The Manaaki Foundation
The Manaaki Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, and files Form 990-PF. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including reproductive health, journalism, education, environmental work, and the arts.
The Manaaki Foundation at a glance
In short: The Manaaki Foundation gave $1.6M across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Illinois. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,594,045
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,884
- +2.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $31,016,694
- +11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (5 of 34, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Manaaki Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10 S Dearborn Il1-0111, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 931-0542
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Manaaki Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Planned Parenthood of Illinois ($155K). Together the top 10 received $964K.
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 184 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 19% to California, 8% to the District of Columbia, and 5% each to New York and Georgia. The foundation also reported direct charitable activity at the Waitakaruru Arboretum Sculpture Park in Waikato, New Zealand, and a worldwide youth film contest.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Manaaki Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 34 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chicago, IL | Support of General Operations | $155,000 |
| Chicago Public Media Chicago, IL | Support of General Operations | $129,045 |
| Mother Jones San Francisco, CA | Support of the merger of the center for investigative reporting and mother jones, support of general operations | $125,000 |
| Art-in-Nature Arboretum Trust Stockton, CA | Support of general operations of the waitakaruru arboretrum sculpture garden | $100,000 |
| Womens Global Education Project Oak Park, IL | Support of ndajee and to assist in the hire of a new deputy executive director | $100,000 |
| Forefront Chicago, IL | Support of fresh taste for the ii regen/midwest regenerative agriculture fund | $75,000 |
| The Carter Center Inc Atlanta, GA | Support of General Operations | $75,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Support for the New Center for Climate Journalism | $75,000 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center Chicago, IL | Support of General Operations | $70,000 |
| Chicago Media Project Chicago, IL | In support of the shifting voices film fund (bipoc film fund), support of the doc10 film festival & shifting voices, support of the re/construction film project | $60,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,016,694 | $5,603,781 | $2,231,581 | $1,594,045 | 34 | $3,363,321 | $3,994,841 | $2,232,709 |
| 2024 | $27,815,616 | $3,229,809 | $2,014,766 | $1,505,300 | 33 | $1,701,141 | $1,959,721 | $2,185,304 |
| 2023 | $27,317,446 | $2,886,141 | $1,940,946 | $1,527,800 | 41 | $1,946,399 | $1,297,327 | $1,647,715 |
| 2022 | $26,891,334 | $4,877,233 | $1,980,755 | $1,573,920 | 38 | $1,867,839 | $1,967,005 | $1,897,818 |
| 2021 | $25,530,596 | $4,055,759 | $1,548,701 | $1,151,500 | 38 | — | $2,628,166 | $1,743,509 |
| 2020 | $23,850,480 | $1,574,280 | $1,496,346 | $1,145,000 | 35 | — | $994,014 | $1,551,856 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Manaaki Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its Waitakaruru Arboretum Sculpture Park activity as rehabilitating and maintaining a former quarry as an arboretum and sculpture park, with aims that include preserving and enhancing the natural environment and promoting public understanding of environmental awareness, culture, and the arts. The filing also describes the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest as a worldwide program for students from grade 3 through age 25, focused on climate change issues and solutions.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Planned Parenthood of Illinois describes its work as providing and promoting reproductive health care, education, and rights. Chicago Public Media says it supports local communities and democracy through independent local journalism. Women’s Global Education Project describes its mission as providing educational opportunities and literacy for women and children in Africa. Forefront says it develops educational programs and resources and provides technical assistance to strengthen nonprofit organizations in Illinois. The Carter Center describes work to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. The Environmental Law and Policy Center Action Fund describes its work as protecting the Midwest’s environment and natural resources. Chicago Media Project says it seeks to impact society through media and film, while One Earth Collective describes environmental programming intended to inspire action, learning, justice, equity, and inclusion.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 34 grants totaling $1,594,045. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $155,000, with a median of $30,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $155,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois for general operations; $129,045 to Chicago Public Media for general operations; $125,000 to Mother Jones for general operations and support of its merger with the Center for Investigative Reporting; and $100,000 to Art-in-Nature Arboretum Trust for general operations of the Waitakaruru Arboretum Sculpture Garden. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Women’s Global Education Project, $75,000 to Forefront, $75,000 to the Carter Center, $75,000 to the University of Southern California for a center for climate journalism, and $70,000 to the Environmental Law and Policy Center for general operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan Crothers Gee as director and president of the board; William A Gee IV as director and president; Ourania Tavoularis as director; and Krystyna Wietzema as administrator.
The Manaaki Foundation is led by William A. Gee IV, Director & President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William A. Gee IV
Director & President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$13K (2020) → $35K (2025)
Susan Crothers Gee
Director & President of the Board
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ourania Tavoularis
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Krystyna Wietzema
Administrator
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $30K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $35K, to William a Gee IV (Director, President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Manaaki Foundation
How much does The Manaaki Foundation give each year?
The Manaaki Foundation gave $1.6M across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 33 grants.
What is The Manaaki Foundation's typical grant size?
The Manaaki Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $46,884, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Manaaki Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does The Manaaki Foundation give grants?
The Manaaki Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (19%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (13 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), Oak Park, IL (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does The Manaaki Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 76% of The Manaaki Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Manaaki Foundation's largest grantees?
The Manaaki Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Planned Parenthood of Illinois ($155,000), Chicago Public Media ($129,045) and Mother Jones ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Manaaki Foundation?
The Manaaki Foundation reported $31.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Manaaki Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its Waitakaruru Arboretum Sculpture Park activity as rehabilitating and maintaining a former quarry as an arboretum and sculpture park, with aims that include preserving and enhancing the natural environment and promoting public understanding of environmental awareness, culture, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Manaaki Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 The Manaaki Foundation's EIN?
The Manaaki Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1371242. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Manaaki Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Manaaki Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-manaaki-foundation-morg_ef99f6ae73294bf8bc6ad3db84ee8377
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271371242_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Manaaki Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-manaaki-foundation-morg_ef99f6ae73294bf8bc6ad3db84ee8377},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 The Manaaki Foundation'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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