The Macdougal Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation was established in 1994 by Alfred L. and Nancy Lauter McDougal following the sale of McDougal, Littell & Company, a publisher of educational materials for elementary and high schools. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$284K
+118.7% YoY
Grant Count
64
+23.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+77.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is grounded in a clear set of values established by its founders:
- A moral obligation and a real desire to give others some measure of what has been given to us
- Respect for others—grantees and applicants—in the manner in which we interact with them
- Respect for each other in the decision-making process, with preference for consensus-based decisions
- Openness to new ideas
- Willingness to make and admit mistakes
- Continual searching for maximum leverage
- Importance of backing qualified people
- Emphasis upon results versus feel-good funding for prestige
- Avoidance of excessive dependence of any single grantee upon the foundation
- Good stewardship of financial resources
- Willingness to accept non-quantitative and long-range progress
- Recognition that there is no one right way or magic bullet for effecting change
The foundation's primary funding focus areas are:
- Education
- Water
Grantmaking
The foundation made 53 grants in 2024, with total giving of $283,935. Grant sizes typically range from $100 to $60,000.
Grant Range
s typically range from $100 to $60,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Illinois, New York, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,692,980
- Total Revenue: $606,492
- Total Expenses: $286,881
- Net Income: $319,611
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $283,935
- Investment Income and Dividends: $57,090
The foundation has been tax-exempt since July 2014 and maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| 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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Guiding Light Mission ($60,000), Next Generation Bulgaria Fund ($45,000), A Song for You ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A SONG FOR YOU NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| ALLIES FOR COMMUNITY BUSINESS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $275 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $500 |
| ANIMAL EDUCATION AND RESCUE LIBERTYVILLE, IL | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $310 |
| BARRY A MURPHY FUND SAN ANSELMO, CA | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BE THE DIFFERENCE DALLAS, TX | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Thomas McDougal – Executive Director, Lesson Study Alliance
- Steve McDougal – CEO and Founder, 3Degrees
- Jan McDougal – Educational Consultant and Entrepreneur
- Sarah Duncan – Co-Executive Director, Network for College Success
- Marcia Festen – Executive Director (Contact: 312.255.0916 or marcia@mcdougalfamilyfdn.org)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY E MACDOUGAL | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| GARY MACDOUGAL JR | VP-SECRETARY | — | — |
| MICHAEL MACDOUGAL | VP-TREASURER | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Macdougal Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is grounded in a clear set of values established by its founders: • A moral obligation and a real desire to give others some measure of what has been given to us • Respect for others—grantees and applicants—in the manner in which we interact with them • Respect for each other in the decision-making process, with preference for consensus-based decisions • Openness to new ideas • Willingness to make and admit mistakes • Continual searching for maximum leverage • Importanc…
How do I apply for a grant from The Macdougal Family Foundation?
The foundation made 53 grants in 2024, with total giving of $283,935. Grant sizes typically range from $100 to $60,000. Recent grants include: • Guiding Light Mission: $60,000 (General Operation Support) • Next Generation Bulgaria Fund: $45,000 (General Operation Support) • A Song for You Incorporated: $35,000 (General Operation Support) The foundation primarily provides general operation support to its grantees. The foundation has zero employees and operates with a lean administrative structur…
Where does The Macdougal Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Illinois, New York, and Virginia.
What size grants does The Macdougal Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Macdougal Family Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $284K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Macdougal Family Foundation's EIN?
The Macdougal Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4145290. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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