Caerus Foundation Inc.

The Caerus Foundation (also known historically as the Hurvis Charitable Foundation) takes a proactive, invitation-only approach to grantmaking. Founded in 2001 by J. Thomas Hurvis, the foundation identifies and selects organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. This strategy allows the foundation to maintain tight alignment between its giving and its four core program pillars: Arts, Education, Environment, and Global Health. With $252 million in assets and $17.1 million distributed across 134 grants in 2024, Caerus operates as a mid-to-large private foundation with a highly focused geographic strategy. Domestically, grants concentrate on Chicago (71 grants), San Francisco (29 grants), and Wisconsin (8 grants), reflecting the personal connections and priorities of its leadership. Internationally, the foundation makes significant investments in humanitarian demining (HALO Trust, MAG America), emergency medical response (Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health), and conservation across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central America.

Caerus Foundation has demonstrated steady growth in its grantmaking over recent years: from 92 grants in 2021 to 108 in 2022, 129 in 2023, and 134 in 2024. Total distributions reached $17.1 million in 2024, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $1.2 million and a median grant of approximately $50,000. The foundation shows a clear bifurcation in its giving: large anchor grants ($400K-$1.2M) go to established institutions like the HALO Trust ($1.2M), National Audubon Society ($1M), and Doctors Without Borders ($500K-$600K), while numerous smaller grants ($5K-$100K) support community-based education, arts, and youth development organizations in Chicago and San Francisco. City Year receives multi-grant support totaling over $425K for school programming in Chicago. The education portfolio emphasizes college access and preparedness through organizations like College Possible, First Graduate, and Mission Graduates, while the arts portfolio supports culturally diverse institutions including Ensemble Espanol, 826 Valencia, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and The People's Music School.

Caerus is a mid-size player among Chicago-area foundations but distinguishes itself through its dual domestic-international focus, particularly its unique emphasis on humanitarian demining and global health alongside local education and arts. Unlike Polk Bros and Fry, which accept open applications, Caerus operates exclusively by invitation, limiting accessibility but enabling deeper, more strategic partnerships. Its $252M asset base supports a giving rate of approximately 6.8%, above the 5% federal minimum for private foundations.

In 2024, Caerus Foundation distributed $17.1 million across 134 grants, continuing its upward trajectory from 129 grants in 2023. The largest single grant was $1.205 million to The HALO Trust USA for global impact transformation work related to landmine and cluster munition clearance. National Audubon Society received multiple grants totaling $1 million for Great Lakes conservation and support roles. Doctors Without Borders USA received grants of $500K-$600K for emergency response operations. In education, City Year received approximately $425,000 across multiple grants for school programming in Chicago. The foundation previously awarded Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater a Growth Grant with matching potential up to $1.5 million over three years. The foundation's website (caerusfoundation.org) is currently temporarily offline for maintenance and updates as of March 2026. Financial data was most recently updated in the foundation's 2024 990-PF filing, showing total assets of $251.6 million and total revenues of $58.9 million.

Caerus Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals — it exclusively funds preselected organizations. However, organizations seeking to enter Caerus's orbit should consider the following strategies: (1) Build visibility in the foundation's core geographic areas (Chicago, San Francisco, or Wisconsin) and align programming with their four pillars: Arts, Education, Environment, or Global Health. (2) Organizations working in education should emphasize college access, tutoring, youth development, or STEM education — areas where Caerus has concentrated giving through grantees like College Possible, First Graduate, Tutoring Chicago, and City Year. (3) Arts organizations should demonstrate cultural inclusivity and community engagement, as Caerus supports diverse arts institutions from Spanish dance to jazz to literary arts. (4) Environmental organizations focused on Great Lakes conservation or wildlife habitat are well-aligned with the foundation's environmental portfolio. (5) International organizations working in humanitarian demining, emergency medical response, or public health in underserved regions align with the Global Health pillar. (6) Networking through Philanthropy New York, Donors Forum of Chicago, or collaborative funding initiatives where Caerus participates may increase visibility. (7) For any inquiries, the foundation can be reached at 847-559-2000 at their Northbrook, IL office (3100 Sanders Rd, Suite 500).