Tull Family Foundation
The Tull Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, founded by Thomas and Alba Tull. It supports innovative ideas in education, medical and scientific research, and conservation, with an emphasis on empowering change in under-funded communities.
Tull Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Tull Family Foundation gave $14.9M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $597K), top state Massachusetts. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,915,000
- +32.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $596,600
- +37.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $12,689
- +170.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (6 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Tull Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 227 W Monroe St Ste 5000, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 977-4330
Website: https://tullfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Tull Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($4.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 137 (24%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated conservation priorities include the North American West and the Greater Pittsburgh Region. In 2024, recipients were located across multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Massachusetts (33%) and Pennsylvania (31%), followed by New York (9%), California (7%), and Virginia (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Tull Family Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 24 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $121K; repeat grants $788K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $250K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.4M (2020) to $14.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $14.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sewickley Academy Sewickley, PA | General Support | $4,000,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | Music Building | $2,000,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | MIT Generative Ai Fund | $2,000,000 |
| National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum Cooperstown, NY | Baseball Education | $1,000,000 |
| Third Option Foundation Reston, VA | Support for Injured Government Employees Families | $1,000,000 |
| USA Basketball Foundation Colorado Springs, CO | General Purpose | $1,000,000 |
| Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Springfield, MA | General Support | $950,000 |
| BABY2BABY Los Angeles, CA | General Purpose | $650,000 |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust Trumbull, CT | Rett Syndrome Research | $400,000 |
| BPS Foundation Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $250,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,689 | $14,983,000 | $14,975,000 | $14,915,000 | 25 | $14,915,000 | — | $337 |
| 2023 | $4,689 | $11,313,500 | $11,330,266 | $11,268,000 | 26 | $11,268,000 | — | $1,991 |
| 2022 | $21,455 | $7,470,005 | $7,501,633 | $7,436,200 | 27 | $7,436,200 | $5 | $4,843 |
| 2021 | $118,512 | $11,675,014 | $11,628,100 | $11,568,100 | 31 | $11,628,100 | $14 | $794 |
| 2020 | $71,598 | $5,532,663 | $5,462,370 | $5,382,575 | 28 | — | $3 | $6,242 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tull Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $337 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it seeks to transform lives in under-funded communities by advancing innovative ideas.
Its education work includes support for education and sports programs for grades 6–12 in economically challenged communities, as well as organizations that help make higher education accessible. In its conservation work, the foundation focuses on organizations working on environmental protection and the economic vitality of communities facing environmental challenges. Its medical and scientific research support includes under-resourced breakthroughs, with particular attention to health challenges such as infectious diseases.
The 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Sewickley Academy, which received $4 million for general support, describes its mission as evaluating knowledge, character, and community through an innovative education. MIT received two $2 million grants, for a music building and a generative AI fund; MIT describes its mission as advancing knowledge and educating students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship. Other 2024 grantees included the Third Option Foundation, whose stated purpose is supporting families of government employees who died or were seriously injured in service; USA Basketball Foundation, which describes a mission to advance society through its basketball community; Baby2Baby, which provides basic necessities to children in need; and Rett Syndrome Research Trust, which focuses on developing treatments and cures for Rett syndrome and related disorders.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $14,915,000. Grants ranged from $40,000 to $4 million, with a median grant of $200,000.
Notable grants included $4 million to Sewickley Academy for general support; two grants of $2 million each to MIT, for a music building and its generative AI fund; $1 million to the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum for baseball education; $1 million to the Third Option Foundation for support for families of injured government employees; and $1 million to USA Basketball Foundation for general purposes. Other grants included $950,000 to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, $650,000 to Baby2Baby, and $400,000 to Rett Syndrome Research Trust for research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas J. Tull and Alba V. Tull as trustees.
Tull Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alba V. Tull
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Tull
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Tull Family Foundation
How much does Tull Family Foundation give each year?
Tull Family Foundation gave $14.9M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.3M across 26 grants.
What is Tull Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Tull Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $596,600, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tull Family Foundation that year got $121K on average.
Where does Tull Family Foundation give grants?
Tull Family Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (31%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cambridge, MA (2 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Pittsburgh, PA (2 grants).
Does Tull Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Tull Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Tull Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Tull Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($4,000,000 across 2 grants), Sewickley Academy ($4,000,000) and National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Tull Family Foundation?
Tull Family Foundation reported $13K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $337 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tull Family Foundation fund?
The foundation says it seeks to transform lives in under-funded communities by advancing innovative ideas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tull Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Tull Family Foundation's EIN?
Tull Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6932298. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Tull Family 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Tull Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Tull Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tull-family-foundation-morg_83af0642cf694ed8a4045417e31a530e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356932298_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Tull Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/tull-family-foundation-morg_83af0642cf694ed8a4045417e31a530e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Tull Family 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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