Knight Family Foundation
The Knight Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2026 filing reports $1.2 million in grants to 15 organizations, with listed recipients including educational, arts, health, and community organizations.
Knight Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Knight Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 15 grants in 2026 (avg $80K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $1,200,000
- +21.2% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $80,000
- -3.0% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $9,789,294
- +6.0% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (60% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Knight Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 803878, Chicago, IL 60680
Phone: (312) 630-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Knight Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Knox College ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 22 grants of 60 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (60%), Michigan (17%), New York (11%), California (10%), and Iowa (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Knight Family Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 73% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+18%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2020) to $1.2M (2026). In 2026 it made 15 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Knox College Galesburg, IL | General Support | $250,000 |
| Saugatuck Center for the Arts Saugatuk, MI | General Support | $200,000 |
| Chicago Scots FKA Illinois Saint North Riverside, IL | General Support | $150,000 |
| El Dorado Foundation Placerville, CA | General Support | $120,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Chicago, IL | General Support | $100,000 |
| UNICEF USA New York, NY | General Support | $75,000 |
| United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $60,000 |
| North Shore Country Day School Winnetka, IL | General Support | $60,000 |
| Howard Brown Health Chicago, IL | General Support | $50,000 |
| Colgate University Hamilton, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Knight 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $9,789,294 | $1,898,595 | $1,348,563 | $1,200,000 | 15 | $1,220,243 | $1,797,308 | $1,333,777 |
| 2025 | $9,239,260 | $1,386,384 | $1,124,574 | $990,000 | 12 | $1,009,341 | $1,292,792 | $1,209,694 |
| 2024 | $8,977,571 | $854,255 | $961,774 | $855,000 | 11 | $871,433 | $778,166 | $1,004,426 |
| 2023 | $9,085,092 | $1,076,614 | $1,124,085 | $1,020,000 | 12 | $1,068,664 | $1,037,363 | $902,585 |
| 2022 | $9,132,564 | $699,450 | $917,276 | $825,000 | 10 | $833,680 | $632,718 | $1,027,312 |
| 2021 | $9,350,388 | $991,575 | $852,006 | $780,000 | 10 | — | $929,404 | $833,851 |
| 2020 | $9,211,542 | $767,717 | $813,107 | $750,000 | 9 | — | $706,209 | $779,311 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Knight Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2026 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants include support for organizations such as Knox College, whose stated mission is to provide a liberal arts education to students from diverse backgrounds, and Saugatuck Center for the Arts, which says it nurtures art, artists, and audiences through accessible programming and shared creative experiences.
Other 2026 recipients include North Shore Country Day School, whose stated mission is to provide support for the school, and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, which describes itself as a connector and convener partnering with communities to build stronger neighborhoods and create equitable opportunities across the Chicago region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation gave $1,200,000 through 15 grants. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $250,000, with a median grant of $60,000. The largest grants included $250,000 to Knox College, $200,000 to Saugatuck Center for the Arts, $150,000 to Chicago Scots FKA Illinois Saint, $120,000 to El Dorado Foundation, and $100,000 to Northwestern Memorial. Each of these grants was reported for general support.
The filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Mary K Knight as secretary and director; Robert Knight III as treasurer and director; Andrew M Knight as president and director; and Robert T Gratzer as vice president and director.
Knight Family Foundation is led by Andrew M. Knight, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Andrew M. Knight
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary K. Knight
Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert G. Knight III
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert T. Gratzer
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ellen Knight (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "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 Knight Family Foundation
How much does Knight Family Foundation give each year?
Knight Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 15 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $990K across 12 grants.
What is Knight Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Knight Family Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $60,000, and its average grant was $80,000, across 15 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Knight Family Foundation give grants?
Knight Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (17%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), Winnetka, IL (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Knight Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Knight Family Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Knight Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Knight Family Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Knox College ($250,000), Saugatuck Center for the Arts ($200,000) and Chicago Scots FKA Illinois Saint ($150,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Knight Family Foundation?
Knight Family Foundation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Knight Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Knight Family Foundation?
Knight Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Knight Family Foundation's EIN?
Knight Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4265122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Does Knight 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Knight Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Roger and Susan Stone Family Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Roger and Susan Stone Family Foundation’s 2023 grants were for general charitable purposes, with nearly all funding going to a Pennsylvania recipient; it is marked as a final return and appears to have stopped grantmaking. Its two 2023 grants totaled about $15.9 million, but this unusually large total does not indicate a typical grant size. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$15.9M
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp
Oak Brook, IL
Advocate Health and Hospitals Corp funds health care access, community health and wellness, and related Illinois nonprofits. In 2024, its median grant was $7,500, with awards ranging from $5,500 to $727,759; all reported recipients were in Illinois. The Bethany Community Health Fund limited applications to current grantees in 2019, and no broader policy on unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
$23.8B
Grants
23
Total Given
$1.7M
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Chicago, IL
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare funds academic, research, education, and community health work, including efforts addressing access to care and basic needs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $7,500 to $38.7 million, with a median of $25,000; community donations are up to $20,000 for organizations serving parts of nine Illinois counties. It accepts unsolicited community donation requests on a rolling basis.
Assets
$16.8B
Grants
23
Total Given
$39.3M
The Jaharis Family Foundation
New York, NY
The Jaharis Family Foundation funds education, general-purpose support, and hunger relief, with 2025 grants ranging from $2,000 to $1.7 million and a median of $10,000. Its 2025 giving went mainly to organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The foundation says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, but application procedures are not listed.
Assets
$105.1M
Grants
27
Total Given
$4.4M
Deloitte Foundation
Stamford, CT
The Deloitte Foundation funds U.S. education initiatives, including scholarships, curriculum and faculty support, mentoring, and grants to education nonprofits and universities, particularly through local programs in about 30 selected locations. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and it does not accept unsolicited requests for its Local Impact Grant Program.
Assets
$51.4M
Grants
121
Total Given
$32.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Knight Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/knight-family-foundation-morg_9495ad9fdfd04c6d92282d8a84654741
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364265122_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Knight Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/knight-family-foundation-morg_9495ad9fdfd04c6d92282d8a84654741},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Knight 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.
Knight Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?