Michael E Murphy Foundation
The Michael E Murphy Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1986. It operates as a grantmaking organization with a focus on charitable purposes.
Key facts about Michael E Murphy Foundation
- EIN
- 36-3436624
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $613,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- Average grant
- $24,540
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (6 of 25, 2024)
- Total assets
- $4,135,365
- Primary geography
- Illinois (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michael E Murphy Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Michael E Murphy Foundation's 25 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (73%), Massachusetts (17%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (15 grants) and Oak Park, IL (4 grants). None of its 25 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Purpose" (25 grants).
Is Michael E Murphy Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 25 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Michael E Murphy Foundation
- How to evaluate Michael E Murphy Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.1M
-9.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$614K
+29.2% YoY
Grant Count
25
-3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+34.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael E Murphy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $579K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 18 grants in 2024, with grant amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. The median grant size is $15,000. Recent grantees include Boston College ($100,000), Big Shoulders Fund ($75,000), Immaculate Conception Church ($57,500), and Northwestern Memorial Foundation.
Grant Range
is $15,000. Recent grantees include Boston College ($100,000), Big Shoulders Fund ($75,000), Immaculate Conception Church ($57,500), and Northwestern Memorial Foundation.
Ready to take the next step with Michael E Murphy Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 25 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,135,365
- Total Revenues: $204,992
- Total Expenses: $620,024
- Investment Income and Dividends: $201,627
- Number of Employees: 0
The foundation ranks in the top 10% of foundations by asset size nationally.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,135,365 | $4,550,397 | $3,455,235 |
| Revenue | $204,992 | $1,583,444 | $475,852 |
| Expenses | $620,024 | $488,282 | $446,997 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $613,500 | $474,720 | $445,220 |
| Net Investment Income | $200,704 | $160,830 | $275,852 |
| Distributable Amount | $579,426 | $465,361 | $432,143 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
111 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Boston College ($100,000), Big Shoulders Fund ($75,000), Immaculate Conception Church ($57,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON COLLEGE Chestnut Hill, MA | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND Chicago, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH Chicago, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $57,500 |
| THE FAMILY INSTITUTE Evanston, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| L'ARCHE Forest Park, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Washington, DC | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| THE IGNATIAN VOLUNTEER CORPS (IVC) Baltimore, MD | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL Chicago, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION Chicago, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| MISERICORDIA HOME Chicago, IL | CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board consists of:
- Leslie M Barker (President/Director)
- Adele A Murphy (Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director)
- Glenn S Murphy (Director)
- Christopher M Murphy (Director)
All board members serve without compensation and on a volunteer basis.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adele a Murphy | VP, Sec., Treas., Director | — | — |
| Leslie M Barker | President/Director | — | — |
| Glenn S Murphy | Director | — | — |
| Christopher M Murphy | Director | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Michael E Murphy Foundation?
The foundation made 18 grants in 2024, with grant amounts ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. The median grant size is $15,000. Recent grantees include Boston College ($100,000), Big Shoulders Fund ($75,000), Immaculate Conception Church ($57,500), and Northwestern Memorial Foundation. The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Prospective grantees should note this limitation when considering whether to approach the foundation.
What size grants does Michael E Murphy Foundation award?
In 2024, Michael E Murphy Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $614K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Michael E Murphy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Michael E Murphy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $579K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Michael E Murphy Foundation's EIN?
Michael E Murphy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3436624. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Michael E Murphy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.