Pepper Family Foundation
The Pepper Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it made 28 grants totaling $3,243,186 to charitable organizations, including cultural institutions, educational organizations, and service providers.
Key facts about Pepper Family Foundation
In short: Pepper Family Foundation gave $3.2M across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $116K), mostly in Illinois. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-3540747
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,243,186
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $115,828
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (12 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $37,006,412
- Primary geography
- Illinois (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- 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. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.0M
+24.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+106.2% YoY
Grant Count
28
+21.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$116K
+69.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pepper Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Pepper Family Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 28 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $66K; repeat grants $153K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $38K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 481% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 190% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including arts and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, a hospital foundation, a zoo, and organizations providing community services.
The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Northwestern University says it is committed to 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 dignity and each resident’s right to experience life fully. Madonna Mission describes its work as providing education and resettlement support for refugees and their families in Chicago. Openlands says it protects natural and open spaces in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $3,243,186. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $1,010,000, with a median grant of $50,000. The largest grants included $1,010,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago, $500,000 to the John G. Shedd Aquarium, $305,000 to Northwestern University, $300,000 to NorthShore Hospitals Foundation, and $185,000 to Lincoln Park Zoo. Each of these grants was listed for operating funds.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Arkansas, Ohio, and Indiana each received 3%, 2%, and 2%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 28 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
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
89 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
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 | $500,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Evanston, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $305,000 |
| NORTHSHORE HOSPITALS FOUNDATION Evanston, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $300,000 |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO Chicago, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $185,000 |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM Chicago, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $146,250 |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS Little Rock, AR | OPERATING FUNDS | $100,000 |
| PLYMOUTH PLACE Lagrange Park, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $100,000 |
| MONMOUTH COLLEGE Monmouth, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $54,936 |
| BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE Chicago, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37,006,412 | $10,934,729 | $3,580,333 | $3,243,186 |
| 2023 | $29,652,016 | $10,338,253 | $1,856,035 | $1,573,000 |
| 2022 | $21,169,798 | $10,330,651 | $673,030 | $415,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,006,412 | $29,652,016 | $21,169,798 |
| Revenue | $10,934,729 | $10,338,253 | $10,330,651 |
| Expenses | $3,580,333 | $1,856,035 | $673,030 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,351,165 | $1,688,819 | $503,407 |
| Net Investment Income | $688,061 | $352,982 | $180,035 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,761,391 | $1,139,224 | $660,984 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lisa Pepper as director and president; J Scot Pepper as director and vice president; J Richard Pepper as director and assistant treasurer; J Stanley Pepper as director; and W Franklin Appleby Jr as secretary and treasurer. It also lists Roxelyn M Pepper and Lynda Pepper Bollman as directors, both marked deceased.
Pepper Family Foundation is led by Lisa Pepper, Director & President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lisa Pepper
Director & President
Director → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $8K (2024)
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) → $8K (2024)
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) → $112K (2024)
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, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
Contact
Mailing address: 643 North Orleans, Chicago, IL 60654-3608
Phone: (312) 266-4703
Frequently asked questions about Pepper Family Foundation
How much does Pepper Family Foundation give each year?
Pepper Family Foundation gave $3.2M across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 23 grants.
What is Pepper Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Pepper Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $115,828, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pepper Family Foundation that year got $66K on average.
Where does Pepper Family Foundation give grants?
Pepper Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (12 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants) and Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Does Pepper Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Pepper Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Pepper Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Pepper Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Art Institute of Chicago ($1,010,000), John G Shedd Aquarium ($500,000) and Northwestern University ($305,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Pepper Family Foundation?
Pepper Family Foundation reported $37.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pepper Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including arts and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, a hospital foundation, a zoo, and organizations providing community services. The grantees describe their work in varied ways. Northwestern University says it is committed to excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. Plymouth Place says it provides a welcoming environment…
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 2019–2024.
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Pepper Family Foundation by hand.
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