Klaff Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 61-1480716

The Klaff Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in early learning, Jewish community services, philanthropy, and the arts.

Klaff Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Klaff Family Foundation gave $15.6M across 66 grants in 2024 (avg $236K), mostly in Ohio. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$15,565,990
+83.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
66
-19.5% vs 2023
Average grant
$235,848
+128.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$223,275,078
+0.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
44% first-time grantees (29 of 66, 2024)
Primary geography
Ohio (61% 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 Klaff Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
Contact

Mailing address: 200 N Lasalle Street Suite 2370, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 360-1234

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Klaff Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

American Endowment Foundation: $9.5MAmerican Endowment Foundation$9.5MJCC Chicago: $1.3MJCC Chicago$1.3MStart Early: $833KStart Early$833KJohannesburg Jewish Helping Hand - US: $703KJohannesburg Jewish HelpingHand - US$703KJewish United Fund: $413KJewish United Fund$413KFundacion Escuela Integral Hebreo Urugaya: $333KFundacion Escuela IntegralHebreo Urugaya$333KJewish National Fund - USA: $333KJewish National Fund - USA$333KFundacion Tzedaka USA Inc: $250KFundacion Tzedaka USA Inc$250KHelpArgentina (PILAS): $250KHelpArgentina (PILAS)$250KFriends of United Hatzalah (Eli Beer): $180KFriends of United Hatzalah(Eli Beer)$180K

The largest 2024 recipient was American Endowment Foundation ($9.5M). Together the top 10 received $14.1M.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($18,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

336 grants across all recorded years

255<$50K38$50–100K24$100–250K7$250–500K5$500K–1M4$1–5M3$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 255 grants of 336 (76%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 filing shows grant dollars going primarily to recipients in Ohio (61%) and Illinois (24%), followed by New York (9%), Florida (4%), and California (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkChicagoGlencoeSan DiegoHighland ParkNorthbrookBrooklynEvanstonGlenviewHudsonSkokieWinnetkaLa JollaPomonaSt. LouisWarringtonWashingtonWashington DcAgawamArlington

Is Klaff Family Foundation open to new grantees?

44%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 29 of 66 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $387K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.

  • 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 92% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 102% 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

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M58 grants2020 55 grants2021 75 grants2022 82 grants2023 66 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $563K (2020) to $15.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 66 grants totaling $15.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
American Endowment Foundation Hudson, OHGeneral$9,462,433
JCC Chicago Northbrook, ILGeneral$1,299,998
Start Early Chicago, ILGeneral$833,333
Johannesburg Jewish Helping Hand - US Wheaton, ILGeneral$702,500
Jewish United Fund Chicago, ILGeneral$412,500
Fundacion Escuela Integral Hebreo Urugaya Aventura, FLGeneral$333,333
Jewish National Fund - USA New York, NYGeneral$333,000
Fundacion Tzedaka USA Inc Miami, FLGeneral$250,000
HelpArgentina (PILAS) New York, NYGeneral$250,000
Friends of United Hatzalah (Eli Beer) New York, NYGeneral$180,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$223,275,078$11,145,431$19,251,464$15,565,99066$15,616,050$9,801,825$15,291,202
2023$222,527,659$62,897,228$12,094,900$8,479,05782$8,529,057$60,146,391$15,090,933
2022$171,973,659$10,128,763$10,207,567$8,495,80575$8,495,805$8,410,515$8,462,611
2021$171,629,374$12,167,429$9,367,014$8,116,90355$8,116,904$10,815,277$11,458,329
2020$168,032,057$156,109,252$1,287,278$562,82058—$32,353,024$6,774,355

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Klaff Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.3M 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

A formal mission statement for the foundation is not stated. Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Start Early says it advances quality early learning for families with young children, while Fractured Atlas says it works to make the path from inspiration to practice more accessible and equitable for artists and creatives. Fundacion Tzedaka USA says it provides basic assistance to members of the Jewish community experiencing poverty and promotes social initiatives to support their reintegration into community life.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 66 grants totaling $15,565,990. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $9,462,433, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest awards included $9,462,433 to American Endowment Foundation, $1,299,998 to JCC Chicago, $833,333 to Start Early, $702,500 to Johannesburg Jewish Helping Hand - US, and $412,500 to Jewish United Fund. Each was reported with the purpose “General.”

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Hersch M Klaff, Avril M Klaff, Daniel Klaff, Marissa Klaff, and Zara Klaff as directors.

Klaff Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Avril M Klaff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Klaff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hersch M Klaff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marissa Klaff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Zara Klaff

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    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 Klaff Family Foundation

How much does Klaff Family Foundation give each year?

Klaff Family Foundation gave $15.6M across 66 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.5M across 82 grants.

What is Klaff Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Klaff Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $235,848, across 66 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Klaff Family Foundation that year got $44K on average.

Where does Klaff Family Foundation give grants?

Klaff Family Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (24%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (19 grants), Chicago, IL (14 grants), Glencoe, IL (4 grants) and San Diego, CA (3 grants).

Does Klaff Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Klaff Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (66 of 66) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Klaff Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Klaff Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Endowment Foundation ($9,462,433), JCC Chicago ($1,299,998) and Start Early ($833,333), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($18,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Klaff Family Foundation?

Klaff Family Foundation reported $223.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Klaff Family Foundation fund?

A formal mission statement for the foundation is not stated. Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Klaff Family Foundation?

Klaff Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.

What is Klaff Family Foundation's EIN?

Klaff Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1480716. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Klaff 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Klaff Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Klaff Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/klaff-family-foundation-morg_299a94e527b348ea8123898dea22eb5d

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_611480716_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Klaff Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/klaff-family-foundation-morg_299a94e527b348ea8123898dea22eb5d},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Klaff 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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