Klaff Family Foundation
The Klaff Family Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2004 and granted tax-exempt status in June 2005. The foundation is led by the Klaff family, with connections to Klaff Realty, LP, a major real estate investment firm. With assets exceeding $223 million, the foundation functions as a significant philanthropic institution supporting charitable organizations through strategic grantmaking.
Key facts about Klaff Family Foundation
- EIN
- 61-1480716
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,565,990
- Grants made (2024)
- 66
- Average grant
- $235,848
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (30 of 66, 2024)
- Total assets
- $223,275,078
- Primary geography
- Ohio (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Klaff Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Klaff Family Foundation's 66 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (61%), 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). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Klaff Family Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 30 of 66 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $397K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 41% 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Klaff Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Klaff Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$223.3M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.6M
+83.6% YoY
Grant Count
66
-19.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$236K
+128.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its giving patterns demonstrate strong support for Jewish community organizations, education, and humanitarian causes. The foundation's primary funding areas include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
(2023): Approximately $102,000
Average Grant
(2023): Approximately $102,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees to preselected organizations with which the trustees have established relationships.
Ready to take the next step with Klaff Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of locations across the United States and internationally, including:
- Primary focus: Illinois, New York, and California
- Additional U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington
- International locations: United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 66 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $223,275,078
- Total revenue: $11,145,431
- Total expenses: $19,251,464
- Total liabilities: $4,880,000
- Net income: -$8,106,033
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $223 million
- Total giving: $8,479,057
Investment Income:
- 2024: $8,794,194 (representing an 85.3% decrease from 2023)
- 2023: $60,009,469
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $223,275,078 | $222,527,659 | $171,973,659 |
| Revenue | $11,145,431 | $62,897,228 | $10,128,763 |
| Expenses | $19,251,464 | $12,094,900 | $10,207,567 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $15,616,050 | $8,529,057 | $8,495,805 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,801,825 | $60,146,391 | $8,410,515 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,291,202 | $15,090,933 | $8,462,611 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
336 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Endowment Foundation ($9,462,433), JCC Chicago ($1,299,998), Start Early ($833,333).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation Hudson, OH | General | $9,462,433 |
| JCC Chicago Northbrook, IL | General | $1,299,998 |
| Start Early Chicago, IL | General | $833,333 |
| Johannesburg Jewish Helping Hand - US Wheaton, IL | General | $702,500 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | General | $412,500 |
| Fundacion Escuela Integral Hebreo Urugaya Aventura, FL | General | $333,333 |
| Jewish National Fund - USA New York, NY | General | $333,000 |
| Fundacion Tzedaka USA Inc Miami, FL | General | $250,000 |
| HelpArgentina (PILAS) New York, NY | General | $250,000 |
| Friends of United Hatzalah (Eli Beer) New York, NY | General | $180,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Hersch M Klaff
- Avril R Klaff (also listed as Avril M Klaff)
- Daniel Klaff
- Marissa Klaff
- Zara Klaff
All board members serve without compensation.
Staff:
- Rita Sawyer, Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hersch M Klaff | Director | 1 | — |
| Avril M Klaff | Director | — | — |
| Daniel Klaff | Director | 1 | — |
| Marissa Klaff | Director | 1 | — |
| Zara Klaff | Director | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60601
The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. Contact is made through their association with Klaff Realty, LP.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Klaff Family Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, its giving patterns demonstrate strong support for Jewish community organizations, education, and humanitarian causes. The foundation's primary funding areas include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Klaff Family Foundation?
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Klaff Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports a wide range of locations across the United States and internationally, including: • Primary focus: Illinois, New York, and California • Additional U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington • International locations: United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and Brazil
What size grants does Klaff Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Klaff Family Foundation awarded 66 grants totaling $15.6M — an average of about $236K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Klaff Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Klaff Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.