Mako Foundation
Mako Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois (EIN 30-0286945). In 2024, it made grants to organizations working in areas including health, education, environmental protection, public-interest research, and community support.
Mako Foundation at a glance
In short: Mako Foundation gave $384K across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), top state New York. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $384,100
- +20.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- +31.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,622
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,794,233
- +23.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (17 of 57, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mako Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 225 W Wacker Drive 2150, Chicago, IL 60606-1224
Phone: (312) 621-0590
Website: https://makofoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mako Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was International Medical Corps ($25K). Together the top 10 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
253 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 253 grants of 253 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 18% to California, 17% to Massachusetts, 9% to Washington, DC, and 3% to Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mako Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 57 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 152% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $318K (2023) to $439K (2021). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $384K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International Medical Corps Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $25,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $25,000 |
| Center for Public Interest Research Inc Boston, MA | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $20,000 |
| Movement Voter Fund via Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $20,000 |
| Streetsquash New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $20,000 |
| Type Media Center (FKA the Nation Institute) New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $20,000 |
| Black Farmer Fund York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $15,000 |
| Proteus Fund - Piper Fund Waltham, MA | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $15,000 |
| Proteus Fund - Rise Together Fund Amherst, MA | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $15,000 |
| Association for Macular Diseases York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mako 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,794,233 | $1,368,813 | $460,060 | $384,100 | 58 | $383,770 | $302,090 | $251,922 |
| 2023 | $3,880,596 | $257,871 | $408,524 | $317,726 | 44 | $323,734 | $201,568 | $198,993 |
| 2022 | $4,030,719 | $340,565 | $531,645 | $434,600 | 50 | $440,164 | $257,278 | $218,473 |
| 2021 | $4,219,294 | $607,401 | $542,900 | $438,600 | 54 | $444,111 | $504,970 | $253,857 |
| 2020 | $4,163,225 | $146,403 | $505,490 | $400,500 | 47 | — | $61,561 | $233,507 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mako Foundation reported a distributable amount of $252K for 2024 — 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 is available for this foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, International Medical Corps describes its mission as saving lives and relieving suffering through health interventions in communities affected by conflict, disasters, and disease outbreaks. Streetsquash says it supports children, families, and schools in Harlem to help participants realize their academic and personal potential. The Center for Public Interest Research describes its work as public research and education.
Other 2024 recipients include Black Farmer Fund, which says it invests in Black agricultural businesses in the Northeast to build community wealth and health; Hudson River Housing, which provides housing and services to qualified individuals; and First Nations Development Institute, which promotes Indigenous peoples’ participation in the economy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $384,100. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $25,000 each to International Medical Corps and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and $20,000 each to the Center for Public Interest Research, Movement Voter Fund via Tides Foundation, Streetsquash, and Type Media Center.
Other 2024 grants included $15,000 each to Black Farmer Fund and two Proteus Fund initiatives—the Piper Fund and Rise Together Fund. The foundation also awarded $10,000 each to the Association for Macular Diseases, Bard College’s Bard Prison Initiative, the Center for Public Integrity, Partners for Justice, Hudson River Housing, and First Nations Development Institute. Alliance for Justice received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas W Meyer as president and director; Julie Stevenson as secretary and director; Nancy Meyer as director; Michael C McQuinn as vice president; and Lauren K MacDonald as treasurer.
Mako Foundation is led by Thomas W. Meyer, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Thomas W. Meyer
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Stevenson
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Meyer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren K. Macdonald
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael C. McQuinn
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Mako Foundation
How much does Mako Foundation give each year?
Mako Foundation gave $384K across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $318K across 44 grants.
What is Mako Foundation's typical grant size?
Mako Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,622, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mako Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Mako Foundation give grants?
Mako Foundation's top state is New York, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (18%) and Massachusetts (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Poughkeepsie, NY (6 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and New Paltz, NY (4 grants).
Does Mako Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Mako Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (58 of 58) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mako Foundation's largest grantees?
Mako Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include International Medical Corps ($25,000), Natural Resources Defense Council ($25,000) and Center for Public Interest Research Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mako Foundation?
Mako Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $384K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $252K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mako Foundation fund?
No mission statement is available for this foundation. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations and activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mako Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mako Foundation's EIN?
Mako Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0286945. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Mako 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mako Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc
Poughkeepsie, NY
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley funds nonprofits working in areas including education, health and human services, arts and culture, food security, housing, and community improvement, with its core focus on Dutchess, Putnam, and Ulster counties. Its 2025 grants had a median of about $15,855, though amounts varied widely; several smaller fund programs offer $500 to $20,000. Some programs have application deadlines, but whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$138.8M
Grants
271
Total Given
$18.5M
The Tapestry Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$46.5M
Grants
534
Total Given
$2.0M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mako Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mako-foundation-morg_d1524166731241a6aeed30b23f1da013
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300286945_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mako Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mako-foundation-morg_d1524166731241a6aeed30b23f1da013},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Mako 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.
Mako Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?