OVERVIEW: The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation is driven by the values, priorities and experiences the family shares. Current funding areas include community safety, arts and culture and educational innovation.
IP TAKE: Innovation and social justice are important in all areas of funding. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, but it has an accessible website with an email that invites inquiries.
PROFILE: Founded in 2002, the Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation was established by Gigi Pritzker, one of the 11 billionaire heirs to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, and her husband, Michael Pucker. The couple cofounded DNS Capital, of which Pucker serves as chairman and CEO. The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation “supports high impact programs that seek to transform individuals, families and communities through innovative, collaborative and scalable approaches.” Its funding initiatives are community safety, arts and culture and educational innovation. Chicago and the state of Illinois are geographic priorities of this funder.
Pritzker Pucker’s community safety program works broadly to improve communities. Areas of interest include violence reduction, restorative justice and community development. Past safety grantees include Communities United and the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
The foundation’s arts and culture initiative prioritizes “social justice, cultural engagement and audience enrichment.” This initiative has supported a mix of widely-known and community-based organizations. Past grantees include the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Chicago Public Art Group and Blair Thomas and Company, a theater group.
In education, this funder focuses on higher education and, specifically, interdisciplinary approaches to learning and research. Chicago area grantees include the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois and Northwestern University.
Recent grants have ranged anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. Generally, PPFF supports one-year grants, but multi-year grants may be considered for organizations that have received prior support.
PPFF does not accept unsolicited proposals and reviews proposals on a quarterly basis. Send inquiries to info@pritzkerpuckerfamilyfoundation.org
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS: