Julian Family Foundation
The Julian Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with the largest awards going to Chicago-area music and arts organizations.
Julian Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Julian Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Illinois. 3% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,295,500
- -22.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,515
- -17.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $8,889,491
- +65.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Julian Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 333 W Wacker Drive 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 332-1111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Julian Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($935K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
199 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 199 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 9% to recipients in New York. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania each accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Julian Family Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 34 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 711% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $916K (2021) to $3.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $935,000 |
| Merit School of Music Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $500,000 |
| Wttwwfmt - Window to the World Communications Inc Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $160,000 |
| League of American Orchestras (Lao) New York, NY | General Purposes | $150,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $140,000 |
| Music Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $75,000 |
| Cedille Chicago - Recording Foundation Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $70,000 |
| Fractured Atlas Empowering Artists Everywhere New York, NY | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Ensemble Dal Niente Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $40,000 |
| Third Coast Percussion Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Julian 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 | $8,889,491 | $5,918,056 | $2,393,738 | $2,295,500 | 34 | $2,295,515 | $2,468,606 | $322,872 |
| 2024 | $5,365,173 | $4,563,191 | $3,042,585 | $2,956,750 | 36 | $2,956,765 | $2,812,597 | $353,320 |
| 2023 | $3,844,567 | $5,880,906 | $1,830,323 | $1,794,200 | 42 | $1,794,215 | $1,839,343 | $233,870 |
| 2022 | $4,205,404 | $3,187,681 | $3,104,054 | $3,042,400 | 42 | $3,042,415 | $39,481 | $166,281 |
| 2021 | $4,121,777 | $2,371,199 | $937,256 | $915,850 | 45 | $915,865 | $1,766,253 | $132,768 |
| 2020 | $2,687,834 | $2,390,672 | $2,003,450 | $1,980,964 | 43 | — | $8,383 | $94,430 |
| 2019 | $2,300,612 | $730,434 | $1,534,372 | $1,500,917 | 23 | — | $525,772 | $156,243 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Julian Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $323K 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 grants include support for music and arts organizations, as well as organizations working in areas such as food assistance and senior care. For example, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. The Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger, and King-Bruwaert House describes its work as providing independent living, assisted living, memory loss care, and skilled care for older adults.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $2,295,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $935,000, with a median grant of $7,500.
Its largest 2025 grants included $935,000 to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, $500,000 to Merit School of Music, $160,000 to WTTW/WFMT – Window to the World Communications Inc., $150,000 to the League of American Orchestras, and $140,000 to Lyric Opera of Chicago. Each was listed for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Loretta N. Julian is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Julian Family Foundation is led by Loretta N. Julian, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Loretta N. Julian
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Julian Family Foundation
How much does Julian Family Foundation give each year?
Julian Family Foundation gave $2.3M across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 36 grants.
What is Julian Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Julian Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $67,515, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Julian Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Julian Family Foundation give grants?
Julian Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (23 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Julian Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Julian Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (34 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Julian Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Julian Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($935,000), Merit School of Music ($500,000) and Wttwwfmt - Window to the World Communications Inc ($160,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Julian Family Foundation?
Julian Family Foundation reported $8.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $323K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Julian Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for music and arts organizations, as well as organizations working in areas such as food assistance and senior care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Julian Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Julian Family Foundation's EIN?
Julian Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6662944. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Julian 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Julian Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Julian Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
NCRC Community Development Fund Inc
Washington, DC
NCRC Community Development Fund supports affordable housing and homeownership, small businesses—especially minority-owned, women-owned, and low-income businesses—and certain nonprofit programs that provide capital or services to underserved communities. Its listed awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, though typical giving is not stated; it serves communities across the U.S., with some programs focused on Illinois. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$55.6M
Grants
2,666
Total Given
$149.3M
Lloyd a Fry Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation funds arts learning, education, and employment programs serving low-income and underserved communities in Chicago, prioritizing specific projects with clear outcomes. In 2025, grants ranged from $125 to $250,000, with a median grant of $5,000. An LOI is recommended but not required before submitting a proposal.
Assets
$208.2M
Grants
394
Total Given
$9.3M
The Irving Harris Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Irving Harris Foundation funds reproductive health and justice, infant and early childhood mental health and development, Jewish values, and arts and culture, with grantmaking focused largely in Illinois and also reaching other states. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$143.4M
Grants
337
Total Given
$22.1M
The Siragusa Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Siragusa Family Foundation primarily supports youth development in Chicago, especially arts learning, academic enrichment, and wellness programs serving disinvested neighborhoods; its broader grantmaking includes arts, education, and health. In 2024, grants ranged from $370 to $22,500, with a median of $10,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$19.1M
Grants
105
Total Given
$1.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Julian Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/julian-family-foundation-morg_adf7bb7ce0bc4d8986a22148dd283a13
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_476662944_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Julian Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/julian-family-foundation-morg_adf7bb7ce0bc4d8986a22148dd283a13},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Julian 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.
Julian Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?