Smart Family Foundation of Illinois
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 81-2433446 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$4M
Organizations funded68
Typical grant$25,000
Total assets$100M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $50,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
61% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Univeristy of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $1,000,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | Cultural, historical & other educational | $310,000 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Rye Brook, NY | Health services | $300,000 |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH | Cultural, historical & other educational | $255,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | Health services | $250,000 |
| Norwood School | Bethesda, MD | Cultural, historical & other educational | $225,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art | Baltimore, MD | Cultural, historical & other educational | $100,000 |
| Grant Park Music Festival | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $100,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | Madison, WI | Cultural, historical & other educational | $100,000 |
| University School of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | Cultural, historical & other educational | $100,000 |
| The Chicago Community Trust | Chicago, IL | Donor advised fund | $97,500 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre Co | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $76,000 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $75,000 |
| Arts Club of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $50,000 |
| Chicago Sinai Congregation | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $50,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood | New York, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $50,000 |
| Wttw | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $50,000 |
| Uniting Voices Chicago | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $35,000 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $30,000 |
| Brain Research Foundation | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety | New York, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Francis W Parker School | Chicago, IL | Other activities directed to individuals | $25,000 |
| Friends of the Parks | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Giffords Law Center | Washington, DC | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism | New York, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art Miami | Miami, FL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Lawrence Academy | Groton, MA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Merit School of Music | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Milwaukee Art Museum | Milwaukee, WI | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Openlands | Chicago, IL | Nature preservation | $25,000 |
| Ravinia Festival | Highland Park, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Rotary Chicago Financial District | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Severn School | Severna Park, MD | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Student Conservation Association (Sca) | Charlestown, NH | Nature preservation | $25,000 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | Cultural, historical & other educational | $25,000 |
| Horizons Greater Washington | Washington, DC | Cultural, historical & other educational | $20,000 |
| Nantucket Film Festival | New York, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $20,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $15,500 |
| Mercersburg Academy | Mercersburg, PA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $15,000 |
| Northeastern University School of Law | Boston, MA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $15,000 |
| Summer Search | Oakland, CA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $15,000 |
| American Museum of Natural History | New York, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Chesapeake Legal Alliance | Annapolis, MD | Nature preservation | $10,000 |
| Colby College | Waterville, ME | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Furry Friends Adoption Clinic and Ranch | Jupiter, FL | Animal shelter | $10,000 |
| Kohl Children's Museum | Glenview, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Korean Cultural Center of Chicago | Wheeling, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Kradwell School | Milwaukee, WI | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Maven Project | San Fransisco, CA | Health services | $10,000 |
| Newberry Library | Chicago, IL | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Teach for America - Greater Chicago Northwest Indiana | San Fransisco, CA | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Ten Chimneys Foundation | Genesee Depot, WI | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $10,000 |
| Women's Health Access Matters | Greenwich, CT | Health services & educational | $10,000 |
| Emelin Theatre | Mamaroneck, NY | Cultural, historical & other educational | $6,000 |
| American Friends of Lekat Israel | Teaneck, NJ | Food bank | $5,000 |
| Community Health | Chicago, IL | Health services | $5,000 |
| Foundation for Ichtyosis & Related Skin Types | Lansdale, PA | Health services & educational | $5,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 68 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,005,000 | 68 |
| 2023 | $4,103,775 | 59 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Jun 24, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202541759349100209
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 81-2433446
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.