The Christopher Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Westmont, Illinois, dedicated to strengthening communities and families. Established in 1997 by Jay W. and Doris K. Christopher as an outgrowth of The Pampered Chef (a business they founded in 1980), the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since October 1995.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.5M
+10.6% YoY
Grant Count
81
-22.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+43.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To support family well-being.
The foundation views its work through two key lenses: the Christian perspective of its founders and principals, and an emphasis on access and equity.
Primary Funding Areas:
The foundation operates two distinct grant cycles per year:
- Education Grants (first cycle)
- Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Food Security Grants (second cycle)
Grantmaking
Notable 2023 grants included:
Grant Range
s vary by program.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Christopher Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Most foundation funding is concentrated in the Chicagoland area, with special consideration for the needs of the West Side of Chicago and the Austin neighborhood. The foundation also provides funding in Illinois, Minnesota, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $74.3 million (2024)
Annual Giving: $5.25 million (2024)
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $12.4 million
- Total Expenses: $5.1 million
- Total Assets: $72.7 million
- Total Liabilities: $715
2024 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $74,329,103
- Total Giving: $4,516,136
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Christopher Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Community Foundation ($290,000), Forefront ($280,000), Children First Fund ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| AAABNA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ALLIES FOR COMMUNITY BUSINESS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $160,000 |
| ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| BOOKS FOR AFRICA INC SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $105,000 |
| BOYS CLUB OF PALM SPRINGS INC PALM SPRINGS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH URBAN MINISTRIES INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| BRIGHT STAR OF BETHLEHEM NFP ROCKFORD, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $13,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Christopher Family Foundation Distribution Committee governs the foundation and includes multiple generations of the Christopher family:
- Jay Christopher
- Doris Christopher
- Kelley Christopher Schueler
- Julie Christopher Maloney
- Scott Christopher
- Monique Schlichtman (Executive Director, joined October 2025)
- Monica Thorns (Grants Manager)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DORIS K CHRISTOPHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JAY CHRISTOPHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KELLEY CHRISTOPHER SCHUELER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced its 2025 grant cycles, including:
Announcing 2025 Employment Grants - Christopher Family Foundation**2025 Food Security and Austin Fresh Grants:** The foundation emphasized its commitment to food security, noting increased urgency following the lapse of SNAP funding during the government shutdown, which sparked surges at neighborhood food pantries and grocery programs.
**2025 Employment Grants:** Announced as part of the second funding cycle.
**2025 Education Grants:** First round of 2025 grant recipients announced.
Announcing CFF\u2019s First Round of 2025 Grant Recipients - Christopher\The foundation maintains an active blog and regularly communicates updates about grant announcements and foundation activities through its website.
Announcing 2025 Employment Grants - Christopher Family FoundationContact Information
Website: christopherff.org
Address: 640 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL 60559
Phone: 630-225-8120
Email: monica@christopherff.org (Grants Manager)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Christopher Family Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To support family well-being. The foundation views its work through two key lenses: the Christian perspective of its founders and principals, and an emphasis on access and equity. **Primary Funding Areas:** The foundation operates two distinct grant cycles per year: • **Education Grants** (first cycle) • **Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Food Security Grants** (second cycle)
How do I apply for a grant from The Christopher Family Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $75,000 to $290,000, though grant sizes vary by program. **Annual Giving:** Approximately $5.25 million distributed annually (2024). **Application Process:** • Two funding cycles per year • Applicants are recommended to contact the Grants Manager before submitting a Letter of Inquiry • Decision time is approximately 3 months from Letter of Inquiry to funding decision • Grants typically do not cover full program costs **Recent Grant Activity:** Notabl…
Where does The Christopher Family Foundation make grants?
Most foundation funding is concentrated in the Chicagoland area, with special consideration for the needs of the West Side of Chicago and the Austin neighborhood. The foundation also provides funding in Illinois, Minnesota, and California.
What size grants does The Christopher Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Christopher Family Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Christopher Family Foundation's EIN?
The Christopher Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7092282. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Christopher Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
National Philanthropic Trust
JENKINTOWN, PA
Assets
$42.2B
Grants
18,583
Total Given
$5.1B
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Assets
$9.1B
Grants
19,253
Total Given
$1.2B
Circle of Service Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
637
Total Given
$37.0M
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$12.7B
Grants
7,424
Total Given
$3.0B
John D and Catherine T Macarthur
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Christopher Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities