Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
The Russell & Josephine Kott Memorial Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in Oak Park, Illinois. The Trust was created through the bequest of Russell and Josephine Kott to support charitable organizations that improve the lives of individuals, with a particular emphasis on gerontology and services for seniors.
Key facts about Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
- EIN
- 59-7229565
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,690,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- Average grant
- $37,556
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (24 of 45, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Trust accepts applications. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; 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.
Who Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's 45 itemized 2025 grants were Illinois (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), Des Plaines, IL (4 grants), Oak Park, IL (3 grants) and Palatine, IL (3 grants). None of its 45 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (45 grants).
Is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 45 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $32K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $17K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
- How to evaluate Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+7.6% YoY
Grant Count
45
+18.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
-9.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust honors the lives of Russell and Josephine Kott by providing annual funding to charitable organizations that enhance services for seniors through educational internships, quality programs, and capacity building for agencies serving older adults.
Primary funding areas include:
- Health and Wellness: Senior-friendly exercise equipment and programs that help seniors maintain independence and quality of life
- Dental & Medical Services: Expanded access to dental services, transportation, telemedicine services, home visits, and wellness checks with community outreach
- Basic Needs: Home-delivered meals, community cafes, hunger relief, toiletries, and other basic supplies for older adults
- Specialty Support: Programs addressing social isolation among older adults
- Education and Training: Academic programs for caregivers and nursing students, professional advocacy including legal services, and training for nonprofit professionals advising seniors on healthcare options
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000 to $315,849
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with a secondary focus on Wisconsin and Colorado. Grants support programs in the Chicago area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 45 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving (2024)
- Total assets: $30,273,048
- Total revenues: $1,354,301
- Total expenses: $1,918,356
- Number of employees: 3
Assets and Giving (2023)
- Total assets: $30,834,770
- Total revenues: $1,072,526
- Total expenses: $1,722,010
- Number of employees: 1
Giving Rate: Approximately 4.5% of assets
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Ageoptions ($380,000), Concordia Univeristy Operating ($130,000), Depaul University Development ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGEOPTIONS Oak Park, IL | SUPPORT | $380,000 |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERISTY OPERATING River Forest, IL | SUPPORT | $130,000 |
| DEPAUL UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT Chicago, IL | SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR DISABILITY AND ELDER LAW Chicago, IL | SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERISTY INSTITUTIONAL River Forest, IL | SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR PALATINE Palatine, IL | SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| CHICAGO SCOTS North Riverside, IL | SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| AGING CARE CONNECTIONS La Grange, IL | SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES Oak Brook Terrace, IL | SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| NORTH SHORE SENIOR CENTER Northfield, IL | SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Co-trustees identified in filings include:
- Michael S. Kott
- Craig Lusthoff
- Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation (serves as co-trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park River Forest Commfoundatio | Co-Trustee | 10 | $111,546 |
| Michael S Kott | Co-Trustee | 5 | $55,773 |
| Craig Lusthoff | Co-Trustee | 5 | $55,773 |
Contact Information
Address: 1049 Lake Street, Suite 204, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: 708-848-1560
Website: www.kotttrust.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial fund?
The Trust honors the lives of Russell and Josephine Kott by providing annual funding to charitable organizations that enhance services for seniors through educational internships, quality programs, and capacity building for agencies serving older adults. Primary funding areas include: • **Health and Wellness**: Senior-friendly exercise equipment and programs that help seniors maintain independence and quality of life • **Dental & Medical Services**: Expanded access to dental services, transport…
How do I apply for a grant from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial?
The Trust accepts applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial make grants?
The Trust primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with a secondary focus on Wisconsin and Colorado. Grants support programs in the Chicago area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial award?
In 2025, Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial awarded 45 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's EIN?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-7229565. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.