In a 2020 Ted Talk, Adam Grant warned, “Authenticity without boundaries is careless.”
Upon reflection, this may be the core reason behind the limited exposure of our family’s nonprofit endeavors to date. We’ve always valued authenticity, trust, passion, and determination — but we’re intentional. While we have big ideas, we are not hasty in our approach and, following our founding in 2022, spent time thoughtfully exploring where we could make the greatest impact, who we should work alongside, and how we want to show up.
Three years in, we know exactly who we are and are ready to share the full extent of our work spanning philanthropy, political advocacy, non-partisan pro-democracy work, social impact investments, business, and beyond.
At the core of our work are deeply rooted commitments to:
- Elevating and amplifying human potential wherever it exists. We break down the barriers preventing people from participating, contributing, and thriving.
- Reawakening people to the magic present all around us. Experiencing awe offers each of us the opportunity to change our view of ourselves and our place in the world. (Source: “Your Brain on Art,” Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen)
- Experimenting rapidly. The most effective advocate is evidence and the best time to act is now.
- Measuring progress, not just dollars. Impact isn’t about how much you give — it’s about what gets better as a result.
On a recent podcast interview discussing his new book Abundance, author Ezra Klein posed the following question: “What if we judged ourselves not by how much we spent but how much we built?” Such a simple ask, but crucially important.
Today, more than ever, Americans — and many of our allies abroad — are frustrated by the political and bureaucratic stagnation hampering progress, resulting in well-intentioned programs that deliver little. Unfortunately, there are clear parallels in philanthropy. We can and must do better, which starts with a commitment to greater accountability.
At Tullman Family Office, we believe philanthropic giving must be measured by problems solved, not dollars spent. Donors — especially those with transformational capacity — must be responsible stewards of capital, with a duty to share progress transparently with the communities affected.
Where We Focus: Unlocking Human Potential
We believe that human potential is everywhere — but opportunity is not. Each of our focus areas represents a lever for unleashing what individuals and communities are capable of when given the chance to thrive. While distinct in approach, they are deeply interconnected and progress in one strengthens the impact of the rest.
Health and Wellness
We support upstream solutions that shift from short-term interventions to long-term well-being.
From maternal health to mental health, to diabetes care and the care economy, we look for scalable models that treat people not just as patients, but as whole humans with dreams and limitless potential. People can’t flourish if their basic health needs aren’t met.
Economic Mobility
By fostering opportunities for financial growth and economic mobility, we aim to create a ripple effect that not only lifts individuals out of poverty but also strengthens the fabric of entire communities.
We envision Chicago as a national model for upward mobility and are deep in the weeds to make this happen, and fast.
JumpHire is our nonprofit to equip talented, driven individuals not holding college degrees with the tools, support, and visibility they need to become competitive candidates in Chicago’s job market. Success in this space will require a more collaborative and organized approach to improve and invest in the City’s talent pool.
Education
Education takes many forms — from classrooms to community programs, from textbooks to instruments. We believe in expanding access to meaningful learning experiences — with a special focus on music education — that spark curiosity, build confidence, and open doors.
Let Music Fill My World is our national nonprofit on a mission to ensure every young person has access to music education in school.
Music and the arts are universal languages — and, as artist & activist Richard Kamler said, “Art speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform. It transcends our ordinary lives and lets us imagine what is possible.”
The arts empower us to reimagine, re-envision, and reconnect in order to create a better future together.
Jewish Life
We are proud to support organizations and initiatives that nurture Jewish identity, strengthen community, and protect the freedom to live and worship safely. Our support spans educational programming, youth engagement, interfaith partnerships, and civic dialogue.
We believe that honoring tradition and embracing diversity are not mutually exclusive, but mutually reinforcing. A thriving Jewish community is part of a thriving democracy, and we are committed to both.
National Security
We believe national security is more than defense — it’s about ensuring the resilience of the systems and people that uphold democracy, safety, and civic trust. We prioritize efforts that reinforce the foundational promise of a secure and inclusive society, both at home and abroad.
While we support a wide range of efforts to improve health, education, and economic mobility, the landscape of national security offers a striking example of why our philanthropic model is needed.
One area where this work is particularly urgent is in how we support our veterans.
In the Veterans support space alone, there are an estimated 45,000 individual nonprofit organizations providing varied support services to our military community. That is crazy! Think about it: That’s 45,000 distinct organizations often operating without shared standard of performance, common navigation tools, or clear incentives to collaborate. And still, each year, Americans generously donate more than $2.5 billion to military-related missions.
What do we have to show for it?
- In 2022 and 2023, the U.S. Army missed its recruitment goal by nearly 25% — about fifteen thousand troops per year. In 2024, it met the target only after lowering the bar by more than ten thousand. (Source: Call of Duty Endowment)
- Veterans make up just 6% of the adult population — but account for about 20% of all suicides. That’s about 18 veteran deaths each day.
Of course, philanthropy is not and cannot be solely responsible for addressing society’s most challenging problems — but it must be a smarter one. Coordination, transparency, and outcome-orientation are not optional. They’re essential. We are so often distracted by the dollar figures, many organizations forget they are required to deliver in return.
Why This Approach Matters
Across the nonprofit sector, nearly 1.4 million nonprofits try to solve overlapping problems, often working at odds with each other and unintentionally increasing the perceived resources required to make meaningful progress.
We need to stop confusing movement with momentum.
It’s time to rethink how we fund change — and to align our resources, relationships, and risk-taking with what really works.
This intention is at the core of our work at Tullman Family Office.
