Council.
- The Workforce initiative supports a broad range of efforts to help Chicago meet contemporary and future demands for a competent, skilled and diverse workforce across a range of high-growth industries.
- Penny Pritzker founded Skills for Chicagoland’s Future, which matches growing business with “qualified, unemployed and underemployed job seekers.”
- Penny Pritzker also co-chairs P33, an organization that works to make Chicago a “global technology hub” by training Chicagoans for careers in the technology sector.
- Other grantees include the Accelerate U program at National Louis University, Innovate Illinois and Elevate Energy, which helps contractors and other building professionals learn skills related to the “rapidly growing energy efficiency retrofit industry.”
- The foundation’s Chicago Prize was launched in 2019 as part of a $100 commitment to “increase access to economic opportunity for more Chicagoans.” The prize, which is not awarded every year, recognizes community leaders with bold plans for “catalytic change” in any of Chicago’s underserved communities. Information about past recipients and finalists, as well as the programs advisors, is linked to the program page.
- The foundation’s newest program is the Chicago Talent Challenge, which aims to help “Chicagoans build stable careers and helping employers fill essential jobs.” The first cycle of the challenge will address careers in health care and support. The winning program will receive a $5 million grant for program implementation. Application guidelines are linked to the program page.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Pritzker Traubert’s grantmaking for Strengthening Democracy is focused on increasing civic participation and strengthening democratic practice in Chicago. In addition to support for voter engagement and civic collaborations, the program supports local journalism and access to broadband internet services as a key components of strong democracy.
- Grantees include the ACLU of Chicago, WBEZ Chicago Public Media, the broadband service provider Broadband Connected and the pro bono consultancy Civic Consulting Alliance.
Grants for K-12 Education
Pritzker Traubert does not specifically name K-12 education as an area of focus, but grants have supported K-12 schools and programs, especially in Chicago’s underserved communities. Charter schools emerge as a main priority for this grantmaking.
- Past grantees include the Noble Network of Charter Schools, the Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School, Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois and Teach for America.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The foundation does not name arts and culture as areas of interest but steadily supports Chicago-area arts organizations and venues. Past grants have supported
- Chicago grantees include the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Timeline Theatre Company and the Art Institute of Chicago.
- A few grants also support arts organization in other areas. Grantees include the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Grants for Public Health
Pritzker Traubert’s health giving has declined over the past several years, with only a few recent grants supporting health initiatives in Chicago.
- Grantees include the Westside Health Authority, the Chicago Family Health Center and Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
Important Grant Details:
The Pritzker Traubert Foundation made about $13.2 million in grants in a recent year. The foundation’s grants range from $100 to $4 million, with a median grant size of about $30,000.
- This funder supports a broad range of Chicago-based organizations, including small, neighborhood-based initiatives for economic and employment opportunities.
- The foundation occasionally supports national organizations and nonprofits operating in other areas of the U.S.
- For additional information about past grantmaking, see the individual program pages linked here or the Impact Stories page.
- With the exception of the Chicago Talent Challenge, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
- Contact the foundation via email at info@ptfound.org. Social media links are offered at the bottom of the website.
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