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Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Richard H. Driehaus established the foundation in 1983 after building his career in investment management. The organization continues his emphasis on Chicago...
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Richard H. Driehaus established the foundation in 1983 after building his career in investment management. The organization continues his emphasis on Chicago through structured grant programs in architecture, arts, and government accountability reporting. Grantmaking covers three primary areas with allocations to classical architecture preservation, museum operations, and journalism initiatives. The foundation maintains a 1.1 percent allocation to private equity alongside direct ownership of properties and collections. Activity remains concentrated in the Midwest with limited exposure outside the United States. The foundation employs nine professionals and operates from Chicago headquarters. It maintains the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and related lending vehicles for art and automobiles. May 2025: Sponsored the Beyond the Byline awards for investigative journalism. The foundation integrates grantmaking with permanent ownership of historic assets and a separate art exhibition lending entity established in 2024. This structure ties capital deployment directly to physical preservation and public access rather than purely financial returns.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1983
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Chicago
Corporate office
50 E Erie St, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Principals
Anne Lazar
Executive Director and President
Elizabeth Driehaus
Treasurer and Director
Dorothy Mellin
Vice President and Board Member
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation?
Anne Lazar serves as Executive Director and President. Elizabeth Driehaus holds the role of Treasurer and Director. Day-to-day grant and asset decisions rest with this board and staff of nine.
Does the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation holds a 1.1 percent allocation to private equity vehicles. The majority of activity occurs through direct ownership of real estate and art collections.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Richard H. Driehaus created the endowment from proceeds of his investment management career. He founded Driehaus Capital Management prior to establishing the foundation in 1983.
What investment stages does the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation typically target?
The foundation does not target venture or growth stages. Its private equity exposure appears through limited partnership positions without disclosed stage preferences.
Does the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
It operates the Richard H. Driehaus Art Exhibition Lending Foundation, established in 2024, for art and automobile loans. The main foundation handles grantmaking while the lending entity manages collection circulation.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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