Trott Family Philanthropies Inc is a private foundation established in 2021 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The organization serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle for Byron and Tina Trott, who shifted the bulk of their grantmaking from the earlier Trott Family Foundation (established 1996) to this newer entity. The foundation operates with no employees and maintains a low public profile.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$98.1M
+20.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$17.4M
+5.4% YoY
Grant Count
77
+18.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$226K
-11.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, their grantmaking priorities focus on:
- Education — particularly rural access to higher education
- Health
- Arts and Culture
- Youth Development
- Community Development — with emphasis on the Chicago area and rural communities
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Grants range from $2,500 to $50,000,000+, with typical awards between $5,000 and $2,000,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Networking is noted as the primary pathway for grantseekers to connect with this funder.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national focus with particular emphasis on the Chicago area and rural communities throughout the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $81,158,365
- Total Revenue: $14,401,070
- Total Expenses: $17,112,556
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $98,065,371
- Total Giving: $17,417,443
The foundation received an endowment grant of $25,176,597 from the Trott Family Foundation in 2021.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $98,065,371 | $81,158,365 | $83,869,851 |
| Revenue | $35,191,641 | $14,401,070 | $79,523,768 |
| Expenses | $18,285,281 | $17,112,556 | $10,608,551 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $17,896,902 | $16,859,256 | $10,222,948 |
| Net Investment Income | $28,504,221 | $7,593,306 | $23,405,566 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,140,028 | $4,900,183 | $3,419,507 |
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
186 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Byron Trott — Founder and primary philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners, a Chicago-based merchant bank serving ultra-wealthy families and family-owned businesses. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business and an MBA from the University of Chicago (1982). He previously worked at Goldman Sachs before founding BDT Capital Partners in 2009.
Tina Trott — Co-founder and philanthropist alongside Byron Trott.
Both Byron and Tina are first-generation college graduates from small towns with modest backgrounds. Byron grew up in Union, Missouri, where his father worked as a line repairman and his mother sold Avon products. The couple joined The Giving Pledge in January 2021, committing to give away the majority of their wealth.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIMBETH COVENTRY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | — | $281,111 |
| BYRON TROTT | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MEGAN TROTT | SECRETARY | — | — |
| DAVID TROTT | TREASURER | — | — |
| TINA TROTT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ABBY TROTT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**STARS College Network Initiative:** The Trotts' most significant recent philanthropic commitment is the STARS College Network, to which they pledged $150 million over ten years (2023-2024). This initiative aims to help students from small towns and rural communities access and succeed at elite colleges and universities.
$150 million new gift for rural recruitment from philanthropists Byron and\The foundation's grantmaking represents a strategic shift toward addressing educational access and opportunity for underserved rural populations, reflecting the founders' personal backgrounds and values.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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