Frechette Family Foundation
The Frechette Family Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1997, it partners with organizations and leaders to advance opportunities for children and families to thrive and realize their own idea of well-being. Its website says it has granted more than $60 million since its inception.
Frechette Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Frechette Family Foundation gave $7.7M across 83 grants in 2024 (avg $93K), top state Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,712,693
- -12.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- -13.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $92,924
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $165,483,118
- +1.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (39% 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 Frechette Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Child and Family Well-Being grants, Family Interest grants, and FLAG grants are by invitation only. The foundation’s website points prospective applicants to an applicant tutorial and an online grantee portal; it does not specify application materials or a general application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 W Madison St 300, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (612) 787-2165
Website: https://frechetteff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frechette Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Walking Mountains Science Center ($1.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
259 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 154 grants of 259 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s focused Child and Family Well-Being grantmaking serves communities in the Eagle River Valley, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois. FLAG focuses its grantmaking and learning in Chicago. The foundation’s website also identifies Washington, DC, among the communities where most of its grants have supported early care, education, and youth development.
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (39%) and Illinois (32%), followed by Massachusetts (10%), Washington, DC (7%), and New York (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 83 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Frechette Family Foundation gives
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.7M (2024) to $10.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 83 grants totaling $7.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Walking Mountains Science Center Avon, CO | Educator Housing | $1,000,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | Cerebral small vessel disease fellowship & caa research fund | $650,318 |
| Roundup River Ranch Gypsum, CO | General Operations Support | $571,250 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | General Operations Support | $500,000 |
| Educare DC Washington, DC | General Operations Support | $293,500 |
| Early Childhood Partners Avon, CO | General Operations Support | $291,000 |
| Broadfutures Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Eagle Valley Community Foundation Edwards, CO | General Operations Support | $200,000 |
| The University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | General Operations Support | $200,000 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $177,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Frechette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $165,483,118 | $11,475,033 | $9,221,251 | $7,712,693 | 83 | $8,401,182 | $10,935,212 | $9,221,965 |
| 2023 | $163,224,916 | $7,240,512 | $10,137,661 | $8,760,086 | 96 | $9,425,429 | $6,536,287 | $8,729,445 |
| 2022 | $166,118,560 | $9,318,786 | $10,261,602 | $8,971,533 | 78 | $9,485,794 | $8,733,814 | $8,986,255 |
| 2021 | $167,055,978 | $9,430,765 | $11,484,427 | $10,038,750 | 1 | $10,663,884 | $8,362,802 | $10,100,920 |
| 2020 | $169,109,390 | $15,212,488 | $9,839,524 | $8,757,500 | 1 | — | $4,104,656 | $9,039,572 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frechette Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to partner with communities to advance the opportunity for children and families to grow, thrive, and realize their own idea of well-being. Its Child and Family Well-Being initiative promotes stable and supported families, a healthy and trauma-informed workforce, community capacity and leadership, and collaboration and partnership. The foundation says it trusts grantee partners to determine the strategies and approaches best suited to expanding access to services and supports, and prioritizes efforts that advance systems change.
Its Family Interest portfolio includes grants to long-standing partners working in education, health, and community well-being, as well as grants recommended by board and committee members. The Frechette Leadership and Governance program (FLAG) focuses on low-income, at-risk youth in Chicago who are housing insecure or experiencing homelessness.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among grantees. Roundup River Ranch says it offers free, medically supported camps for children with life-altering diagnoses and their families. Educare DC says it works to improve access to high-quality early childhood education, particularly for historically underserved children. Early Childhood Partners says it supports families and early learning environments so every child can thrive. The Resurrection Project says it works with individuals, immigrants, and families toward social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable community participation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 83 grants totaling $7,712,693. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000.
Among its largest reported 2024 grants were $1 million to Walking Mountains Science Center for educator housing; $650,318 to Massachusetts General Hospital for a cerebral small vessel disease fellowship and CAA research fund; $571,250 to Roundup River Ranch for general operations support; and $500,000 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for general operations support. Other notable grants included $293,500 to Educare DC, $291,000 to Early Childhood Partners, and $200,000 each to BroadFutures, Eagle Valley Community Foundation, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara N Hoffman as executive director; Kathleen F Tenhula as president; Kristen F Woolfolk as vice president; Peter A Tenhula as secretary; William J Woolfolk as treasurer; and Grace Tenhula as director.
Frechette Family Foundation is led by Barbara N. Hoffman, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara N. Hoffman
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$21K (2022) → $289K (2024)
Kathleen F. Tenhula
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grace Tenhula
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen F. Woolfolk
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter A. Tenhula
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William J. Woolfolk
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kerrie Blevins (2022) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $289K, to Barbara N Hoffman (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Frechette Family Foundation
How much does Frechette Family Foundation give each year?
Frechette Family Foundation gave $7.7M across 83 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.8M across 96 grants.
What is Frechette Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Frechette Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $92,924, across 83 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Frechette Family Foundation give grants?
Frechette Family Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (32%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (38 grants), Avon, CO (6 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and Alexandria, VA (5 grants).
Does Frechette Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Frechette Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (66 of 83) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Frechette Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Frechette Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Walking Mountains Science Center ($1,115,000 across 2 grants), Massachusetts General Hospital ($650,318) and Roundup River Ranch ($571,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Frechette Family Foundation?
Frechette Family Foundation reported $165.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.2M (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 Frechette Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to partner with communities to advance the opportunity for children and families to grow, thrive, and realize their own idea of well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frechette Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Frechette Family Foundation's EIN?
Frechette Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1530248. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Frechette 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Frechette Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frechette Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frechette Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frechette-family-foundation-morg_884b2cc7a6aa496c8b4fd999867436bd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311530248_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frechette Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frechette-family-foundation-morg_884b2cc7a6aa496c8b4fd999867436bd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Frechette 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.
Frechette Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?