Master Educational Assistance Foundation
Master Educational Assistance Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Oak Park, Illinois. The organization has been tax-exempt since February 1988. It operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on educational assistance and related charitable purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$329K
+2.7% YoY
Grant Count
56
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Master Educational Assistance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $333K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities focus on Education, Human Services, and Health Care.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes grants primarily in support of educational initiatives. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
** $300–$34,149
Average Grant
amount:** Data available in IRS Form 990 filings
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated primarily in Illinois, Tennessee, and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $3,252,647
- Total giving: $329,313
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $3.5 million
- Total liabilities: $0
- Revenue: $186,000
- Expenses: $403,000
The foundation maintains a stable asset base and has been filing Form 990 tax returns with the IRS since at least 2011.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,252,647 | $3,499,270 | $3,716,432 |
| Revenue | $168,751 | $185,681 | $91,955 |
| Expenses | $415,374 | $402,843 | $349,305 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $415,374 | $399,443 | $332,299 |
| Net Investment Income | $168,751 | $185,681 | $91,955 |
| Distributable Amount | $332,787 | $299,108 | $307,998 |
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
230 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Christ the Kng College Prep ($25,935), Liberty Forever Foundation ($25,000), University of Illinois ($23,828).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana, IL | Scholarship | $23,828 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $23,187 |
| Illinois College Jacksonville, IL | Scholarship | $8,800 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore, MD | Scholarship | $8,482 |
| Lansing High School Lansing, MI | Scholarship | $7,000 |
| St Pius V School Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $6,500 |
| St Catherine University St Paul, MN | Scholarship | $6,000 |
| St Andrew Lutheran School Park Ridge, IL | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Illinois State University Normal, IL | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| St Grand School Lansing, MI | Scholarship | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES FRANCIS ZANGRILLI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $10,000 |
| JAMES FRANKLIN ZANGRILLI | DIRECTOR | 30 | $48,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Master Educational Assistance Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities focus on Education, Human Services, and Health Care.
How do I apply for a grant from Master Educational Assistance Foundation?
The foundation distributes grants primarily in support of educational initiatives. Recent grant activity includes: • **Total giving (2024):** $329,313 • **Typical grant range:** $300–$34,149 • **Average grant amount:** Data available in IRS Form 990 filings • **Recent grants:** A $21,000 contribution to Liberty Forever Foundation (2023) The foundation does not currently list active grant opportunities.
Where does Master Educational Assistance Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated primarily in Illinois, Tennessee, and Michigan.
What size grants does Master Educational Assistance Foundation award?
In 2024, Master Educational Assistance Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $329K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Master Educational Assistance Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Master Educational Assistance Foundation reported a distributable amount of $333K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Master Educational Assistance Foundation's EIN?
Master Educational Assistance Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3542174. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Master Educational Assistance 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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