OVERVIEW: The Lefkofsky Family Foundation was established by Groupon cofounder Eric Lefkofsky and his wife, Liz. The foundation gives to education, health, human rights and arts and culture in the Chicago area.
IP TAKE: The Lefkofskys have stepped up their giving in recent years and have broad philanthropic interests. They are also Giving Pledge signatories, so much more may be on the way. This funder does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PROFILE: Established in 2006, the Lefkofsky Family Foundation is the foundation of Eric Lefkofsky, who is best known for cofounding Groupon. Prior to Groupon, he worked on a number of different ventures and is described by some as a "serial entrepreneur." The Lefkofskys established their Chicago-based foundation in 2006, with the goal of supporting “high impact initiatives that enhance the quality of human life in the communities we serve.” Its grantmaking areas are education, health, human rights and arts and culture. About half of its grantmaking remains in the Chicago area.
Lefkofsy’s education funding prioritizes equitable access to high quality public education with an emphasis on the middle grades. Past grantees include the Academy for Urban School Leadership, which serves over 17,000 students in 29 Chicago Public Schools, Success Bound, After School Matters and the Chicago Public Education Fund.
The foundation’s health grants support medical research geared toward preventing and curing diseases. In this area it has supported NorthShore University Health System in Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital and the Lurie Children’s Memorial Hospital, which is the site of the Lefkofsky Family Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Lefkofsky’s human rights initiative works mainly in the areas of healthcare and violence prevention for women and girls. Past grantees in this area include Planned Parenthood and the Chicago Foundation for Women.
In arts and culture, this foundation aims to promote creativity and provide enriching experiences for local audiences. Chicago grantees include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Steppenwolf Theatre, where Lefkofsky sits on the board of trustees.
The vast majority of the Lefkofskys' giving is done in their hometown of Chicago. Grants are awarded in amounts anywhere between $1,000 to over $1 million and support a variety of well-established and smaller, startup organizations in areas of interest. The foundation offers lists of grantees in each area on its website.
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. For organizations that have been invited to apply, proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis. Multi-year support is possible for organizations that have received prior support. Grantseekers can contact the foundation by calling 312-906-7477 or emailing info@lffoundation.com.
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