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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.3M
-1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+12.2% YoY
Grant Count
38
+18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-5.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
The Trust accepts applications. The organization manages a grant opportunity known as the Kott Gerontology Scholars Program.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $315,849
How to Apply
**
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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
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,273,048 | $30,834,770 | $31,499,816 |
| Revenue | $1,354,301 | $1,072,526 | $949,406 |
| Expenses | $1,918,356 | $1,722,010 | $1,806,672 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,728,898 | $1,545,562 | $1,552,794 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,178,614 | $1,024,030 | $898,332 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,756,048 | $1,579,664 | $1,644,021 |
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
139 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 2024 grants, the largest include Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation ($270,000), Concordia University Chicago ($130,000), Depaul University Development Lockbox ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGEOPTIONS OAK PARK, IL | SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| AGING CARE CONNECTIONS LA GRANGE, IL | SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| BARRINGTON AREA COUNCIL ON AGING BARRINGTON, IL | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CALEDONIA SNR LIVING IL STANDREW SOCIETY OF THE SOCITTISH OLD PPLS HOME NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL | SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORP CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| CENTER FOR DISABILITY & ELDER LAW CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| CENTER OF CONCERN DES PLAINES, IL | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CHICAGO COMMONS ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHINESE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION INC CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO RIVER FOREST, IL | SUPPORT | $130,000 |
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 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAK PARK RIVER FOREST COMMFOUNDATIO | CO-TRUSTEE | 20 | $105,338 |
| MICHAEL S KOTT | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $52,596 |
| CRAIG LUSTHOFF | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | $52,596 |
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?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $1.4 million • Number of grants: Approximately 29 grants • Median grant: $33,000 • Grant range: $5,000 to $315,849 **Grant Activity (2023)** • Total giving: $1.4 million • Number of grants: 32 grants • Median grant: $33,000 • Grant range: $5,000 to $316,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024)** • Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation: $270,000 • Concordia University Chicago: $130,000 • Center for Disability and Elder Law: $75,000 **Application Process**…
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 2024, Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial awarded 38 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2024.
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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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