Cless Family Foundation
Cless Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. It supports charitable organizations, with 2024 grants designated for purposes including medical research, education, and charitable activities.
Cless Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Cless Family Foundation gave $3.1M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $130K), mostly in Illinois. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,108,605
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- -7.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $129,525
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $19,260,886
- -3.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (4 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cless Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2110 Mallard Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 498-6469
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cless Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Schwab Charitable ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 144 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (48%), Florida (24%), California (18%), North Carolina (9%), and Tennessee (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cless Family Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 24 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $152K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2020) to $4.9M (2022). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable Orland, FL | Charitable | $1,164,605 |
| Northshore Hospitals Foundation Evanston, IL | Medical Research | $825,000 |
| Glenview Youth Services Glenview, IL | Education | $300,000 |
| The Brain Tumor Research Charity Charleston, SC | Medical Research | $275,000 |
| Books & Breakfast Evanston, IL | Education | $50,000 |
| Chicago Engineer's Foundation Chicago, IL | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Foundation 65 Evanston, IL | Education | $50,000 |
| Matthias Academy Corporation Banet Lake, WI | Education | $50,000 |
| Provenance Precision Medicine Foundation Wilmette, IL | Medical Research | $50,000 |
| The Chicago Lighthouse Chicago, IL | Charitable | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cless Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $19,260,886 | $1,513,987 | $3,142,822 | $3,108,605 | 24 | $3,113,105 | $1,509,270 | $2,952,617 |
| 2024 | $19,993,626 | $1,768,823 | $2,826,088 | $2,806,968 | 26 | $2,811,233 | $1,763,968 | $3,103,319 |
| 2023 | $20,557,725 | $1,523,240 | $3,679,676 | $3,629,676 | 31 | $3,633,676 | $1,519,240 | $2,819,750 |
| 2022 | $20,505,400 | $1,011,191 | $4,961,765 | $4,900,750 | 27 | $4,906,750 | $1,005,176 | $3,621,203 |
| 2021 | $22,980,763 | $2,989,680 | $2,952,698 | $2,928,742 | 36 | $2,928,742 | $2,985,724 | $4,908,451 |
| 2020 | $22,962,693 | $1,759,088 | $2,556,455 | $2,506,000 | 33 | — | $1,748,633 | $2,931,726 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cless Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for medical research, education, and charitable activities. Examples include grants to Stand Up To Cancer, whose mission is to raise awareness and fund cancer research to detect and treat cancers, and the Provenance Precision Medicine Foundation, which says it works to expand access to innovative cancer treatments and support education and clinical research. Education grantees include Books & Breakfast and Foundation 65. Northlight Theatre describes its work as using theatrical experiences to entertain, enlighten, and encourage compassion.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 26 grants totaling $2,806,968 in 2024. The median grant was $37,500; grants ranged from $7,500 to $667,176. Notable awards included $667,176 to Schwab Charitable, $502,292 to Stand Up To Cancer, $425,000 to Glenview Youth Services, $250,000 each to Duke University and Northlight Theatre, and $100,000 each to ETHS Education Foundation and Northshore Hospitals Foundation. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 24 grants totaling $3.1 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Ruth I Cless as president, treasurer, and director; Jennifer U Zehr as vice president, secretary, and director; and Martin Cless, Bryan C Cless, and Stephen G Cless as directors.
Cless Family Foundation is led by Ruth I. Cless, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ruth I. Cless
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bryan C. Cless
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jennifer U. Zehr
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Martin Cless
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen G. Cless
Director
On filings since 2020
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 Cless Family Foundation
How much does Cless Family Foundation give each year?
Cless Family Foundation gave $3.1M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 26 grants.
What is Cless Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Cless Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,500, and its average grant was $129,525, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cless Family Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Cless Family Foundation give grants?
Cless Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (37%) and South Carolina (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Evanston, IL (7 grants) and Chicago, IL (6 grants).
Does Cless Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Cless Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (12 grants), "Charitable" (7 grants) and "Medical Research" (4 grants).
Who are Cless Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Cless Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Schwab Charitable ($1,164,605), Northshore Hospitals Foundation ($825,000) and Glenview Youth Services ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cless Family Foundation?
Cless Family Foundation reported $19.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cless Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for medical research, education, and charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cless Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cless Family Foundation's EIN?
Cless Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3796675. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Cless Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 6, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Illinois
Illinois Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cless Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Magnetar Capital Foundation
Evanston, IL
Magnetar Capital Foundation’s reported 2023 grants supported youth development and visual arts programs in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois; it reported no grants in 2024. Recent grants were small—$200 and $2,500—though its 2022 giving was much larger, and it accepts only requests from preselected organizations, not unsolicited applications.
Assets
$22K
Grants
2
Total Given
$3K
Evanston Community Foundation
Evanston, IL
The Evanston Community Foundation funds nonprofits, grassroots groups, and community initiatives focused on systemic change and local needs in Evanston, Illinois. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median of about $18,000. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or inquiries for its Collective and Enduring Grants or Catalyst Grants; the profile does not state a general policy for other programs.
Assets
$44.7M
Grants
104
Total Given
$2.6M
MJ O'Brien Family Foundation
Evanston, IL
The foundation supports education and scholarships, community programs, land preservation, music, dental health, and general charitable needs, primarily in Illinois, with some giving in Wisconsin. In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $71,530, ranging from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357K
Grants
10
Total Given
$72K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Finnegan Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Finnegan Family Foundation funds education, youth opportunity, and community health, with most of its giving going to Illinois organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $27,500. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$42.3M
Grants
100
Total Given
$4.3M
Elizabeth Beidler Tisdahl Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Elizabeth Beidler Tisdahl Foundation supports a range of charitable services and programs, including health care, youth and family services, education, animal welfare, sports, and the arts. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $21,000, with a median of $2,000, and went primarily to Illinois organizations. The 2024 filing says it accepts written applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
40
Total Given
$160K
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cless Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cless-family-foundation-morg_4ddeff890ac44149afd9f69eec9be2f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363796675_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cless Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cless-family-foundation-morg_4ddeff890ac44149afd9f69eec9be2f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-05. 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 Cless 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.
Cless Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?