Selected Initiatives
History of Cartography
The History of Cartography Project is an immense research, editorial, and publishing endeavor drawing international attention to the history of maps and mapping. The Project’s major work is the multi-volume History of Cartography series which began in 1981 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Major support for the project came from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation; our Foundation stepped up to help complete the publication of the final volume of the series—which is expected to take place in late 2027—as a result of recent abrupt changes in federal funding. When the final volume is release by the University of Chicago Press, the project will consist of 5.5 million words, more than ten thousand pages, and approximately 6,000 reproduced images and diagrams.
Educational Institutions
We support various educational institutions, big and small, K-12 as well as colleges and universities. Sometimes these donations are for general purpose funds (generally with institutions where we have some sort of relationship) and sometimes grants for specific programs. These may include providing funds for a specific performing arts initiative, funds to bring speakers to an institution and funds to enhance diversity initiatives.
Libraries
The Pattis Family Foundation has supported a number of initiatives at research, university and local libraries including support of capital campaigns, funding of special initiatives and general operating support. Recipient libraries have included well known institutions such as the Newberry Library or the Swarthmore College Library and small local libraries such as the Highwood, Illinois public library.
Local Hospital Support
The Pattis Family Foundation supports various hospitals with both project and general operating grants, including several hospitals in the Chicagoland area along with the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California.
Social Services
The Pattis Family Foundation makes grants to food banks, immigrant organizations, the protection of free speech, abortion rights organizations and other non-profits which support vulnerable populations.