Pepper Family Foundation
The Pepper Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a focus on supporting educational institutions, cultural organizations, and human services primarily throughout Illinois.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's philanthropic interests center on:
- Education: Major support for universities and colleges
- Culture and the Arts: Funding for cultural institutions
- Human Services: Support for community-based organizations
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Grantmaking support
The foundation's legacy is particularly visible through major gifts to institutions including Northwestern University, Harper College, and the Art Institute of Chicago, where facilities bear the Pepper family name.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a public website or accept unsolicited applications. Prospective grantees must be identified and selected by foundation trustees.
Grant Range
$1,000 - $1,010,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with particular emphasis on the Chicago area (approximately 95% of giving). Secondary funding areas include Ohio and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Assets and Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $37,006,412
- Total Annual Giving: $3,243,186
- Total Revenues: $10,934,729
- Total Expenses: $3,580,333
- Number of Employees: 1
Historical Growth: The foundation has demonstrated significant growth, with annual giving increasing 294% over a seven-year period.
| 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 |
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Art Institute of Chicago ($1,010,000), John G Shedd Aquarium ($500,000), Northwestern University ($305,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADLER PLANETARIUM CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $146,250 |
| ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS LITTLE ROCK, AR | OPERATING FUNDS | $100,000 |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| BISHOP ANDERSON HOUSE CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $50,000 |
| BROOKFIELD ZOO BROOKFIELD, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $10,000 |
| ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ELGIN, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $50,000 |
| GALENA TERRITORY FOUNDATION GALENA, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $2,000 |
| JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING FUNDS | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel identified:
- Lynda Pepper Bollman - Director, President
- Roxelyn M Pepper - Director, Vice President
- J Stanley Pepper - Director
- W Franklin Appleby - Secretary
The foundation was established by Richard S. Pepper, who passed away in 2021.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROXELYN M PEPPER DECEASED | DIRECTOR | 4 | $5,000 |
| LYNDA PEPPER BOLLMAN DECEASED | DIRECTOR | 4 | $2,500 |
| J STANLEY PEPPER | DIRECTOR | 4 | $7,500 |
| W FRANKLIN APPLEBY JR | SECRETARY & TREASURER | 4 | $111,505 |
| J RICHARD PEPPER | DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT TREASURER | 4 | $7,500 |
| J SCOT PEPPER | DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | $7,500 |
| LISA PEPPER | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 4 | $7,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made notable contributions to major Chicago institutions, including the dedication of the Pepper Family Foundation Academic Support Center at Harper College and substantial support for the Art Institute of Chicago, which received the largest grant in the foundation's recent grantmaking activity at $1,010,000 in 2024.
Pepper Family Foundation - Grant Information & Application DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Pepper Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's philanthropic interests center on: • **Education**: Major support for universities and colleges • **Culture and the Arts**: Funding for cultural institutions • **Human Services**: Support for community-based organizations • **Philanthropy and Voluntarism**: Grantmaking support The foundation's legacy is particularly visible through major gifts to institutions including Northwestern University, Harper College, and the Art Institute of Chicago, where facilities bear the Pepper fa…
How do I apply for a grant from Pepper Family Foundation?
**Grant Structure:** • The foundation operates on a trustee-discretion basis and does not accept unsolicited grant applications • Grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees to pre-selected organizations • Grant range: $1,000 - $1,010,000 • Median grant size: approximately $17,500 - $25,000 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Art Institute of Chicago: $1,010,000 • Northwestern University: $305,000 • The Adler Planetarium: $146,250 • Total of 10 grants made in 2024 **Application Process:** …
Where does Pepper Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in **Illinois**, with particular emphasis on the Chicago area (approximately 95% of giving). Secondary funding areas include Ohio and Indiana.
What size grants does Pepper Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Pepper Family Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $116K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Pepper Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Pepper Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
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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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