The Griffith Family Foundation
The Griffith Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, with tax-exempt status granted in April 1968. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation functions as a grantmaking entity supporting philanthropic initiatives across multiple states and communities.
Key facts about The Griffith Family Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6162494
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $275,006
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- Average grant
- $13,750
- Median grant
- $5,025
- Primary geography
- Illinois (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No specific application procedures are detailed in available public records.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Griffith Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Griffith Family Foundation's 20 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (57%), Wisconsin (16%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), Lake Geneva, WI (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Williams Bay, WI (2 grants). None of its 20 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Exempt Purpose" (20 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$275K
-11.3% YoY
Grant Count
20
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-20.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Specific funding interests include grants for food pantries, science teachers, renewable energy, community and school gardens, and environmental education. The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus on its public records beyond these general categories.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $510 to $120,000, with an average grant amount of $74 based on recent data.
Average Grant
amount of $74 based on recent data.
How to Apply
** No specific application procedures are detailed in available public records.
Ready to take the next step with The Griffith Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, including funding in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Specific communities mentioned include Abiquiu, Chicago, Colorado Springs, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 20 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $2,819,831 to $2,962,564 (figures vary slightly across reporting periods)
Annual Giving: $275,006 to $310,000 in recent fiscal years
Revenue: $341,793 (2023)
Expenses: $320,576 (2023)
Liabilities: $45,200 (2023)
The foundation maintains a modest operational footprint with zero employees listed on tax filings.
| 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
81 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ($100,000), Greater Chicago Food Depository ($50,000), American Conservation Coalition ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN CONSERVATION COALITION WASHINGTON, DC | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CHRIST IN THE DESERT ABIQUIU, NM | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $23,000 |
| GENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY INC FONTANA, WI | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,300 |
| HOLIDAY HOME CAMP WILLIAMS BAY, WI | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,203 |
| FRIENDS OF KISHWAUKETOE WILLIAMS BAY, WI | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| PROJECT DRAWDOWN ST PAUL, MN | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,181 |
| GENEVA LAKE WATER SAFETY PATROL LAKE GENEVA, WI | EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,050 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's unpaid leadership team includes:
- Brian Griffith – President
- Lois Jo Griffith – Vice President
- Joseph R. Maslick – Executive Vice President
- Joseph Sinclair – Treasurer
- David Kim – Secretary
- William C. Frost – Assistant Secretary
None of the leadership team receives compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILL CAHILL | ASST. SECRETARY | — | — |
| LOIS JO GRIFFITH | Vice President | — | — |
| JOSEPH R MASLICK | EXECUTIVE VP | — | — |
| BRIAN GRIFFITH | President | — | — |
| DAVID KIM | SECRETARY | — | — |
| JOSEPH SINCLAIR | TREASURER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively involved in community support initiatives, including providing books to the Middle Georgia community and participating in grant distribution programs. The foundation maintains an active grantmaking presence with recent fiscal year filings demonstrating consistent philanthropic activity.
Griffith Foundation launches Jumpstart ScholarshipFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Griffith Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Specific funding interests include grants for food pantries, science teachers, renewable energy, community and school gardens, and environmental education. The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus on its public records beyond these general categories.
How do I apply for a grant from The Griffith Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $510 to $120,000, with an average grant amount of $74 based on recent data. **Recent Activity:** The foundation reported total giving of $275,006 in recent fiscal year activity, with 3,245 total grants awarded in the previous year. The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding. **Application Process:** No specific application procedures are detailed in available public records.
Where does The Griffith Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, including funding in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Specific communities mentioned include Abiquiu, Chicago, Colorado Springs, and others.
What size grants does The Griffith Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Griffith Family Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $275K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Griffith Family Foundation's EIN?
The Griffith Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6162494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Griffith Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.