Mazza Foundation
The Mazza Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with nearly all grant dollars going to recipients in Illinois and the remainder to a recipient in Washington, DC.
Mazza Foundation at a glance
In short: Mazza Foundation gave $2.2M across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in Illinois. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,187,000
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,750
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $33,712,056
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mazza Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact the Mazza Foundation. The filing lists no application form or materials and no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Mazza Foundation
Mailing address: 120 S Riverside Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 855-4055
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mazza Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Big Shoulders Fund ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
183 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 140 grants of 183 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 1% to recipients in Washington, DC. The listed grants are predominantly to Chicago organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mazza Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 36 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $56K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2021) to $2.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Scholarships | $300,000 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | Neuromuscular Program | $300,000 |
| Misericordia Foundation Chicago, IL | New Residence | $300,000 |
| Depaul University Chicago, IL | Scholarships | $250,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Precision Neurology | $250,000 |
| Archdiocese of Chicago Chicago, IL | Generation to Generation Campaign | $200,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | Scholarships/Housing | $125,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | Lyric Unlimited Program | $75,000 |
| Lumen Christi Institute Chicago, IL | Univ Prog & Summer Seminars | $50,000 |
| Grant Park Music Festival Chicago, IL | 2025 SEASON | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mazza 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,712,056 | $2,716,062 | $2,600,774 | $2,187,000 | 36 | $2,217,813 | $2,380,139 | $2,275,404 |
| 2024 | $33,596,750 | $2,732,614 | $2,439,518 | $2,092,500 | 35 | $2,121,105 | $2,430,813 | $2,094,591 |
| 2023 | $33,303,636 | $1,753,704 | $2,147,681 | $1,825,000 | 36 | $1,852,419 | $1,480,388 | $1,864,651 |
| 2022 | $33,697,594 | $2,049,737 | $2,319,252 | $1,960,000 | 42 | $1,985,303 | $1,747,826 | $1,950,529 |
| 2021 | $33,967,128 | $2,678,639 | $2,071,108 | $1,720,000 | 34 | — | $2,381,692 | $2,069,769 |
| 2020 | $33,220,581 | $913,482 | $2,188,332 | $1,931,000 | 45 | — | $746,930 | $1,831,525 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mazza Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2025 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include scholarship support, medical programs, housing, university programs, arts, and community engagement. For example, Big Shoulders Fund describes its work as supporting underserved schools that provide quality, values-based education for Chicago children. DePaul University describes itself as an innovative Catholic, Vincentian university committed to students’ integral human development. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 36 grants totaling $2,187,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median of $13,500. Among the largest grants were $300,000 each to Big Shoulders Fund for scholarships, Lurie Children’s Hospital for a neuromuscular program, and Misericordia Foundation for a new residence; $250,000 each to DePaul University for scholarships and Northwestern Memorial Foundation for precision neurology; and $200,000 to the Archdiocese of Chicago for its Generation to Generation campaign.
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists the application contact as the foundation, with no form or other materials, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Jane Rubinelli as president and director, Joseph Rubinelli as secretary and director, Nicholas Lavezzorio as treasurer and director, and Joan Lavezzorio Schniedwind as vice president and director.
Mazza Foundation is led by Mary Jane Rubinelli, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Jane Rubinelli
President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Lavezzorio Schniedwind
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Rubinelli Jr.
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Lavezzorio
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Mazza Foundation
How much does Mazza Foundation give each year?
Mazza Foundation gave $2.2M across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 35 grants.
What is Mazza Foundation's typical grant size?
Mazza Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $13,500, and its average grant was $60,750, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mazza Foundation that year got $56K on average.
Where does Mazza Foundation give grants?
Mazza Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (28 grants).
Does Mazza Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of Mazza Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (3 grants).
Who are Mazza Foundation's largest grantees?
Mazza Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Big Shoulders Fund ($300,000), Lurie Children's Hospital ($300,000) and Misericordia Foundation ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mazza Foundation?
Mazza Foundation reported $33.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (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 Mazza Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include scholarship support, medical programs, housing, university programs, arts, and community engagement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mazza Foundation?
Contact the Mazza Foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mazza Foundation's EIN?
Mazza Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6054751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mazza Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
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
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Helen V Brach Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Helen V Brach Foundation funds education, animal and child welfare, and charitable, literary, arts, religious, and scientific purposes; its 2025 filings report 553 grants totaling about $5.9 million, but no typical award size is given. Recent filings show grants went to Illinois, including Chicago. It accepts requests from organizations not preselected for funding; an application form is available upon request, and applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations.
Assets
$128.9M
Grants
1
Total Given
$6.8M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mazza Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mazza-foundation-morg_74496288f97a4ec29e692be791101c95
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366054751_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mazza Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mazza-foundation-morg_74496288f97a4ec29e692be791101c95},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Mazza 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.
Mazza Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?