Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation
The Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation was a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2020 filing states that it terminated as of December 31, 2020, and distributed all trust assets to qualified public charities.
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation at a glance
In short: Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation gave $8.0M across 43 grants in 2020 (avg $187K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $8,045,319
- Grants made (2020)
- 43
- Average grant
- $187,100
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation terminated as of December 31, 2020, and no longer accepts requests. Its final filing stated there was no standard application and that a letter requesting a donation was sufficient. Applications are directed to Mary Gray. Donee organizations must qualify under IRC Section 170(c).
- Review Cycle
- Not applicable; the foundation has terminated.
- Deadline
- Not applicable; the foundation has terminated.
- Contact
Application contact: Mary Gray
Mailing address: 875 North Michigan Ave Ste 3800, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 642-8877
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was The Chicago Community Foundation ($6.4M). Together the top 10 received $7.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 43 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2020, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 2% to recipients in New York. The filing also lists recipient-state shares of 0% for California, Pennsylvania, and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 43 grants totaling $8.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Community Foundation Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $6,370,664 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $1,197,655 |
| Pierpont Morgan Library New York, NY | General Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| Chicago Humanities Festival Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Newberry Library Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Davis, CA | General Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Window to the World Communications Chicago, IL | General Unrestricted | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,641,767 | $8,165,882 | $8,045,319 | 43 | $1,521,064 | $180,937 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K for 2020 — 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 2020 recipients included organizations with varied missions. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago says it assists disabled persons and educates the public about their needs and abilities. The Chicago Humanities Festival describes its work as promoting public appreciation, understanding, and support of the humanities through festivals and educational programs.
Other recipients included the University of Chicago, which describes its mission as communicating and creating knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students; Window to the World Communications, which says it produces and presents content to entertain, inspire, educate, and reflect diverse perspectives; and Lyric Opera of Chicago, which describes its work as providing cultural service and advancing opera.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $8,045,319. Grants ranged from $500 to $6,370,664, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $6,370,664 to The Chicago Community Foundation and $1,197,655 to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both for general unrestricted purposes. Other notable grants included $100,000 to the Pierpont Morgan Library; $40,000 each to Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago; and $25,000 each to the Chicago Humanities Festival, Newberry Library, Regents of the University of California, University of Chicago, and Window to the World Communications. These grants were also listed for general unrestricted purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing lists Paul Gray as president, Mary Gray as vice president, and Harry Gray and Jennifer Gray as directors.
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation is led by Paul Gray, President on the 2020 filing; none of the 4 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Paul Gray
President
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry Gray
Director
New on the 2020 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Gray
Director
New on the 2020 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Gray
Vice President
New on the 2020 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "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 Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation
How much does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation give each year?
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation gave $8.0M across 43 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's typical grant size?
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $5,000, and its average grant was $187,100, across 43 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation give grants?
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (30 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and South Haven, MI (2 grants).
Does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's largest grantees?
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include The Chicago Community Foundation ($6,370,664), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($1,197,655) and Pierpont Morgan Library ($100,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 recipients included organizations with varied missions. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation?
The foundation terminated as of December 31, 2020, and no longer accepts requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's EIN?
Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3485580. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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