Knight Impact Partners is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Also known as the Knight Family Foundation and Lester B Knight Ttee, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity established in 2010. The foundation functions as a private trust managed by RLK Partners LLC.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.0M
-11.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
+735.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
+146.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$159K
+239.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Knight Impact Partners reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with a particular emphasis on:
- Education and educational services
- Human services
- Support for organizations helping women in the Chicago area
- Resettlement programs for refugees
- COVID relief efforts
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
$91,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
These three states (New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts) account for approximately 93% of all grants made. Grantmaking reaches organizations across four states total.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $23,953,618
- Total assets (2023): $27,013,027
- Asset growth: From $3.8 million in 2011 to $24 million in 2024
Annual Activity:
- Total revenues (2024): $2,227,674
- Total expenses (2024): $5,287,083
- Total giving (2024): $5,072,149
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Financial Data:
- Revenue (2023): $13.4 million
- Expenses (2023): $786,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,953,618 | $27,013,027 | $14,398,173 |
| Revenue | $2,227,674 | $13,446,174 | $5,069,270 |
| Expenses | $5,287,083 | $785,546 | $2,017,225 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,072,149 | $607,000 | $1,854,406 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,011,220 | $1,556,160 | $220,434 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,786,782 | $1,162,281 | $925,944 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Inner-city Muslim Action Network ($1,000,000), One Acre Fund ($750,000), Northshore Hospitals Foundation ($560,499).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDS FOUNDATION OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | ILLINOIS CHAPTER PROGRAMS | $50,000 |
| BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500,000 |
| CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| FAMILY MATTERS CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500 |
| FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER ELMIRA, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD FOR THE NEEDY | $5,300 |
| GREENLIGHT FUND CHICAGO BOSTON, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rebecca W. Knight - Trustee (serves without compensation)
- Lester B. Knight - Trustee (serves without compensation)
The foundation is governed by two officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBECCA W KNIGHT | TRUSTEE | 30 | — |
| LESTER B KNIGHT | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| SOL A FLORES | CEO | 40 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER T CHILDS | CFO | 10 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 272 E Deerpath, Suite 236 Lake Forest, IL 60045-1981
Phone: 847-283-7810
EIN: 27-6566394
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Knight Impact Partners fund?
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with a particular emphasis on: • Education and educational services • Human services • Support for organizations helping women in the Chicago area • Resettlement programs for refugees • COVID relief efforts • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Knight Impact Partners?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants made: 69 grants totaling $6.3 million (based on available records from 2020-2024) • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $91,000 • Grant range: $2,000 to $1,000,000 • Number of unique organizations supported: 32 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN): $1,000,000 • One Acre Fund: $750,000 • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation: $500,000 **Application Process:** The foundation makes contributions to preselected cha…
Where does Knight Impact Partners make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • New York • Massachusetts • Michigan These three states (New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts) account for approximately 93% of all grants made. Grantmaking reaches organizations across four states total.
What size grants does Knight Impact Partners award?
In 2024, Knight Impact Partners awarded 32 grants totaling $5.1M — an average of about $159K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Knight Impact Partners required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Knight Impact Partners reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Knight Impact Partners's EIN?
Knight Impact Partners's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6566394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Knight Impact Partners'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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