Aon Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Aon Foundation’s grantmaking primarily centers on K-12 education and college readiness, but it also broadly funds health, environment and cultural nonprofits in the communities where its employees live.
IP TAKE: This corporate funder’s grantmaking is geographically limited, and its grants tend to be modest and directed at well-established repeat grantees. While it does not offer any avenue to apply for funding, grantseekers are welcome to contact their nearest regional office for more information. This funder does not have an employee-led matching program, but grantseekers are welcome to contact a local representative by using the drop-down menu on the foundation’s overview page to locate a nearby regional office.
PROFILE: The Aon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Aon PLC, a global insurance and consulting firm headquartered in London, England. Its U.S.-based foundation, which is based in Chicago, is “committed to making the communities where we do business stronger” by providing “financial support to programs with demonstrated success in several key areas.” These key areas include education, arts and culture, civic and community affairs, environmental issues and human services. Like many corporate funders, Aon does not provide much detailed information about its grantmaking habits and priorities. Grants appear to prioritize the greater Chicago area.
Grants for K-12 Education and College Readiness
The primary focus of Aon’s overall grantmaking is “the education of young people.” It supports efforts to increase access to quality education for underserved populations of the Chicago area and elsewhere, especially programs that promote school readiness, school-aged children’s academic achievement, and college success. It invests directly in public and private schools, as well as in non-profit, education-related organizations. Past grantees include the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, New Schools for Chicago, Francis W. Parker School, Academy for Urban School Leadership, Juilliard School, and the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
Aon’s education grantmaking primarily focuses on “the education of young people,” but it also invests in “programs that prepare our future workforce and help develop our next generation’s leaders.” Past grantees include After School Matters, American Corporate Partners, and American Friends of London Business School.
Grants for Women and Girls
While not a stated priority, Aon often makes grants to organizations that advocate for or empower women and girls through its education and community grantmaking, such as Girls in the Game, which promotes leaderships through sports and other activities, and the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago, the city’s only all-girl public school, which recently closed down.
Grants for Public Health and Diseases
While Aon’s main grantmaking priority is education, it gives broadly to a variety of causes through its community grantmaking. Its giving in the field of health generally supports regional hospitals, health care access and outreach, and national cancer- and disease-related nonprofits such as the ALS Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National MS Society, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Other health-related grantees include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Pan Mass Challenge, Doctors Without Borders USA, and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.
Grants for Environmental Conservation and Animal Welfare
While Aon’s main grantmaking priority is education, it gives broadly to a variety of causes through its community grantmaking. Its environmental giving generally prioritizes local and regional conservation initiatives, but it also gives to major national and international organizations. Grantees include the Grand Canyon Association, Ducks Unlimited, and the ASPCA.
Grants for Arts and Culture
While Aon’s main grantmaking priority is education, it gives broadly to a variety of arts and cultural institutions in the Chicago area and other giving regions through its community grantmaking. It generally donates to well-known institutions such as theaters and museums, but it sometimes supports arts education through its main education program.
Grants for Theater: Grantees include Goodman Theatre, Stella Adler School of Acting, Broadway Theater Guild, and New York Theatre Workshop.
Grants for Music: Grantees include Carnegie Hall, Ravinia Festival Association, Chicago Center for Music Education, Chicago Children’s Choir
Grants for Visual Arts: Grantees include Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center and the Arts and Business Council of Chicago.
Important Grant Details:
Aon’s grants generally range from $100 to $10,000. While Aon gives broadly across the United States, its grantmaking centers around communities where it has a business presence and where its employees live and work. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s recent tax filings.
Aon does not provide a clear way to apply for grants. Grantseekers may contact a local representative by using the drop-down menu on the foundation’s overview page to locate a nearby regional office.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS: