Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-3485580

Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation is a private foundation, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available for 2020. In 2020, it awarded 43 grants totaling $8.0M. Net investment income was $1.5M.

Key facts about Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation

EIN
36-3485580
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2020
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)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated April 2026.

Who Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation's 43 itemized 2020 grants were Illinois (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (30 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and South Haven, MI (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Financial Overview

From 2020 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$8.0M

Grant Count

43

Avg Grant Size

$187K

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.

About Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation is a private foundation, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available for 2020. In 2020, it awarded 43 grants totaling $8.0M. Net investment income was $1.5M.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 43 itemized 2020 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkSouth HavenBryn MawrColumbusDavisEvanstonWashingtonWaterville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$7M$9M2020
Metric2020
Total Assets—
Revenue$1,641,767
Expenses$8,165,882
Qualifying Distributions—
Net Investment Income$1,521,064
Distributable Amount$180,937

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M43 grants2020

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2020

The Chicago Community Fo…$6.4MChicago Symphony Orchestra$1.2MPierpont Morgan Library$100KAccess Living of Metropo…$40KArt Institute of Chicago$40KChicago Humanities Festi…$25KNewberry Library$25KRegents of the Universit…$25KUniversity of Chicago$25KWindow to the World Comm…$25K

Grant Size Distribution

43 grants across all recorded years

40<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M1$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2020 grants, the largest recipients include The Chicago Community Foundation ($6,370,664), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($1,197,655), Pierpont Morgan Library ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$6,370,664
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$1,197,655
PIERPONT MORGAN LIBRARY NEW YORK, NYGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$100,000
ACCESS LIVING OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$40,000
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$40,000
CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$25,000
NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$25,000
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS, CAGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$25,000
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$25,000
WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS CHICAGO, ILGENERAL UNRESTRICTED$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2020 IRS filing

From 2020 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
PAUL GRAYPRESIDENT1—
MARY GRAYVICE-PRES.0.5—
HARRY GRAYDIRECTOR0.5—
JENNIFER GRAYDIRECTOR0.5—

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation operate?

Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania.

What size grants does Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation award?

In 2020, Richard and Mary L Gray Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $8.0M — an average of about $187K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

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.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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