TAWANI Enterprises is an umbrella organization that covers various businesses of Jennifer Pritzker, a member of the Pritzker family of billionaires and Democratic politicians. TAWANI Enterprises has a private equity portfolio of startup companies and legacy companies, nonprofit organizations, and military organizations. ¹

TAWANI Enterprises is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in its investments. ^{2 3} The left-of-center TAWANI Foundation and Pritzker Military Foundation are the non-profit arms of TAWANI Enterprises. ⁴ These foundations’ donation activities match the personal interest areas of TAWANI Enterprises CEO Jennifer Pritzker. ⁵

History and Leadership

TAWANI Enterprises was founded in 1994 by Jennifer Pritzker (then known as James Pritzker) of the Pritzker family of billionaires and Democratic politicians. Jennifer Pritzker is the cousin of Penny Pritzker, the Secretary of Commerce in the Obama administration. ^{6 7} TAWANI Enterprises was named for Pritzker’s three children: Tal, William, and Andrew. ^{8 9}

As of April 2024, Jennifer Pritzker is the president and CEO of TAWANI Enterprises. ^{10 11} According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Pritzker supported former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. This was despite a history of political contributions supporting Republican politicians, including the 2016 Presidential campaign of Donald Trump. Pritzker, who is transgender, opposed Trump administration rules banning transgender individuals from military service. ¹² Pritzker supported the Biden administration’s decision to reverse the policy in 2021. ¹³ Pritzker said the Republican Party is “like constipation,” “reactionary, spiteful, and totally unproductive” in 2023. ¹⁴

Activities and Funding

TAWANI Enterprises is an umbrella organization that covers various businesses of Jennifer Pritzker. The organization holds a private equity portfolio of both startup companies and legacy companies, nonprofit organizations, and military-related organizations across various industries. ¹⁵ TAWANI Enterprises also conducts private wealth management activities. ¹⁶

TAWANI Enterprises is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). ^{17 18} TAWANI Enterprises staff have participated in DEI-related events and panels in Chicago, Illinois. ¹⁹

The organization states that its investments should honor history, honor its commitments and vision, and create changes for individuals, properties, and businesses. To achieve this, TAWANI Enterprises says that its investments are “uniting past and progress” across sectors. ²⁰

The TAWANI Foundation and Pritzker Military Foundation are the nonprofit arms of TAWANI Enterprises. ^{21 22} TAWANI Foundation and Pritzker Military Foundation giving is concentrated in the personal areas of interest of TAWANI Enterprises CEO Jennifer Pritzker and focuses on LGBT and human rights issues. ²³

Other companies partnered with TAWANI Enterprises include TAWANI Property Management, TAWANI Ventures, gold coin trading market maker Aurum Trading, Mission 94 firearms center, Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and Master Wings Publishing. ^{24 25 26}

TAWANI Enterprises also runs corporate training courses and engages in various architectural preservation activities across Chicago. ²⁷

Funding

TAWANI Enterprises is a for-profit entity that has worked with nonprofit organizations. In 2022, TAWANI Enterprises received $294,549 from the nonprofit Pmml North Inc. for management fees. ²⁸ Its related organizations generate funds to operate TAWANI Enterprises. ^{29 30}

1. “TAWANI Enterprise.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/about/.
2. “Diversity and Inclusion.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/.
3. “Roundtable on Diversity in Recruiting and Hiring.” Interview with Gloria Cotton, Rheaana Guess, Samantha Lewandowski, and Pamela Moore-Thompson. Crain’s Chicago Business. August 30, 2021. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-content-studio/roundtable-diversity-recruiting-and-hiring-0.
4. “Tawani Enterprises, Inc.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/.
5. “Philanthropic Endeavors.” TWANI Enterprises. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/philanthropy/.
6. Tindera, Michela. “Billionaire Jennifer Pritzker, A Former Trump Donor, Makes Her First Contribution to Joe Biden.” Forbes. September 24, 2020. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michelatindera/2020/09/24/billionaire-jennifer-pritzker-a-former-trump-donor-makes-her-first-contribution-to-joe-biden/?sh=7d9feb0457cb.
7. “Billionaire Jennifer Pritzker, a Former Trump Donor, Makes Her First Contribution To Joe Biden.” Tawani Enterprises. September 24, 2020. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/news/billionaire-jennifer-pritzker-a-former-trump-donor-makes-her-first-contribution-to-joe-biden/.
8. “TAWANI Enterprises, Inc.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/about/.
9. “Home.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/about/.
10. “Contact Us.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/contact-us/.
11. “Jennifer N. Pritzker.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-n-pritzker-231498132/.
12. ^[1] “Col. Jennifer Pritzker: Trump’s Transgender Ban a ‘Huge Step Backward’.” Tawani Enterprises. July 26, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/news/col-jennifer-pritzker-trumps-transgender-ban-a-huge-step-backward/.
13. Paddock, Blair. “Jennifer Pritzker: Biden’s Repeal of Transgender Military Ban Good for Everybody.” WTTW PBS News. February 17, 2021. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://news.wttw.com/2021/02/17/jennifer-pritzker-biden-s-repeal-transgender-military-ban-good-everybody.
14. Davis, Andrew. “Col. Jennifer Pritzker talks about philanthropy, Republican ties.” Windy City Times. November 3, 2023. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Col-Jennifer-Pritzker-talks-about-philanthropy-Republican-ties/75718.html.
15. “TAWANI Enterprise.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/about/.
16. “Jennifer Pritzker.” Forbes. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/profile/jennifer-pritzker/?sh=12f168d85808.
17.  “Diversity and Inclusion.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/.
18. “Roundtable on Diversity in Recruiting and Hiring.” Interview with Gloria Cotton, Rheaana Guess, Samantha Lewandowski, and Pamela Moore-Thompson. Crain’s Chicago Business. August 30, 2021. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-content-studio/roundtable-diversity-recruiting-and-hiring-0.
19.  “Roundtable on Diversity in Recruiting and Hiring.” Crain’s Chicago business. August 30, 2021. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-content-studio/roundtable-diversity-recruiting-and-hiring-0.
20. “Our Mission.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/about/.
21. “Tawani Enterprises, Inc.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/.
22. “Philanthropic Endeavors.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/philanthropy/.
23. “Philanthropic Endeavors.” TWANI Enterprises. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/philanthropy/.
24. “Home.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/.
25. “Honoring the Lessons of History to Create Positive Change.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanipropertymanagement.com/about/tawani-enterprises-inc/.
26. “About.” TAWANI Enterprises LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tawani-enterprises-inc/about/.
27. “SLEEP Corporate Training.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/growing-ventures/sleep-corporate-training/.
28. “Pmml North Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/833097307/202303129349304890/full.
29. ^[1] “Home.” TAWANI Property Management. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://tawanipropertymanagement.com/.
30. “The Emil Bach House.” Tawani Enterprises. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://tawanienterprises.com/tawani-property-management-hospitality/emil-bach-house/.