Philanthropy

Michael’s philanthropic efforts reflect a long-standing commitment to investing in people and the institutions that help communities thrive. Together with his wife, Cari, GCM Grosvenor, and GCM Grosvenor partners, he has supported organizations and initiatives that create opportunities and foster long-term prosperity.

Since 2008, Michael and Cari Sacks have given over $10 million to Northwestern University with an emphasis on scholarships aimed at opening doors for talented students from Chicago Public Schools. Their commitment to youth and education began in 2008 with the establishment of the Sacks Family Scholarship. Its early impact inspired them to endow the Cari and Michael Sacks Scholarship Fund for CPS Students, which provides no-loan financial aid to CPS graduates attending Northwestern. Together, these two scholarship programs have assisted 259 students, 162 of them CPS graduates, easing financial barriers to higher education for students and their families.

In 2021, Michael and Cari extended their support to Northwestern’s graduate schools with an endowment for scholarships at the Pritzker School of Law and the Kellogg School of Management. At Kellogg, the Sacks family’s support has funded eight scholarship awards to five students, all CPS graduates. At Pritzker, all three recipients of the Cari and Michael Sacks Family Scholarship are CPS graduates.

Michael has also worked to bolster workforce development and healthcare access. In partnership with Northwestern Medicine, GCM Grosvenor established the GCM Grosvenor Discovery Program, which provides Chicago Public Schools students with career and technical education and pathways to careers in healthcare. Together, the Cari and Michael Sacks Scholarship Fund and the Discovery Program have served 796 students, helping prepare the next generation of leaders and professionals.

Beyond these signature initiatives, Michael and Cari support a broad range of nonprofit organizations dedicated to education, healthcare, economic development, violence prevention, and the arts. Over the past two years, they have contributed more than $24 million to charitable organizations, primarily in the Chicago area, including millions of dollars supporting community-based violence prevention efforts. Their philanthropic approach emphasizes long-term partnerships that deliver meaningful, lasting change.

Follow Michael on LinkedIn for more information on his philanthropic efforts.