Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
The Russell & Josephine Kott Memorial Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Oak Park, Illinois. Created through the bequest of Russell and Josephine Kott, it provides annual grants to charitable organizations that improve people’s lives, with an emphasis on gerontology and services for older adults.
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial at a glance
In short: Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial gave $1.7M across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Illinois. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,690,000
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- +18.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,556
- -9.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $29,825,870
- -1.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (21 of 45, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 guidelines invited eligible applicants to submit a Letter of Intent online. Eligible applicants were 501(c)(3) public charities or organizations operating under a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent, serving Northern Illinois or southeastern Wisconsin, and focused on individual well-being, especially caregiving, social support, education, or medical services, with an emphasis on older adults. Past grantees needed to be in good standing. The Trust’s 2023 filing describes an online application requiring organizational and project information, budgets, financial statements, board-member lists, tax-status documentation, and an IRS Form 990.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 Letter of Intent deadline was March 25, 2025. The 2023 filing lists July 31 as a deadline.
- Deadline
- The 2025 Letter of Intent deadline was March 25, 2025.
- Contact
Application contact: Elizabeth Chadri Oak Park-River For
Mailing address: 1049 Lake Street Suite 204, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: (708) 848-1560
Website: https://kotttrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
Who Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ageoptions ($380K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 139 grants of 184 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s stated service area is Northern Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, and southeastern Wisconsin. In 2025, 97% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 3% to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 45 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 44% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2022) to $1.7M (2021). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,825,870 | $1,631,935 | $2,079,113 | $1,690,000 | 45 | $1,857,320 | $1,357,185 | $1,819,318 |
| 2024 | $30,273,048 | $1,354,301 | $1,918,356 | $1,571,000 | 38 | $1,728,898 | $1,178,614 | $1,756,048 |
| 2023 | $30,834,770 | $1,072,526 | $1,722,010 | $1,400,000 | 32 | $1,545,562 | $1,024,030 | $1,579,664 |
| 2022 | $31,499,816 | $949,406 | $1,806,672 | $1,399,570 | 30 | $1,552,794 | $898,332 | $1,644,021 |
| 2021 | $32,354,039 | $4,007,590 | $2,100,371 | $1,720,900 | 39 | — | $3,951,760 | $1,788,762 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust says it supports organizations that improve the lives of individuals, particularly through services for older adults. Its described grant areas include health and wellness, dental and medical care, basic needs, specialty support, training and education, and professional advocacy. Examples include wellness programs, meals and other essential supplies, caregiver and nursing education, and legal services for low-income seniors.
Its 2025 priorities were access to housing, aging in place, access to health care, community engagement, food security, and legal assistance. Education applications were by invitation only. The 2025 guidelines excluded endowments, access to technology, and financial insecurity and risk of scams and fraud.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. AgeOptions says it works to improve older persons’ quality of life and dignity through services, partnerships, information, and advocacy. Little Sisters of the Poor Palatine says it provides nursing and residential care for needy elderly people. North Shore Senior Center describes its mission as fostering older adults’ independence and well-being and their participation in community life. The Trust has also supported organizations serving people with disabilities, such as L’Arche Chicago and Little City Foundation.
Grantmaking
The Trust reported 45 grants totaling $1,690,000 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $380,000, with a median of $20,000. In 2024 it reported 38 grants totaling $1,571,000; in 2023, 32 grants totaling $1,400,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $380,000 to AgeOptions, $130,000 to Concordia University Operating, $100,000 to DePaul University Development, and $85,000 to Center for Disability and Elder Law. Other notable awards included $70,000 to Concordia University Institutional, $65,000 to Little Sisters of the Poor Palatine, and $50,000 each to Aging Care Connections, North Shore Senior Center, and West Cook YMCA. The listed purposes for these grants were “SUPPORT.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, Michael S. Kott, and Craig Lusthoff as co-trustees.
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Craig Lusthoff
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$56K (2021) → $56K (2025)
Michael S. Kott
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$56K (2021) → $56K (2025)
Oak Park River Forest Commfoundatio
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$112K (2021) → $112K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $112K, to Oak Park River Forest Commfoundatio (Co-Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
How much does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial give each year?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial gave $1.7M across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 38 grants.
What is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's typical grant size?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $37,556, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial that year got $33K on average.
Where does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial give grants?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial gives mostly in Illinois: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. 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).
Does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (45 grants).
Who are Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's largest grantees?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's largest 2025 grantees include Ageoptions ($380,000), Concordia Univeristy Operating ($130,000) and Depaul University Development ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial?
Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial reported $29.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial fund?
The Trust says it supports organizations that improve the lives of individuals, particularly through services for older adults. Its described grant areas include health and wellness, dental and medical care, basic needs, specialty support, training and education, and professional advocacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial?
The 2025 guidelines invited eligible applicants to submit a Letter of Intent online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/russell-and-josephine-kott-memorial-morg_1146daee70364ad4a3f2cd93094fdeac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_597229565_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/russell-and-josephine-kott-memorial-morg_1146daee70364ad4a3f2cd93094fdeac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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