The Frechette Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 by Pat and Pete Frechette. Based in Chicago, Illinois, with additional operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the foundation operates with over $165 million in total assets and has distributed more than $60 million in grants to date, including $47 million over the last five years.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$165.5M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.7M
-12.0% YoY
Grant Count
83
-13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
+1.8% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to partner with communities to advance opportunities for children and families to grow, thrive, and realize their own idea of well-being. The foundation operates according to core values of compassion, collaboration, humility, joy, transparency, and trust, employing a community-centered approach to philanthropy.
Primary funding priorities include:
- Stable and Supported Families
- Healthy and Trauma-informed Workforce
- Community Capacity and Leadership
- Collaboration and Partnership
- Youth experiencing homelessness (through Family Interest Grants program in Chicago)
Grantmaking
Recent grants documented include:
Grant Range
$50,000 - $5,000,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in two primary regions:
- Chicago, Illinois
- Eagle River Valley, Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Annual Giving:
- Total assets: $165,483,118 (2024)
- Annual giving: $8.4 million (2024)
- Total revenues: $11,475,033 (2024)
- Total expenses: $9,221,200 (2024)
Grant Distribution:
- Total grants distributed: $7,712,693 (2024)
- Typical award range: $500,000 - $1,500,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $165,483,118 | $163,224,916 | $166,118,560 |
| Revenue | $11,475,033 | $7,240,512 | $9,318,786 |
| Expenses | $9,221,251 | $10,137,661 | $10,261,602 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,401,182 | $9,425,429 | $9,485,794 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,935,212 | $6,536,287 | $8,733,814 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,221,965 | $8,729,445 | $8,986,255 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Massachusetts General Hospital ($650,318), Educare Dc ($293,500), Early Childhood Partners ($291,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $153,000 |
| ACT FOR ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| A HOUSE IN AUSTIN CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ALEXANDRIA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ALIVE ALEXANDRIA, VA | FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| ALL HANDS AND HEARTS SMART RESPONSE MATTAPOISETT, MA | HURRICANE RELIEF | $150,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR GREAT LAKES CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ALTERNATIVES CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| AMALGAMATED FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | HOUSEUS FUND | $25,000 |
| AMPT ADVANCING NONPROFITS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA N HOFFMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $289,000 |
| KATHLEEN F TENHULA | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KRISTEN F WOOLFOLK | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PETER A TENHULA | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM J WOOLFOLK | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| GRACE TENHULA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 200 W Madison St Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60606
- Email: info@frechetteff.org
- Phone: 612-787-2165
- Website: https://frechetteff.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frechette Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to partner with communities to advance opportunities for children and families to grow, thrive, and realize their own idea of well-being. The foundation operates according to core values of compassion, collaboration, humility, joy, transparency, and trust, employing a community-centered approach to philanthropy. Primary funding priorities include: • **Stable and Supported Families** • **Healthy and Trauma-informed Workforce** • **Community Capacity and Leadership** •…
How do I apply for a grant from Frechette Family Foundation?
**Child and Family Well-Being Initiative** • Grant range: $50,000 - $5,000,000 • Application method: Invitation only • Geographic focus: Chicago, IL and Eagle River Valley, CO • Preference for multi-year general operating support **Family Interest Grants (FLAG)** • Grant range: $25,000 - $1,000,000 • Application method: Invitation only • Focus: Youth experiencing homelessness in Chicago • Includes long-standing partner organizations and board member recommendations Recent grants documented incl…
Where does Frechette Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in two primary regions: • **Chicago, Illinois** • **Eagle River Valley, Colorado**
What size grants does Frechette Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Frechette Family Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $7.7M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frechette Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frechette Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frechette Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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