Chaffee Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Willoughby, OH EIN: 83-2938861

Chaffee Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Willoughby, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $40K. Net investment income was $50K.

Key facts about Chaffee Family Foundation

In short: Chaffee Family Foundation gave $40K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
83-2938861
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$40,000
Grants made (2025)
5
Average grant
$8,000
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$1,007,085
Primary geography
Ohio (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0M

+1.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$40K

-30.6% YoY

Grant Count

5

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

-30.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chaffee Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $49K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Chaffee Family Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Chaffee Family Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.

States

Cities

ClevelandNorthfieldAkronBroadview HeightsShaker HeightsYoungstownMacedoniaOberlinSolon

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K3 grants2020 3 grants2021 6 grants2022 8 grants2023 5 grants2024 5 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2021) to $58K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $40K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2025

Cleveland Jazz Orchestra: $14KCleveland Jazz Orchestra$14KCleveland Zoological Society: $10KCleveland Zoological Society$10KGreat Lakes Science Center: $10KGreat Lakes Science Center$10KContemporary Youth Orchestra: $4KContemporary Youth Orchestra$4KNorthern Ohio Youth Orchestras: $3KNorthern Ohio Youth Orchestras$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Cleveland Jazz Orchestra ($14K). Together the top 5 received $40K.

Grant Size Distribution

27 grants across all recorded years

27<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Broadview Heights, OHOperating funds$13,500
Cleveland Zoological Society Cleveland, OHOperating funds$10,000
Great Lakes Science Center Cleveland, OHOperating funds$10,000
Contemporary Youth Orchestra Cleveland, OHOperating Funds$3,500
Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras Oberlin, OHOperating Funds$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,007,085$994,371$1,002,444
Revenue$68,281$65,292$13,532
Expenses$55,567$73,365$70,144
Qualifying Distributions$40,000$57,600$54,825
Net Investment Income$50,417$47,117$36,799
Distributable Amount$48,608$48,460$49,273

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 1, 2022)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Chaffee Family Foundation is led by Cynthia A Chaffee, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Cynthia A Chaffee

    President

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nathan Chaffee

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Benjamin Chaffee

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Paul R Chaffee

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Samuel Chaffee

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Chaffee Family Foundation

How much does Chaffee Family Foundation give each year?

Chaffee Family Foundation gave $40K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 5 grants.

What is Chaffee Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Chaffee Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Chaffee Family Foundation give grants?

Chaffee Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (3 grants).

Does Chaffee Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Chaffee Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Chaffee Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Chaffee Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cleveland Jazz Orchestra ($13,500), Cleveland Zoological Society ($10,000) and Great Lakes Science Center ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Chaffee Family Foundation?

Chaffee Family Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Chaffee Family Foundation's EIN?

Chaffee Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2938861. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Chaffee Family Foundation by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Chaffee Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Cleveland Foundation

Cleveland, OH

The Cleveland Foundation funds nonprofits working on community needs and long-term priorities, including education, health, arts and culture, economic development, neighborhoods, and human services in Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $30,700, though amounts varied widely. Its general application is open year-round, so it accepts unsolicited requests through that process.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.3B

Grants

1,016

Total Given

$184.2M

The Swagelok Foundation

Solon, OH

The Swagelok Foundation supports a broad range of charitable, community, education, and public organizations in places where Swagelok associates live and work, primarily in Ohio. In 2025 it made 222 grants totaling about $1.37 million, ranging from $20 to $201,000, with a median grant of $1,905. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$10.4M

Grants

222

Total Given

$1.4M

ABR Family Foundation No 1

Shaker Heights, OH

ABR Family Foundation No. 1 funds charitable organizations, with recent support for Jewish community needs and museum expansion and redesign. Its 2025 grants ranged from $83,334 to $303,165 and went to Ohio recipients. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$480K

Grants

2

Total Given

$386K

The Anna Greenfield Charitable Fnd

Pepper Pike, OH

The Anna Greenfield Charitable Foundation’s 2024 grants supported Ohio organizations working in areas such as child and family welfare, hunger relief, arts, literacy, and community programs. Grants ranged from $100 to $52,150, with a median of $10,000, but the foundation reported that it had dissolved and would not be funded in the future. It accepted requests only from preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

—

Grants

21

Total Given

$327K

Gould Inc Foundation Co Thomas N Rich

Rocky River, OH

The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including food banks, human services, youth programs, animal care, hospice, and public broadcasting. In 2025, it gave $1,000–$50,000 per grant, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to Ohio, followed by Arizona and Iowa. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.6M

Grants

37

Total Given

$276K

The Sam J Frankino Foundation

Cleveland, OH

The Sam J. Frankino Foundation supports healthcare, human services, education, arts and culture, environmental work, and community development, with particular attention to children and families facing hardship. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median award of $10,000; it primarily funds in Ohio but also supports work elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally. It accepts initial requests through a required Letter of Inquiry, with full applications by invitation.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$48.6M

Grants

83

Total Given

$3.0M

John P Murphy Foundation

Cleveland, OH

The John P Murphy Foundation supports charitable, educational, scientific, literary, and religious work, with grants spanning arts, higher education, civic affairs, health, social services, community development, and youth. In 2024, awards ranged from $1,000 to $355,000, with a median of $15,000; grants went overwhelmingly to Ohio, especially Cleveland-area organizations. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$54.1M

Grants

76

Total Given

$2.4M

Synthomer Foundation Inc

Beachwood, OH

The Synthomer Foundation funds education, health and human services, civic initiatives, and the arts, preferring specific projects to unrestricted support. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25 to $40,000, with a median of $3,000, and primarily supported organizations in Ohio and elsewhere in Synthomer’s U.S. footprint. The available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$24.2M

Grants

289

Total Given

$1.3M

Cavaliers Youth Foundation

Cleveland, OH

The foundation funds youth and family programs in education, health, recreation, employment, entrepreneurship, and life skills, primarily in Northeast Ohio. Typical awards are about $10,000, though 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $50,000. It accepts letters of inquiry year-round.

Youth Development

Assets

$1.0M

Grants

41

Total Given

$725K

The Hershey Foundation

Concord TWNSP, OH

The Hershey Foundation funds innovative projects benefiting children, including education, arts, cultural, science, and nature programs, in Northeast Ohio. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $300,000, with a median award of $5,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are by invitation only.

Assets

$13.5M

Grants

24

Total Given

$563K

The Albert B & Audrey G Ratner

Shaker Heights, OH

The foundation’s reported 2024 grant supported the performing arts, and its grants have gone to organizations in the Cleveland area; the available information doesn’t establish a typical grant size (its sole 2024 grant was $2,250). It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$8K

Grants

1

Total Given

$2K

Columbus Foundation

Columbus, OH

The Columbus Foundation supports nonprofits and community initiatives in areas including arts and culture, education, youth, neighborhoods, basic needs, and capacity building, with a median 2024 grant of about $21,500. Its focus is Central Ohio, though it also funds organizations elsewhere; most grants are donor-directed and not application-based, but some programs accept applications.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.8B

Grants

1,747

Total Given

$242.7M

More Funders in Ohio

Chaffee Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?