Dunham Foundation
The Dunham Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation serving the greater Aurora, Illinois area. It funds nonprofits in education, economic growth, and community development through a tiered grant portfolio, having disbursed over $65 million to 253 partners across 680+ grants since 2007.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersAurora, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Dunham Foundation does
The Dunham Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation established in 1996 by John C. Dunham, an Aurora, Illinois-based manufacturer who grew Equipto into a world-renowned space-utilization business. The Foundation became actively grantmaking in 2007 following John C. Dunham's death in 2006 and converted from a charitable trust (Dunham Fund) to a private foundation in 2021. It is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors (chaired by Robert Vaughan) and operated by a 3-person staff led by President & CEO Vicki Morcos, with Program Director Lindsay Cochrane and Administrative Manager Holly Sambucetti. Headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, the Foundation confines its grantmaking to the greater Aurora Area defined by Routes 38, 34, 59, and 47, serving Kane, DuPage, and Kendall counties. Over 20 years it has deployed more than $65 million across 680+ grants to 253 nonprofit partners across three core priority areas: Education, Economic Growth, and Community.
The Foundation offers a tiered grant portfolio — Education Grants (Feb 1 deadline, school-calendar aligned), General Grants above $50,000 (two annual LOI cycles), Abbreviated Grants at $50,000 or less (rolling, 30-day decision), Capacity Building Grants (including a $5,000 Grant Writer Resource Fund), and Sponsorship Grants — all processed through the GivingData online grant management platform deployed in January 2025. Beyond direct funding, it runs Professional Development Workshops in partnership with Forefront (since 2012) and the Leading The Way: Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program launched in 2025 with Aurora University. Its go-to-market is community-led: the Foundation reaches nonprofits through direct outreach, workshops, coalition partnerships (Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund, 2020), and a Community Calendar aggregation channel. The revenue model is endowment-funded rather than commercial — the Foundation draws on a corpus established by John C. Dunham and disburses grants within a payout-policy framework rather than earning fees or selling services.
Dunham Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dunham Foundation
- Legal name
- Dunham Foundation
- Website
- https://dunhamfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Dunham Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation serving the greater Aurora, Illinois area. It funds nonprofits in education, economic growth, and community development through a tiered grant portfolio, having disbursed over $65 million to 253 partners across 680+ grants since 2007.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dunham Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Foundation Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where Dunham Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aurora
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dunham Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Foundation Endowment/Charitable Giving: The Dunham Foundation operates as a private foundation funded by an endowment established by founder John C. Dunham. The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations rather than generating commercial revenue. The foundation converted from a charitable trust (Dunham Fund) to a private foundation in 2021.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | General Grants exceeding $50,000 |
| Other | Annual | Capacity Building Grants - Grant Writer Resource Fund |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Abbreviated Grants $50,000 or less |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Dunham Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Dunham Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that awards financial grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the greater Aurora, Illinois service area across three priority areas: Education, Economic Growth, and Community. Grant types include Education Grants, General Grants (up to $1 million), Abbreviated Grants ($50,000 or less), Capacity Building Grants (including the Grant Writer Resource Fund up to $5,000), and Sponsorship Requests. It also delivers Professional Development Workshops and a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program in partnership with Aurora University.
Product overview
The Dunham Foundation is a private grant-making foundation serving the greater Aurora Area in Illinois. Rather than a unified software product, the Foundation offers a portfolio of grant programs and community services organized around three priority areas: Education, Economic Growth, and Community. The grant portfolio includes Education Grants, General Grants (above/below $50,000), Capacity Building Grants, and Sponsorship Requests—all processed through the GivingData online grant portal. The Foundation also provides non-monetary support through Professional Development Workshops and the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program (delivered in partnership with Aurora University). The Foundation transitioned from a charitable trust (Dunham Fund) to a private foundation in 2021.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Education Grants Grants supporting programming for children from birth through high school, particularly programming aligned with the school calendar year. Applications are due by February 1st with Board review at the March meeting. Targeted at nonprofits serving the greater Aurora area.
- General Grants (Over $50,000) Large-scale grants for Economic Growth or Community priority areas requiring a Letter of Intent (LOI) submission process with two annual cycles (February 1st and June 1st deadlines). Grants are generally limited to $1 million. Targeted at 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the greater Aurora service area.
- Abbreviated Grants ($50,000 or less) Smaller grants for Economic Growth or Community priority areas accepted on a rolling basis during the calendar year, with a 30-day notification timeline. Targeted at 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the greater Aurora service area.
- Capacity Building Grants Grants to help local nonprofits strengthen resource development and build effective fundraising strategies, including the Grant Writer Resource Fund (up to $5,000 for contractual grant writers) and the Community Relations Fund for relationship-building tools. Targeted at 501(c)(3) nonprofits without a grant writer on staff or needing additional capacity.
- Sponsorship Requests Event sponsorship grants for fundraisers such as annual galas, golf outings, and 5K events, accepted on a rolling basis with 60-day advance submission recommended. Targeted at nonprofits and schools hosting fundraising events in the greater Aurora area.
- Professional Development Workshops Workshops coordinated throughout the year for grantees and area nonprofits, providing space and opportunities for local leaders to learn and connect. Partnered with Forefront since 2012 to organize workshops and networking opportunities. Free for area nonprofit participants.
- Leading The Way: Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program Certificate program delivered in partnership with Aurora University for current and emerging nonprofit leaders, providing management and business skills training through a multi-week workshop series. Participation is by nomination only. Targeted at nonprofit leaders in the Dunham Foundation Service Area.
- Community Calendar Online calendar of community events hosted by nonprofits and community partners, allowing organizations to submit educational or community events for promotion. Available to the broader Aurora community.
