Garrett Family Foundation
The Garrett Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. It supports charitable organizations and programs addressing needs including medical initiatives, mental health, disabilities, addiction recovery, abuse and violence, and veterans’ assistance.
Garrett Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Garrett Family Foundation gave $723K across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Illinois. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $723,138
- +209.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,327
- +239.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,299,274
- -15.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (11 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Garrett Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its charitable donation program says applicants may be asked for recent financial statements and tax filings, along with an expense breakdown showing that at least 80% of requested funds will go directly to program services. Applications that do not meet this overhead requirement will not be considered.
- Contact
Mailing address: 51 Pembroke Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (312) 642-0006
Website: https://thegarrettfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Garrett Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lake Forest College ($514K). Together the top 10 received $689K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 147 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 9% to Massachusetts, and 5% to California; Connecticut accounted for 0% as reported. These figures describe the locations of that year’s grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Garrett Family Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 31 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 106% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 467% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $234K (2023) to $723K (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $723K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $513,775 |
| Shady Hill School Cambridge, MA | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $55,000 |
| John Thomas Dye School Los Angeles, CA | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $32,077 |
| Mothers Trust Foundation Lake Forest, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $20,650 |
| Erie Family Foundation Chicago, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $20,363 |
| Catholic Charities Waukegan, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
| Paws for Patrick Lake Forest, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $11,000 |
| Josselyn Center Northfield, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
| History Center of Lake Forestlake Bluff Lake Forest, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $6,258 |
| Friends of Lake Forest Library Lake Forest, IL | Charity's Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,299,274 | $328,649 | $750,206 | $723,138 | 31 | $729,661 | $341,615 | $156,249 |
| 2023 | $2,720,831 | $57,701 | $258,734 | $233,956 | 34 | $235,801 | $56,945 | $153,138 |
| 2022 | $2,924,552 | $56,408 | $385,157 | $360,991 | 27 | $363,052 | $40,077 | $168,128 |
| 2021 | $3,253,301 | $507,414 | $376,041 | $351,504 | 33 | $355,222 | $475,056 | $194,764 |
| 2020 | $3,121,928 | $199,497 | $335,825 | $321,100 | 22 | — | $173,098 | $171,746 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Garrett Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $156K 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 says its mission is to relieve burdens for individuals and support organizations dedicated to the same cause, fostering resilience, hope, and pathways to success. Its charitable donation program supports organizations with 501(c)(3) status and identifies medical initiatives, mental health support, disabilities advocacy, addiction recovery, aid for victims of abuse or violence, and assistance for veterans as areas of interest.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. Lake Forest College says it provides post-secondary education leading to a baccalaureate degree. Mothers Trust Foundation says it assists low-income children in Lake County, Illinois, during crises, including with safe baby gear, housing stability, extracurricular activities, clothing, and education. PAWS for Patrick describes its work connecting young people living with mental illness to emotional support animals. The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff says its mission is preserving and promoting community history.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $723,138. Grant amounts ranged from $21 to $513,775, with a median of $2,500. Its largest reported grants were $513,775 to Lake Forest College, $55,000 to Shady Hill School, and $32,077 to John Thomas Dye School. Other grants included $20,650 to Mothers Trust Foundation, $11,000 to PAWS for Patrick, and $5,000 to Friends of Lake Forest Library.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Scott T. Garrett, Susan E. Garrett, Brett Garrett, and Elizabeth Garrett Mettler as trustees.
Garrett Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Scott T. Garrett
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan E. Garrett
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Garrett
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Garrett Mettler
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Garrett Family Foundation
How much does Garrett Family Foundation give each year?
Garrett Family Foundation gave $723K across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $234K across 34 grants.
What is Garrett Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Garrett Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $23,327, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Garrett Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Garrett Family Foundation give grants?
Garrett Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (9%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lake Forest, IL (10 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Cambridge, MA (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Who are Garrett Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Garrett Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Lake Forest College ($513,775), Shady Hill School ($55,000) and John Thomas Dye School ($32,077), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Garrett Family Foundation?
Garrett Family Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $730K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $156K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Garrett Family Foundation fund?
The foundation says its mission is to relieve burdens for individuals and support organizations dedicated to the same cause, fostering resilience, hope, and pathways to success. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Garrett Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Garrett Family Foundation's EIN?
Garrett Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3662445. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Garrett 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Garrett Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Garrett Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Garrett Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/garrett-family-foundation-morg_c9f382636a244c4a89ea81315aa2fac7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203662445_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Garrett Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/garrett-family-foundation-morg_c9f382636a244c4a89ea81315aa2fac7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Garrett 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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