OVERVIEW: The Negaunee Foundation was created to support the arts, education and environmental causes in the Chicago area. It has recently contributed to the renovation of a local senior living and memory care center.
IP TAKE: Music is a strong focus for this foundation. The foundation and its trustees keep a low profile and do not appear to accept unsolicited proposals.
PROFILE: Established in 1987 in Illinois, the Negaunee Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Richard W. Colburn and his wife, Robin. The late Richard D. Colburn steered Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) and was also a major financier and advocate of music and music education in Los Angeles. The family continues to run CED. Colburn’s son, Richard W. Colburn, is also president of Henley Management Company in Illinois. Grantmaking areas of interest are arts and culture, art education, the environment and the elderly.
The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, Richard has continued along in the footsteps of his father and strongly focuses on arts philanthropy through the Negaunee Foundation. The foundation has given strong support to Chicago Lyric Opera and the Ravinia Festival, an outdoor music festival in Highland Park, Illinois. The family has also supported Steans Institute, Ravinia's summer conservatory. Other Chicago music grantees have included Chicago Youth Symphony, Baroque Band, Chicago Children’s Choir, the Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, and Orchestral Society of Illinois. The funder has also given significantly to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Field Museum, Joffrey Ballet, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. In the Chicago area, the Negaunee Foundation's grantmaking has supported the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago High School for the Arts, Merit School of Music, and the Sherwood Conservatory of Music. Negaunee Foundation's grantmaking also includes providing funds for environmental organizations in Chicago like Nature Conservancy of Illinois, Openlands, and National Audubon Society (Audubon Chicago Region). The foundation has recently demonstrated interest in senior living and memory care, giving $2 million toward the rennovation of Scottish House, a residence at the Caledonia Senior Living facility in North Riverside, Illinois.
Grants tend to be under $100,000 but a handful exceed that number. It appears that Neguanee grantmaking is on the rise. Grantseekers should review the funder’s recent tax records to leaven more about local giving. Much of this foundation’s Chicago grantmaking supports music.
The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications. The funder’s phone number to get in touch is 847-480-4690.
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