- GivingData Grant Portal Online grantmaking platform used to process all grant applications, replacing previous systems with enhanced features including intuitive applications and in-form commenting for real-time communication with staff, secure grant payment processing, and systematic tracking and reviewing of applications. Used by 501(c)(3) nonprofit applicants in the greater Aurora service area.
- Ready for the Future Initiative Foundation-led initiative awarding $2 million across four nonprofit organizations to reach nearly 3,000 K-12 students through tutoring and enrichment programs addressing both academic and social-emotional experiences. Includes partner activities such as after-school STEM programming (Wong Center for Education), virtual one-on-one tutoring in West Aurora School District 129 schools (Littera Tutoring), tutoring/mentoring support (Wayside Cross Ministries), and expanded hands-on STEM learning for youth ages 11-18 (SciTech / The Next Level Lab).
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $65 million awarded to 253 nonprofit partners with over 680 grants in 20 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Dunham Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Dunham Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Dunham Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Aurora UniversitycorePartnership to deliver the Leading The Way: Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program on the Aurora University campus. The multi-week workshop series strengthens leadership capabilities of nonprofit leaders and creates a network of mutual support among local nonprofit leaders.
- Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response FundcoreIn March 2020, a coalition including Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation, Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, Dunham Fund, Fox Valley United Way, and INC Board established a COVID-19 Response Fund seeded with $280,000. The fund has raised and distributed close to $600,000 to 50 local nonprofits addressing pandemic challenges.
- ForefrontcorePartnership since 2012 with Forefront, a nonprofit and foundation membership organization, to organize professional development workshops and networking opportunities for area nonprofits. Together they help grantees leverage resources and expand fundraising efforts.
- Aurora Women's Empowerment FoundationflagshipFounding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund coalition
- Community Foundation of the Fox River ValleyflagshipFounding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund coalition; collaborated on Community Needs Assessment in 2022 across Kane and Kendall counties
- Fox Valley United WayflagshipFounding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund coalition; partner in #ILGive workshops for nonprofits
- INC BoardcoreFounding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund coalition
- John C. Dunham STEM Partnership SchoolcoreLaunched in 2009 through Challenge for Change initiative; opened doors in 2014 as a STEM-focused partnership school
- Paramount TheatrecoreIn 2011, Dunham Fund invested in the launch of the Paramount Theatre's Broadway Series, bringing Broadway-caliber theater to Aurora. By 2020, the series celebrated its 9th season, bringing more than 30 Broadway musicals to downtown Aurora and supporting local economic growth.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dunham Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley: Largest community foundation serving the Fox River Valley region, including Aurora. Founding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund alongside Dunham and the most direct geographic peer in mission, footprint, and grantmaking structure.
- Fox Valley United Way: Regional United Way affiliate serving Aurora and the Fox Valley area through community-wide fundraising and grantmaking. Founding coalition partner with Dunham in the COVID-19 Response Fund with overlapping priorities in education and basic-needs programs.
- Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation: Aurora-area private foundation and named founding member of the Fox Valley Grantmakers COVID-19 Response Fund. Comparable in operating model and regional grantmaking focus to the Dunham Foundation.
Others
- Forefront: Illinois-based membership and advocacy association serving nonprofits and grantmakers. Strategic partner of the Dunham Foundation since 2012 to deliver professional development workshops, operating as a member-services enabler rather than a competing funder.
- Spencer Foundation: Chicago-based national foundation focused on education research, thematically linked to Dunham's strong education pillar but operating at a much larger scale and focusing on research rather than direct program grants.
Broad incumbents
- The Chicago Community Trust: One of the largest community foundations in the Chicago region, with a regional and multi-county footprint that overlaps Dunham's service area at the margins and operates a much broader grantmaking portfolio.
- Grand Victoria Foundation: Illinois-based private foundation funding education, workforce, and community initiatives across Illinois, including parts of the Fox Valley region, with substantially broader geographic scope than Dunham.
Regional players
- Polk Bros Foundation: Chicago-based family foundation investing in education, economic opportunity, and arts across the Chicago metropolitan region, comparable in family-foundation model, priority areas, and operating scale to the Dunham Foundation.
- Joyce Foundation: Chicago-based foundation funding education, economic development, gun violence prevention, and culture across the Great Lakes region, with operating model and priority structure (education and economic opportunity pillars) closely comparable to Dunham's three-pillar structure.
- Crown Family Philanthropies: Chicago-based multi-generational family foundation with overlapping education and community priorities in the same broader Illinois geography as the Dunham Foundation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dunham Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceDunham Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dunham Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Dunham Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Dunham Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dunham Foundation
What does Dunham Foundation do?
The Dunham Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that awards financial grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in the greater Aurora, Illinois service area across three priority areas: Education, Economic Growth, and Community. Grant types include Education Grants, General Grants (up to $1 million), Abbreviated Grants ($50,000 or less), Capacity Building Grants (including the Grant Writer Resource Fund up to $5,000), and Sponsorship Requests. It also delivers Professional Development Workshops and a Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program in partnership with Aurora University.
Is Dunham Foundation a public or private company?
Dunham Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Dunham Foundation founded?
Dunham Foundation was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Dunham Foundation based?
Dunham Foundation is headquartered in Aurora, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dunham Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Endowment/Charitable Giving.
Who are Dunham Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, Fox Valley United Way and Aurora Women's Empowerment Foundation. Others are Forefront and Spencer Foundation. Broad incumbents are The Chicago Community Trust and Grand Victoria Foundation. Regional players are Polk Bros Foundation, Joyce Foundation and Crown Family Philanthropies.
Does Dunham Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dunham Foundation.
What industry is Dunham Foundation in?
Dunham Foundation's product category is Private Foundation Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.