Minow Family Foundation
The Minow Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1967, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting education, arts and culture, and Jewish agencies.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$960K
-19.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$87K
-4.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Arts and Culture
- Jewish Agencies
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Journalism
- Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Higher Education
Grantmaking
The foundation made $960,000 in total giving in 2024. Recent grantees include:
Grant Range
s & Patterns:**
Average Grant
$5,000–$19,000 (varies by reporting period)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary grantmaking is concentrated in:
- Illinois
- New York
- Massachusetts
- California
- Wisconsin
The foundation reaches organizations across 12 states, with 78% of grants supporting organizations in Illinois, California, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (as of 2024):
- Total assets: $8,763,437
- Total annual giving: $960,000
- Total revenues: $1,152,997
- Total expenses: $980,740
- Annual income: $5,000,000
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.2 million in 2011 to $8.8 million in 2024.
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $163,519
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $909,187
- Grants and contributions received: $80,291
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
136 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Osher Lifelong Learning Institute ($250,000), Northwestern University ($150,000), Wgbh Educational Foundation ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BEYOND LEGAL AID CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $120,000 |
| SORENSEN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| JEWISH COMMUNAL FUND NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $75,000 |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL HIGHLAND PARK, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| NNMJBM PLANT FOR OUR CHILDREN OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $75,000 |
| KANOON MAGNET SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| COMBINED JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF GREATER BOSTON BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $75,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $150,000 |
| OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE EVANSTON, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Martha L. Minow is affiliated with the foundation. She holds the position of 300th Anniversary University Professor at Harvard University and serves on multiple boards including the Carnegie Corporation, WGBH/GBH, and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARTHA L MINOW | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MARY R MINOW | TREASURER, DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| NELL MINOW | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR, SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 75 Fresh Pond Parkway Cambridge, MA 02138-3348
Phone: 617-661-1364 (312) 853-7555
Principal Officer: Sidley Austin LLP
The foundation is governed by 4 officers and trustees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Minow Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Arts and Culture • Jewish Agencies • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Journalism • Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Higher Education
How do I apply for a grant from Minow Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Patterns:** • Typical awards range from $80,000 to $350,000 • Median grant: $1,000 • Average grant: $5,000–$19,000 (varies by reporting period) • Smallest grant on record: $100 • Largest grant on record: $350,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made $960,000 in total giving in 2024. Recent grantees include: • Northwestern University ($150,000) • WGBH Educational Foundation ($120,000) • Chicago History Museum ($75,000) • Adlai Stevenson Center On Democracy The foundatio…
Where does Minow Family Foundation make grants?
Primary grantmaking is concentrated in: • Illinois • New York • Massachusetts • California • Wisconsin The foundation reaches organizations across 12 states, with 78% of grants supporting organizations in Illinois, California, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does Minow Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Minow Family Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $960K — an average of about $87K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Minow Family 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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