The Macdougal Family Foundation
The MacDougal Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1994 by Alfred L. and Nancy Lauter McDougal after the sale of McDougal, Littell & Company, it supports work in education and Great Lakes water protection.
Key facts about The Macdougal Family Foundation
In short: The Macdougal Family Foundation gave $240K across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-4145290
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $239,670
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- Average grant
- $4,205
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (12 of 57, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,851,234
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Deadline
- The website lists deadlines of November 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+9.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$240K
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
57
-10.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-5.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Macdougal Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Macdougal Family Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 57 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated values include respect for grantees and applicants, openness to new ideas, backing qualified people, stewardship of resources, and an emphasis on results. It also values learning from mistakes and recognizes that change may require long-term, non-quantitative progress.
Its education program seeks to strengthen school-wide teaching practices, increase and retain high-quality teachers reflective of student demographics, and improve school environments and equitable outcomes. It prioritizes work in high schools serving high percentages of African American, Latinx, and low-income students, as well as efforts that build schools’ capacity, assess results, and share useful learning with others.
The Healthy Water program supports policy and practice improvements, innovative solutions, and pollution mitigation in the Great Lakes region. It also prioritizes work addressing urban flooding in under-resourced communities that centers the voices of those most affected. The foundation favors efforts with measurable environmental benefits and strong Great Lakes relevance.
Examples of organizations receiving 2025 grants illustrate a range of supported work. Allies for Community Business describes its mission as providing capital, coaching, and connections to entrepreneurs; Wirepoints describes itself as providing research and commentary on Illinois’ economy and government; and Forward Momentum Chicago says it provides dance education to schools and communities with limited arts access. These descriptions are the organizations’ own.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $239,670. Grant amounts ranged from $210 to $50,200, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grants included $50,200 to Barry A Murphy Fund, $25,000 each to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund, and $18,490 to Church of the Ascension – Chicago. The stated purpose for these grants was general operating support. Other notable 2025 awards included $10,000 each to Allies for Community Business, Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny), and Wirepoints, and $6,000 to Forward Momentum Chicago.
Review Cycle
The website lists deadlines of November 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CST, with decisions in February 2027, and April 16, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. CST, with decisions in July 2027.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s education program focuses on Chicago Public Schools. Its Healthy Water program supports regional Great Lakes work and prioritizes Lake Michigan. In 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 21% to California, 19% to New York, 3% to Michigan, and 1% to Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $102K (2019) to $284K (2024). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $240K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Barry a Murphy Fund ($50K). Together the top 10 received $172K.
Grant Size Distribution
299 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 297 grants of 299 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Barry a Murphy Fund San Anselmo, CA | General Operation Support | $50,200 |
| Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Schiller Park, IL | General Operation Support | $25,000 |
| Next Generation Bulgaria Fund Bronxville, NY | General Operation Support | $25,000 |
| Church of the Ascension - Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operation Support | $18,490 |
| History Center of Lake Forest Lake Forest, IL | General Operation Support | $12,050 |
| Allies for Community Business Inc Chicago, IL | General Operation Support | $10,000 |
| Project Hood Helping Others Chicago, IL | General Operation Support | $10,000 |
| Wirepoints Wilmette, IL | General Operation Support | $10,000 |
| Forward Momentum Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operation Support | $6,000 |
| First Presb Church of Lake Forest Lake Forest, IL | General Operation Support | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,851,234 | $400,237 | $241,983 | $239,670 |
| 2024 | $1,692,980 | $606,492 | $286,881 | $283,935 |
| 2023 | $1,373,369 | $469,303 | $132,415 | $129,850 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,851,234 | $1,692,980 | $1,373,369 |
| Revenue | $400,237 | $606,492 | $469,303 |
| Expenses | $241,983 | $286,881 | $132,415 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $239,819 | $284,127 | $130,587 |
| Net Investment Income | $398,073 | $54,336 | $36,380 |
| Distributable Amount | $181,266 | $186,642 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary E. MacDougal as president, Gary MacDougal Jr. as VP-secretary, and Michael MacDougal as VP-treasurer. The foundation’s website identifies Iván Nieves as its new executive director and lists Thomas McDougal, Steve McDougal, Jan McDougal, and Sarah Duncan as trustees.
The Macdougal Family Foundation is led by Gary E. Macdougal, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary E. Macdougal
President
Chairman → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Gary Macdougal Jr.
Vp-Secretary
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Michael Macdougal
Vp-Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charlene Gehm Macdougal (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 505 N Lake Shore Drive Suite 3611, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 822-0365
Website: https://mcdougalfamilyfdn.org
Frequently asked questions about The Macdougal Family Foundation
How much does The Macdougal Family Foundation give each year?
The Macdougal Family Foundation gave $240K across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $284K across 64 grants.
What is The Macdougal Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Macdougal Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,205, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Macdougal Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Macdougal Family Foundation give grants?
The Macdougal Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (21%) and New York (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (18 grants), Chicago, IL (13 grants), Lake Forest, IL (5 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Macdougal Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Macdougal Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (57 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Macdougal Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Macdougal Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Barry a Murphy Fund ($50,200), Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church ($25,000) and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Macdougal Family Foundation?
The Macdougal Family Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $240K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $181K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Macdougal Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated values include respect for grantees and applicants, openness to new ideas, backing qualified people, stewardship of resources, and an emphasis on results. It also values learning from mistakes and recognizes that change may require long-term, non-quantitative progress. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Macdougal Family Foundation?
The Macdougal Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check mcdougalfamilyfdn.org for any change to that policy.
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 2019–2025.
Does The Macdougal Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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