Cinelli Family Foundation
The Cinelli Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lawrence, Kansas, that supports cancer research and care, and education initiatives. Its website describes its work as “finding cures” for blood, breast and pancreatic cancers and “expanding minds” through education.
Cinelli Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Cinelli Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $107K), mostly in Kansas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,705,000
- +203.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $106,563
- +184.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $235,745,568
- +814.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Kansas (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Cinelli Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It invites organizations to apply based on research completed by its team.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box D, Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (812) 454-6450
Website: https://www.cinellifamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cinelli Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Kansas Endowment Asso ($1.3M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 32 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it provides grants across the United States. In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas; the next largest shares went to Missouri (7%), Maryland (6%), North Carolina (5%), and California (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Cinelli Family Foundation gives
- 27% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 17% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2022) to $1.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Kansas Endowment Asso Kansas City, KS | Capital Contribution to the Good Man | $1,000,000 |
| University of Kansas Endowment Asso Lawrence, KS | Seed Funding for Three School Distri | $250,000 |
| The Johns Hopkins University - Dr Baltimore, MD | Department of Neurosurgery to Use Fo | $104,000 |
| Curators of the University of Misso Columbia, MO | Project Class Collaborative Learning | $100,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | To Purchase Equipment to Research a | $80,000 |
| Khan Academy Mountain View, CA | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Chemo Buddies Evansville, IN | General Operating Support | $22,000 |
| Bishop Miege Roeland Park, KS | Funding for Sensory Room to Help Kid | $11,000 |
| Babyjays Legacy of Hope Fund Lawrence, KS | General Operating Support | $11,000 |
| Stand for the Silent Inc Perkins, OK | General Operating Support | $11,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $235,745,568 | $214,182,072 | $4,229,583 | $1,705,000 | 16 | $2,041,138 | $7,756,738 | $11,754,811 |
| 2023 | $25,793,183 | $13,752,382 | $902,830 | $562,000 | 15 | $690,668 | $11,143,739 | $856,692 |
| 2022 | $12,898,740 | $7,657,177 | $100,576 | $25,000 | 1 | $27,250 | $2,601,422 | $541,776 |
| 2021 | $8,252,001 | $13,007,401 | — | — | — | — | — | $22,106 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cinelli Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $11.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated vision is to help make blood, pancreatic and breast cancers curable and to help high school students learn more rapidly, across socioeconomic backgrounds and areas of study. Its website describes cancer grantmaking as supporting prevention and early detection, research and treatments, and infrastructure. Its education priorities include college access and success, innovative school models, and education research.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own missions span these areas and others. For example, Khan Academy describes its mission as providing “a free world-class education for anyone, anywhere”; Prevent Cancer Foundation says it works to empower people to stay ahead of cancer through prevention and early detection; and Chemo Buddies says it provides hope and encouragement to people going through cancer treatment. Other 2024 recipients included organizations focused on student success, bullying prevention, and community development.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $1,705,000. Grant amounts ranged from $11,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $11,000. Among the largest grants were $1,000,000 and $250,000 to University of Kansas Endowment Association, $104,000 to Johns Hopkins University, $100,000 to Curators of the University of Missouri, and $80,000 to Duke University.
The foundation’s website says it has four grantmaking periods each year and that its team continually searches for opportunities to support. Grantees are invited to apply based on research completed by the foundation team.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Janet Cinelli as president, Eric Ryan as secretary and treasurer, and Albert Cinelli Jr., John Cinelli, and Lauren King as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Janet Cinelli as executive director and president.
Cinelli Family Foundation is led by Janet Cinelli, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Janet Cinelli
President
Treasurer, Secretary & Director → President & Director, 2023
President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $48K (2024)
Albert Cinelli Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Cinelli
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren King
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Ryan
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary, Treasurer & Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$48K (2023) → $48K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Albert Cinelli (2021–2022) — President & Director
- Former: Cheryl Cinelli Palermo (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $48K, to Janet Cinelli (President &). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cinelli Family Foundation
How much does Cinelli Family Foundation give each year?
Cinelli Family Foundation gave $1.7M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $562K across 15 grants.
What is Cinelli Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Cinelli Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $11,000, and its average grant was $106,563, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Cinelli Family Foundation give grants?
Cinelli Family Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Missouri (7%) and Maryland (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lawrence, KS (3 grants) and Evansville, IN (3 grants).
Does Cinelli Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of Cinelli Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Cinelli Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Cinelli Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Kansas Endowment Asso ($1,250,000 across 2 grants), The Johns Hopkins University - Dr ($104,000) and Curators of the University of Misso ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cinelli Family Foundation?
Cinelli Family Foundation reported $235.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $11.8M (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 does Cinelli Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated vision is to help make blood, pancreatic and breast cancers curable and to help high school students learn more rapidly, across socioeconomic backgrounds and areas of study. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cinelli Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cinelli Family Foundation's EIN?
Cinelli Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3895218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Cinelli Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cinelli Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cinelli-family-foundation-morg_a03c2df93feb4fd1a8dfafb40c80a56b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873895218_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cinelli Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cinelli-family-foundation-morg_a03c2df93feb4fd1a8dfafb40c80a56b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cinelli Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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