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
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.
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Endowment Foundation ($9,462,433), JCC Chicago ($1,299,998), Johannesburg Jewish Helping Hand - US ($702,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Endowment Foundation Hudson, OH | General | $9,462,433 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | General | $18,000 |
| American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center New York, NY | General | $10,300 |
| American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro New York, NY | General | $10,000 |
| An Achievable Dream Inc Newport News, VA | General | $10,000 |
| American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty New York, NY | General | $1,000 |
| Bideawee New York, NY | General | $15,000 |
| Chabad of Glencoe Glencoe, IL | General | $36,000 |
| Chabad of Wilmette Center for Jewish Life and Lear Wilmette, IL | General | $185 |
| Challenge Athletes Foundation San Diego, CA | General | $100,000 |
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
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
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?
**Application Process:** 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. **Grant Activity:** • 2024: 35 grants totaling approximately $15.6 million in total giving • 2023: 83 grants totaling $8.5 million • Average grant size (2023): Approximately $102,000 • Grant range: $100 to $9.4 million **Recent …
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Klaff Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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