Zell Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 36-3487811 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$63M
Organizations funded54
Typical grant$152,533
Total assets$119.6M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $50,000 and $700,000.
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
27% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University-Kellogg | Evanston, IL | General support | $25,000,000 |
| Rochelle Zell Jewish High School | Deerfield, IL | General support | $10,000,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | General support | $8,300,000 |
| Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Endowment Corp | Chicago, IL | General support | $3,000,000 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | General support | $2,000,000 |
| Zell Entrepreneurship Foundation | Chicago, IL | Entrepreneurship education - out of corpus | $2,000,000 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | General support | $1,500,000 |
| Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Inc (Fire) | Philadelphia, PA | General support | $1,350,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | General support | $1,340,000 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | General support | $1,250,000 |
| American Friends of Reichman University (Fka-Idc) | New York, NY | General support | $1,000,000 |
| Chicago Public Education Fund | Chicago, IL | General support | $1,000,000 |
| Start Early | Chicago, IL | General support | $1,000,000 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | Chicago, IL | General support | $700,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre Company | Chicago, IL | General support | $500,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation-Pkd Research | Greeley, CO | General support | $500,000 |
| Chiarts Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $415,000 |
| Lyric Opera | Chicago, IL | General support | $350,000 |
| Imentor | New York, NY | General support | $325,000 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation | New York, NY | General support | $250,000 |
| Teach for All | New York, NY | General support | $250,000 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | General support | $225,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation | New York, NY | General support | $200,000 |
| Merit School of Music | Chicago, IL | General support | $200,000 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Washington, DC | General support | $200,000 |
| Young Chicago Authors | Chicago, IL | General support | $165,000 |
| The Point Magazine | Chicago, IL | General support | $160,000 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | General support | $152,533 |
| Cello Bello | Boston, MA | General support | $150,000 |
| Chicago Architectural Biennial | Chicago, IL | General support | $150,000 |
| Facing History and Ourselves | Boston, MA | General support | $150,000 |
| Marwen | Chicago, IL | General support | $125,000 |
| Teach for America | New York, NY | General support | $125,000 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Chicago West Community Music Center | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Intrinsic Schools | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| The Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | General support | $100,000 |
| Cesar E Chavez Multicultural Academic Center | Chicago, IL | General support | $67,715 |
| Chicago Public Library Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $50,000 |
| Erikson Institute | Chicago, IL | General support | $50,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $48,000 |
| Window to the World Communication-Wfmt | Chicago, IL | General support | $35,000 |
| Window to the World Communication-Wfmt | Chicago, IL | General support | $35,000 |
| American Symphony League | New York, NY | General support | $25,000 |
| Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| Invest for Kids | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| Invest for Kids | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| Third Coast Percussion NFP | Chicago, IL | General support | $25,000 |
| Hyde Park Art Center | Chicago, IL | General support | $15,000 |
| Millenium Park Foundation | Chicago, IL | General support | $10,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Association | Highland Park, IL | General support | $10,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | General support | $5,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society | Chicago, IL | General support | $5,000 |
| Zell Entrepreneurship Foundation | Chicago, IL | Entrepreneurship education - out of corpus | -$2,000,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $62,988,248 | 55 |
| 2023 | $133,136,307 | 84 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Oct 31, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202543049349100019
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 36-3487811
- 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.