Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation
The Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations and other recipients for purposes including scholarships, operating support, and conservation-related work.
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation gave $153K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), top state Tennessee. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $152,964
- +8.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,560
- +15.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,830,257
- +1.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (6 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (23% 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 Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 30 S Wacker Drive 2875, Chicago, IL 60606-7482
Phone: (312) 726-3110
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Blues Kids Foundation ($25K). Together the top 10 received $130K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($13,141), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 80 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee (23%), Illinois (21%), Idaho (13%), Texas (10%), and Florida (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 14 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $138K (2020) to $175K (2021). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $153K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Blues Kids Foundation Mephis, TN | Blues Camp | $25,000 |
| Saint Leonard's Ministries Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $13,141 |
| University of Idaho Moscow, ID | Lynara J. Bennett Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Abolitionist Law Center Pittsburg, PA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Sista's with a PhD 501 Dallas, TX | Operating Costs and Project Development | $10,000 |
| University of Idaho Moscow, ID | Elexis Bennett Scholarship | $10,000 |
| Oasis Nashville, TN | Operational Support | $10,000 |
| Frontline Focus Foundation Lowell, IN | Operational Support | $10,000 |
| Best Friends Animal Society Kenab, UT | Operational Support | $10,000 |
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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 | $2,830,257 | $205,634 | $187,644 | $152,964 | 16 | $158,624 | $157,483 | $162,217 |
| 2023 | $2,789,825 | $107,533 | $175,910 | $141,363 | 17 | $148,418 | $72,409 | $161,457 |
| 2022 | $2,830,012 | $69,366 | $210,293 | $165,587 | 13 | $172,772 | $49,718 | $165,555 |
| 2021 | $2,950,283 | $536,877 | $205,395 | $175,035 | 18 | $178,510 | $511,272 | $166,099 |
| 2020 | $2,564,760 | $54,018 | $163,557 | $138,176 | 16 | — | $50,429 | $146,877 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $162K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is available in the supplied information. Its 2024 grants show support for scholarships and education, operational and unrestricted support, animal welfare, and other community services.
Among its grantees, Best Friends Animal Society describes its work as ending the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters. Frontline Focus Foundation says it provides scholarships, training, and other services focused on healing for veterans, first responders, their families, and civilians. Chicago Zoological Society says it works to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $152,964. Grant amounts ranged from $73 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $25,000 to Blues Kids Foundation for Blues Camp and $25,000 to Saint Leonard’s Ministries for unrestricted support. Other notable grants included $13,141 to an individual recipient for a scholarship; $10,000 each to the University of Idaho for the Lynara J. Bennett Scholarship and the Elexis Bennett Scholarship, Abolitionist Law Center for unrestricted support, Sista’s with a PhD 501 for operating costs and project development, OASIS for operational support, Frontline Focus Foundation for operational support, and Best Friends Animal Society for operational support. The foundation also awarded $5,000 to Boston College for the Mellin Family Scholarship Fund and $5,000 to Chicago Zoological Society for unrestricted support.
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jonathan B Mellin as president, Debra M Mcoy as secretary, and Naoma Donnelley and Laren Donnelley as directors.
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation is led by Jonathan B Mellin, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jonathan B Mellin
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Laren Donnelley
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Naoma Donnelley
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Debra M Mcoy
Secratary
Secretary → Secratary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Mark Liyeos (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Reuben S. Donnelley (2020–2022) — Director
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 Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation
How much does Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation give each year?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation gave $153K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $141K across 17 grants.
What is Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,560, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation give grants?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's top state is Tennessee, with 23% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (21%) and Idaho (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Moscow, ID (2 grants).
Does Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Blues Kids Foundation ($25,000), Saint Leonard's Ministries ($25,000) and University of Idaho ($20,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($13,141), which are not listed by name. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $162K (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 Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is available in the supplied information. Its 2024 grants show support for scholarships and education, operational and unrestricted support, animal welfare, and other community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's EIN?
Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3487746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Mary Barnes Donnelley 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mary-barnes-donnelley-family-foundation-morg_80c0cc633bff493692ed82a2a8e2c9e8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363487746_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mary-barnes-donnelley-family-foundation-morg_80c0cc633bff493692ed82a2a8e2c9e8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. 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 Mary Barnes Donnelley 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.
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