PURPOSE
The Hunter Family Foundation strives to improve lives in a long-term and sustainable way by supporting education, healthcare, workforce development, and the environment in communities where members of the Hunter family live, work, and have philanthropic interests​. These communities include Lake County and Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, California; and areas in Wisconsin, Florida, and North Carolina.​
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We provide grants, partnership, and leadership to ensure families have equitable opportunities to LEARN, PLAY, and GROW in their home communities. We also try to address the root causes of the social problems they experience and strengthen the systems that serve them.
Our Origin Story
The Hunter Family Foundation, founded in 1993 by Maxine Morrison Hunter and Thomas Benton Hunter III, has grown from a passion for the arts to a broad philanthropic endeavor. Initially focused on the arts, the foundation expanded its reach into community-based initiatives, supporting projects like Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Today, HFF is dedicated to improving access to education, healthcare, economic development, and environmental resources in select communities across the United States, carrying forward the Hunter family's legacy of meaningful impact.
Hunter Family Foundation: Families at the Core
WHY?
We believe families should have equitable opportunities to learn, play, and grow together in their home communities.
HOW?
We learn about and meet families’ needs and strengthen systems to serve them.
WHAT?
We provide grants, partnerships, and leadership to ensure families can access opportunities and make informed, healthy decisions for themselves and their communities.
Our Values
​HFF centers integrity in all aspects of our work.
Our dedication to engaging the community in ongoing dialogue and collaboration builds from relationships based on trust, respect, and compassion.
We try to integrate grace and generosity into everything we do, recognizing our work is not solely about providing financial support but also about sharing knowledge, skills, and energy through partnership and leadership opportunities.
Trust-Based Philanthropy
An approach centered on humility, empathy, and genuine collaboration with grantees and partners shapes our work. We prioritize Trust-Based Philanthropy, fostering relationships, decision-making, and organizational processes aligned with mutual goals. This approach enables us to adapt together and achieve meaningful impact.
