Smart Family Foundation of Illinois
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it reported 68 grants totaling $4,005,000 to charitable organizations, including educational and cultural institutions, health organizations, and a community foundation.
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois at a glance
In short: Smart Family Foundation of Illinois gave $4.0M across 68 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Illinois. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,005,000
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 68
- +15.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,897
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $40,731,293
- -3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (18 of 68, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smart Family Foundation of Illinois
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 179 E Lake Shore Drive 16E, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 664-1122
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smart Family Foundation of Illinois funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Univeristy of Chicago ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
287 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 205 grants of 287 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Illinois recipients received 50% of grant dollars, Maryland recipients 17%, New York recipients 12%, and recipients in Ohio and Wisconsin 6% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Smart Family Foundation of Illinois open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 68 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2021) to $4.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 68 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Univeristy of Chicago Chicago, IL | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $1,000,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $310,000 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Rye Brook, NY | Health Services | $300,000 |
| Kenyon College Gambier, OH | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $255,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Health Services | $250,000 |
| Norwood School Bethesda, MD | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $225,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore, MD | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $100,000 |
| Grant Park Music Festival Chicago, IL | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $100,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $100,000 |
| University School of Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Cultural, Historical & Other Educational | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $40,731,293 | $3,144,248 | $4,875,747 | $4,005,000 | 68 | $4,145,963 | $2,700,114 | $4,726,591 |
| 2023 | $42,184,098 | $2,768,267 | $4,590,435 | $4,103,775 | 59 | $4,135,369 | $3,646,230 | $4,022,271 |
| 2022 | $42,673,898 | $270,248 | $4,908,965 | $4,180,600 | 54 | $4,203,748 | $144,917 | $4,124,297 |
| 2021 | $47,030,971 | $7,944,343 | $3,934,270 | $3,012,500 | 60 | $3,044,552 | $8,343,546 | $4,378,109 |
| 2020 | $42,004,708 | $3,130,033 | $3,689,947 | $3,237,000 | 46 | — | $2,959,178 | $2,974,225 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Smart Family Foundation of Illinois reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included support classified as “cultural, historical & other educational,” “health services,” and “donor advised fund.”
The grantees’ own stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Johns Hopkins University says its mission is to educate students, foster independent and original research, and bring the benefits of discovery to the world. The Baltimore Museum of Art says it connects art to Baltimore and Baltimore to the world, with commitments to artistic excellence and social equity. The Chicago Community Trust describes itself as a community foundation dedicated to building a Chicago region where equity is central and opportunity and prosperity are within reach for all.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 68 grants totaling $4,005,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $1,000,000 to the University of Chicago for cultural, historical, and other educational purposes; $310,000 to Johns Hopkins University for the same purpose; $300,000 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for health services; $255,000 to Kenyon College for cultural, historical, and other educational purposes; and $250,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation for health services. Other grants included $225,000 to Norwood School, $100,000 each to the Baltimore Museum of Art, Grant Park Music Festival, University of Wisconsin Foundation, and University School of Milwaukee, and $97,500 to the Chicago Community Trust.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Feitler as director and chairman; Richard Feitler as director and president; Pamela Hoehn-Saric as director; and Robert Feitler Jr. as director.
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois is led by Richard Feitler, Director & President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Feitler
Director & President
Director → Director & President, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$100K (2024)
Robert Feitler
Director & Chairman
Director & President → Director & Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Hoehn-Saric
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$100K (2024)
Robert Feitler Jr.
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joan Feitler (2020–2022) — Director, Treasurer & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $100K, to Richard Feitler (Director and President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Smart Family Foundation of Illinois
How much does Smart Family Foundation of Illinois give each year?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois gave $4.0M across 68 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.1M across 59 grants.
What is Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's typical grant size?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $58,897, across 68 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smart Family Foundation of Illinois that year got $13K on average.
Where does Smart Family Foundation of Illinois give grants?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois gives mostly in Illinois: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (17%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (22 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does Smart Family Foundation of Illinois give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 68 grants with a stated purpose on Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cultural, Historical & Other Educational" (54 grants), "Health Services" (4 grants) and "Nature Preservation" (3 grants).
Who are Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's largest grantees?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's largest 2024 grantees include The Univeristy of Chicago ($1,000,000), Johns Hopkins University ($310,000) and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ($300,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Smart Family Foundation of Illinois?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois reported $40.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Smart Family Foundation of Illinois fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support classified as “cultural, historical & other educational,” “health services,” and “donor advised fund.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smart Family Foundation of Illinois?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's EIN?
Smart Family Foundation of Illinois's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2433446. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Smart Family Foundation of Illinois accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smart Family Foundation of Illinois funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smart-family-foundation-of-illinois-morg_31a352be62a74808a92d261c754c800d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_812433446_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smart Family Foundation of Illinois funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smart-family-foundation-of-illinois-morg_31a352be62a74808a92d261c754c800d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Smart Family Foundation of Illinois'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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