Draper And Kramer Foundation
The Draper and Kramer Foundation is a private corporate foundation affiliated with Draper and Kramer, Incorporated; the company's official site (draperandkramer.com) names the foundation, its director (Jeff Henderson) and describes recent charitable activities. The corporate site lists the Chicago office contact details and is actively maintained with news dated 2025–2026.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Small-to-midsize nonprofits providing direct community services (food security, refugee support, homelessness, youth services) in the Chicago/Illinois area, or nationally-known organizations occasionally funded for emergency or thematic causes.
Good Fit
- • Provides food bank, pantry, refugee resettlement, homeless services, or similar direct social services.
- • Seeks modest general operating or program support in the $500–$10,000 range.
- • Is registered and visible on the IRS cumulative list referenced in the application instructions.
- • Has a Chicago or Illinois presence or documented connection to the foundation's service areas.
- • Can make a concise written request describing the purpose of the gift.
- • Has some prior connection or introduction to the foundation or its corporate sponsor (helpful but not strictly required).
Geography
Observed giving reaches six states in 2024, but Illinois dominated the dollar share (about 65%), indicating a primarily Illinois/Chicago focus with occasional out-of-state grants.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded roughly two dozen distinct recipients each year (23–25) across three years and supported a range of causes (food banks, refugee services, homelessness, health, youth), with about half of 2024 recipients being new.
New Applicants
Direct evidence shows new entrants are funded (12 new recipients in 2024 and similar turnover in prior years), and a submission route is described; however the foundation states grants are by preselection which suggests selective intake rather than an open public RFP, so openness is plausible but not fully open.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
