Garrett Family Foundation
The Garrett Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Established in December 2005, the foundation operates as a private foundation dedicated to supporting charitable organizations and causes aligned with its core values and mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
-15.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$723K
+209.1% YoY
Grant Count
31
-8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$23K
+239.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Garrett Family Foundation is dedicated to relieving burdens of individuals and supporting organizations dedicated to the same cause. The foundation's mission is to foster resilience, ignite hope, and carve pathways to success for those facing obstacles.
The foundation supports charitable organizations addressing the following priority areas:
- Medical Initiatives
- Mental Health Support
- Disabilities Advocacy
- Addiction Recovery Efforts
- Aid for Victims of Abuse or Acts of Violence
- Assistance for Veterans
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on organizations with 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code.
Grantmaking
The foundation has implemented an overhead cost policy to maximize the impact of charitable giving:
Grant Range
& Activity:**
Average Grant
amount: $21–$513,775
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- California
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,299,274
- Total Revenues: $328,649
- Total Expenses: $750,206
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2.72M
- Total Revenues: $57.7k
- Total Expenses: $259k
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $75,790
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $248,259
- Grants and contributions: $4,600
The foundation maintains no liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income and asset sales.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,299,274 | $2,720,831 | $2,924,552 |
| Revenue | $328,649 | $57,701 | $56,408 |
| Expenses | $750,206 | $258,734 | $385,157 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $729,661 | $235,801 | $363,052 |
| Net Investment Income | $341,615 | $56,945 | $40,077 |
| Distributable Amount | $156,249 | $153,138 | $168,128 |
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
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Scott Garrett (Trustee)
- Susan E. Garrett (Trustee)
Foundation Leadership Context: The foundation was established by the Garrett family, with Eric and Rhonda Garrett as founding members. Emily Griffin currently leads the foundation. The foundation's establishment and growth were influenced by the family's partnership with Matt Griffin, who served as chief operating officer of The Garrett Companies. Following Matt Griffin's passing in 2023, Emily Griffin took on leadership of the foundation as a personal mission to extend compassion and support to others.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT T GARRETT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SUSAN E GARRETT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRETT GARRETT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH GARRETT METTLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in grantmaking, with 27 grants distributed in 2024. Recent major grants include significant support to Lake Forest College ($513,775), reflecting the foundation's commitment to education and charitable causes in its home region and beyond.
Garrett College Foundation Announces Garrett College ScholarshipsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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