Minow Family Foundation
The Minow Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including a university, public media organization, museum, Jewish communal organizations, a legal-aid organization, and a school.
Minow Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Minow Family Foundation gave $960K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $87K), mostly in Illinois. 73% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $960,000
- -19.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $87,273
- -4.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $8,763,437
- +2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (8 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (59% 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 Minow Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing suggests a letter, but does not require one; no special materials are required. The foundation lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Minow Family Foundation
Mailing address: 75 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone: (617) 512-5156
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Minow Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Osher Lifelong Learning Institute ($250K). Together the top 10 received $940K.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 136 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (59%), Massachusetts (20%), New York (13%), and Nebraska (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Minow Family Foundation open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 11 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $158K. How we count
Medians: $63K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 9% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 368% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 206% 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 $205K (2021) to $1.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $960K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Evanston, IL | Unrestricted | $250,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $120,000 |
| Jewish Communal Fund New York, NY | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| NNMJBM Plant for Our Children Omaha, NE | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Chicago History Museum Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Sorensen Center for International Peace and Justice New York, NY | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Beyond Legal Aid Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Minow Family 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 | $8,763,437 | $1,152,997 | $980,740 | $960,000 | 11 | $960,000 | $1,051,966 | $465,528 |
| 2023 | $8,584,667 | $386,679 | $1,229,157 | $1,185,330 | 13 | $1,185,330 | $342,852 | $352,708 |
| 2022 | $5,002,567 | $1,020,794 | $301,128 | $268,900 | 38 | $268,900 | $988,524 | $258,646 |
| 2021 | $4,282,901 | $833,552 | $241,319 | $205,050 | 39 | $205,050 | $797,241 | $265,382 |
| 2020 | $3,690,668 | $683,668 | $227,826 | $213,065 | 35 | — | $656,077 | $207,958 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Minow Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $466K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in varied fields. Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. WGBH Educational Foundation says it enriches people’s lives through educational, inspirational, and entertaining programs and services. Beyond Legal Aid describes its work as bringing lawyers and activists together to help underserved communities access justice and pursue social change.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $960,000. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $250,000, with a median of $75,000; all 11 were listed as unrestricted. Among the largest were $250,000 to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, $150,000 to Northwestern University, $120,000 to WGBH Educational Foundation, and $75,000 each to Jewish Communal Fund, NNMJBM Plant for Our Children, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, and Chicago History Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Martha L. Minow as president and director; Mary R. Minow as treasurer and director; and Nell Minow as vice president, director, and secretary.
Minow Family Foundation is led by Martha L. Minow, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Martha L. Minow
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary R. Minow
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nell Minow
Vice President, Director & Secretary
Vice President & Director → Vice President, Director & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Kathy Schultz (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Newton Minow (2020–2021) — President, Teasurer & Director
- Former: S. Nell Minow (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Josephine Minow (2020) — President & 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 Minow Family Foundation
How much does Minow Family Foundation give each year?
Minow Family Foundation gave $960K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 13 grants.
What is Minow Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Minow Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $87,273, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Minow Family Foundation that year got $61K on average.
Where does Minow Family Foundation give grants?
Minow Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (20%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Minow Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Minow Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Minow Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Minow Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Osher Lifelong Learning Institute ($250,000), Northwestern University ($150,000) and WGBH Educational Foundation ($120,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Minow Family Foundation?
Minow Family Foundation reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $960K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $466K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Minow Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in varied fields. Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Minow Family Foundation?
The filing suggests a letter, but does not require one; no special materials are required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Minow Family Foundation's EIN?
Minow Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6169301. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Minow Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/minow-family-foundation-morg_49473fe5f26347278227868fef7ff96a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366169301_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Minow Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/minow-family-foundation-morg_49473fe5f26347278227868fef7ff96a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Minow 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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