Pepper Family Foundation
Pepper Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including cultural institutions, educational organizations, health-related organizations, and community organizations.
Pepper Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Pepper Family Foundation gave $3.7M across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $73K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,746,768
- +15.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- +82.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $73,466
- -36.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,500
- Total assets
- $34,957,557
- -5.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Pepper Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 643 North Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654-3608
Phone: (312) 266-4703
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pepper Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Art Institute of Chicago ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
130 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 81 grants of 130 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 94% of grant dollars went to organizations in Illinois, 3% to Arkansas, 2% to Ohio, and 1% to Iowa. The reported share for Washington, DC, was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
Cities
How Pepper Family Foundation gives
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 803% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 189% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $415K (2022) to $3.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $1,010,000 |
| John G Shedd Aquarium Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $510,000 |
| Northshore Hospitals Foundation Evanston, IL | Operating Funds | $300,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $230,982 |
| Northwestern University Department of Communications Evanston, IL | Operating Funds | $200,000 |
| Adler Planetarium Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $146,250 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Operating Funds | $105,000 |
| Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Little Rock, AR | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Plymouth Place Lagrange Park, IL | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Chicago South Side Birth Center Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
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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 | $34,957,557 | $2,376,932 | $4,425,787 | $3,746,768 | 51 | $4,065,956 | $707,063 | $2,155,763 |
| 2024 | $37,006,412 | $10,934,729 | $3,580,333 | $3,243,186 | 28 | $3,351,165 | $688,061 | $1,761,391 |
| 2023 | $29,652,016 | $10,338,253 | $1,856,035 | $1,573,000 | 23 | $1,688,819 | $352,982 | $1,139,224 |
| 2022 | $21,169,798 | $10,330,651 | $673,030 | $415,000 | 18 | $503,407 | $180,035 | $660,984 |
| 2021 | $11,512,177 | $3,199,801 | $736,222 | $558,000 | 10 | $589,010 | $902,647 | $631,299 |
| 2020 | $9,048,598 | $906,640 | $803,123 | $677,500 | 10 | — | $129,034 | $506,118 |
| 2019 | $8,945,081 | $299,742 | $674,257 | $540,000 | 20 | — | $137,350 | $498,225 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pepper Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M 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 statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions span several fields. The Adler Planetarium says its mission is to connect people to the universe and each other and to engage people in astronomy and space science. Northwestern University describes its commitments as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. Plymouth Place says it provides a welcoming environment for older adults, with a focus on residents’ dignity and worth.
Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions involve music education and performance, refugee education and resettlement, youth development and academic enrichment, and protection of natural and open spaces.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 51 grants totaling $3,746,768. The median grant was $25,500; amounts ranged from $250 to $1,010,000. The largest grants included $1,010,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, $510,000 to John G. Shedd Aquarium, $300,000 to Northshore Hospitals Foundation, $230,982 to Lincoln Park Zoo, and $200,000 to Northwestern University Department of Communications. Each was reported for operating funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J Stanley Pepper as director; W Franklin Appleby Jr as secretary and treasurer; J Richard Pepper as director and assistant treasurer; J Scot Pepper as director and vice president; Lisa Pepper as director and president; and Jaime Pepper Bland as director of philanthropic relations.
Pepper Family Foundation is led by Lisa Pepper, Director & President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Pepper
Director & President
Director → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $10K (2025)
J. Scot Pepper
Director, Director, Assistant Treasurer, Director & Vice President
Director → Director, Director, Assistant Treasurer, Director & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Jaime Pepper Bland
Director of Philanthropic Relations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
W. Franklin Appleby Jr.
Secretary & Treasurer
Executive Director & Treasurer → Executive Director & Secretary, 2022
Executive Director & Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$12K (2021) → $258K (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: Lynda Pepper Bollman (2019–2024) — Director · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Roxelyn M. Pepper (2019–2024) — Director · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Thomas M. O'Leary (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jstanley Pepper (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Richard S. Pepper (2019–2020) — Director, President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $258K, to W Franklin Appleby Jr (Secretary & Treasurer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pepper Family Foundation
How much does Pepper Family Foundation give each year?
Pepper Family Foundation gave $3.7M across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.2M across 28 grants.
What is Pepper Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Pepper Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,500, and its average grant was $73,466, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Pepper Family Foundation give grants?
Pepper Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (16 grants), Barrington, IL (5 grants), Evanston, IL (4 grants) and Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Does Pepper Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Pepper Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (51 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Pepper Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Pepper Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Art Institute of Chicago ($1,010,000), John G Shedd Aquarium ($510,000) and Northshore Hospitals Foundation ($300,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pepper Family Foundation?
Pepper Family Foundation reported $35.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pepper Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions span several fields. The Adler Planetarium says its mission is to connect people to the universe and each other and to engage people in astronomy and space science. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pepper Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pepper Family Foundation's EIN?
Pepper Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3540747. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Pepper Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 24, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pepper Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pepper-family-foundation-morg_75521eccb0aa4110a80752c95fb5bff9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363540747_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pepper Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pepper-family-foundation-morg_75521eccb0aa4110a80752c95fb5bff9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Pepper 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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