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.
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
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.
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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
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 |
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
250 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
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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
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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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