Cushing Family Foundation

The Cushing Family Foundation is a tightly held, invitation-only private foundation controlled by a single trustee, Michael J. Cushing, operating through the law firm Harrison & Held LLP in Chicago's Loop district. There is no public application, no grants portal, no published guidelines, and no listed deadline — the foundation's IRS profile explicitly marks it as preselected-only with application instructions noted as 'none.' This is not a foundation you apply to; it is a foundation you get invited into.

The path for prospective grantees runs through relationship, not paperwork. Michael J. Cushing appears to make all grant decisions personally, likely advised by Robert T. Napier at Harrison & Held. Any meaningful approach must establish a personal connection — through shared civic, philanthropic, or professional networks in the Chicago metropolitan area. Board connections, introductions through current grantees, or overlapping involvement in the Chicagoland philanthropic community are the primary entry points.

Organizations best positioned for consideration share several characteristics visible in the existing grantee portfolio: they address global humanitarian issues (health, hunger, displacement), operate in or have strong ties to Chicagoland, demonstrate multi-year programmatic stability, and have leaders who are known quantities in the city's civic ecosystem. The presence of Shine Global Inc — a documentary film organization focused on human trafficking and child exploitation — as the foundation's single largest beneficiary ($600,000 across 3 grants) signals that creative, advocacy-oriented organizations tackling global injustice can compete alongside traditional service providers.

First-time engagement should be light-touch and relationship-focused. A brief letter of inquiry sent to the law firm — no longer than one page, summarizing mission, track record, and specific programmatic impact — is appropriate if a warm introduction cannot be arranged. Do not submit unsolicited full proposals. Organizations with existing relationships in the Lyric Opera, Morton Arboretum, or Chicago Coalition for the Homeless donor communities may find indirect networking paths through current grantees.

The Cushing Family Foundation's grantmaking has grown dramatically since its founding in 2012, scaling from $0 in grants (FY2012) to $25,000 (FY2013), $101,250 (FY2014), $105,500 (FY2019), and reaching $690,000 in grants paid in FY2023 and $1.068 million in FY2024. The asset base that drives this giving surged from $12 million (FY2022) to $151 million (FY2023) after a $148.7 million contribution — a transformational wealth event that positions this foundation for significantly larger annual grantmaking in coming years if it moves toward the 5% minimum payout required of private foundations.

Across 51 recorded grants totaling $1.62 million, the average award is $31,816. Grant sizes span a wide range: the smallest on record is $2,000 (Friends of the Library, Glen Ellyn) and the largest is $200,000 per grant cycle to Shine Global Inc. The median grant falls in the $20,000-$25,000 range, but this average is skewed upward by a handful of large multi-year commitments.

Geographically, Illinois dominates at 30 of 51 grants (59%), with a strong Chicagoland concentration. New York recipients account for 9 grants (18%), Washington D.C. for 6 (12%), California for 2 (4%), Iowa for 2 (4%), and Tennessee for 2 (4%).

By sector, the portfolio spans: global health and humanitarian response (Shine Global, BloodWater, International Medical Corps, Action Against Hunger, Humanitarian Service Project — approximately 30% of total dollars), Chicago-area human services (Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Bridge Communities, Misericordia Home, DuPage Pads — roughly 20%), environment and conservation (Morton Arboretum, National Park Foundation, PAWS Chicago, Humane Society — roughly 18%), health and reproductive rights (Planned Parenthood, Legal Council for Health Justice, Alzheimer's Foundation — roughly 13%), and arts and culture (Lyric Opera of Chicago, Theosophical Society — roughly 10%). Faith-based and community gifts (St. Petronille Catholic Church, Glen Ellyn Food Pantry) account for the remainder.

Nearly all grants are made for 'general purposes' with no programmatic restrictions, reflecting donor-trust relationships rather than project-specific funding.

The Cushing Family Foundation sits in a peer cluster of similarly-sized private foundations in the $160-165 million asset range, all classified under NTEE code T22 (Philanthropy & Grantmaking). What distinguishes the Cushing foundation is its single-trustee structure and invitation-only model, which contrasts with peers that operate open or staffed grant programs.

The Cushing foundation's annual grantmaking-to-assets ratio (~0.7% in FY2023) is dramatically below the 5% minimum excise tax threshold, suggesting either the foundation is in a build-up phase following its 2023 asset infusion or plans to increase distributions significantly. By comparison, the De Beaumont and Ruderman foundations operate staffed grantmaking programs at multiples of Cushing's current payout. For grant seekers, the practical implication is clear: Cushing is not a volume funder, and its accessibility depends entirely on personal relationships with its sole trustee.

The defining event in this foundation's recent history is a massive financial transformation. In FY2023, the Cushing Family Foundation received $148.7 million in contributions — compared to $851,301 the prior year — catapulting total assets from $12 million to $151 million. By the most recent period reported (2024), assets stand at $162.9 million, reflecting strong investment returns on the enlarged endowment including $6.6 million in dividends and $3.1 million in asset sales.

Grantmaking followed the expanded capacity. In FY2023, grants paid were $690,000 — more than double the prior year's $466,300. The most recent FY2024 cycle distributed $1.068 million across 17-18 grants, including notable new awards to the Theosophical Society in America ($250,000), Morton Arboretum ($100,000), and DuPage Pads ($100,000 — a DuPage County homelessness provider not previously listed in the grant history, suggesting geographic expansion within Illinois).

No leadership changes have been publicly reported. Michael J. Cushing remains the sole trustee, uncompensated, and the law firm Harrison & Held continues as administrative contact. No new program officers, website, or application infrastructure has been announced. The foundation appears to be scaling its personal philanthropic model rather than institutionalizing, which has significant implications for how prospective grantees should approach relationship-building. There are no public communications channels — no newsletter, no social media, no press releases.

Given the preselected-only structure, 'applying' in the conventional sense is not possible. What follows is a realistic strategy for organizations seeking to enter this funder's orbit.

Build relationships inside Cushing's existing grantee network. The Morton Arboretum, Lyric Opera of Chicago, PAWS Chicago, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless are likely known to Cushing personally. Board and leadership overlaps between your organization and these grantees create the most credible introduction pathways. Map your board's connections before any outreach.

Engage the law firm thoughtfully. Harrison & Held LLP at 333 W Wacker Drive, Suite 1700 is the formal channel. A concise one-page letter of inquiry — not a full proposal — addressed to Robert T. Napier is appropriate for organizations that have no other entry point. Lead with a single compelling statistic about impact, your Chicago connection, and a specific dollar ask. Keep it under 400 words.

Match your language to the portfolio. Use terms that appear implicitly across grantees: 'access to care,' 'community stability,' 'global humanitarian response,' 'environmental stewardship,' 'arts enrichment.' Avoid jargon-heavy NTEE framing — this is personal philanthropy, not institutional grantmaking.

Target your ask in the $25,000-$75,000 range for a first grant. The portfolio shows most initial-year grants fall in this band. A $200,000 ask from an unknown organization is unlikely to succeed; a $50,000 general operating request from a trusted-referral organization stands a reasonable chance.

Do not send unsolicited full proposals. There is no evidence this foundation reviews cold proposals. Sending a lengthy unsolicited package wastes resources and signals unfamiliarity with the funder's operating style.

If you receive a grant, steward it carefully. Multi-year repeat grants dominate the grantee list. The goal with a first award is to earn a second. Send brief quarterly updates by mail (not email — no public email is listed), and invite Cushing or Napier to site visits or signature events.