McCormick Foundation is a Chicago-based nonprofit charitable trust established in 1955, following the death of "Colonel" Robert R. McCormick of the McCormick family. As of 2010 it had more than US$1 billion in assets.

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs catered to Civics, Communities, Education, Journalism and Veterans as well as Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make the world better. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation is one of the nation's largest foundations, with more than $1 billion in assets.

Programs

Communities

The Communities Program helps to transform communities by giving underserved people access to programs which improve their lives. The Robert R. McCormick Foundation partners with media outlets, sports teams and philanthropic organizations to raise money for local needs and provides matching funds to increase the impact of charitable giving.

Through the partnership, grants are made to qualified nonprofit organization with programs that help transition low-income children, adults and families to self-sufficiency. To achieve greater impact, the Foundation focuses on programs for children and youth in education, literacy, health & wellness and abuse prevention; hunger & housing; and adult workforce development and literacy.

Democracy

The Democracy program focuses on three pillars essential to a strong democratic society: civic education and engagement; high quality journalism that informs and engages the public; and government institutions and practices accountable to the people. Woven throughout the program is a focus on the civic empowerment gap and support for the First Amendment.

Education

This programs aims at building a system of quality early care and education in Illinois. Improving public policy (eg. adequate funding, quality standards) and building a widespread quality infrastructure (eg. quality workforce) are effective mechanisms to reach children at risk of academic failure, our target population.

In support of this theory, our priority areas of funding are:
 

• Improving public policy through increased public investments and policies that support access to quality early care and education for all children age birth through eight.
• Creating a heightened public awareness of the impact of quality early care and education.
• Building a quality infrastructure in Illinois that improves the quality of professionals and programs, and ensures continuous improvement.

 

Veterans


The Veterans program focuses on helping veterans transition successfully from military to civilian life. In 2008 and 2009 the foundation made grants for services for returning veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Other Initiatives

The foundation makes grants for Chicago healthcare, cultural, education and human service organizations. Examples include Chicago Lighthouse for the blind or visually impaired, Children's Memorial Hospital, and Off The Street Club.