Walter Family Foundation Inc
Walter Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including wildlife and conservation, postsecondary advising, the arts, education, youth development, and hunger relief.
Walter Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Walter Family Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $89K), mostly in Illinois. 42% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,755,200
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +40.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $88,877
- -5.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $575,231
- +4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (13 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (95% 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 Walter Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 227 West Monroe Street 5000, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 244-6980
Website: https://walterfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walter Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lincoln Park Zoological Society ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 114 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining reported shares went to Colorado (2%), California (1%), Georgia (1%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walter Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 31 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $146K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). 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 (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2023) to $8.2M (2019). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society Chicago, IL | To connect people with nature by providing a free, family-oriented wildlife experience in the heart of chicago and by advancing the highest quality of animal care, education, science and conservation | $1,450,000 |
| Onegoal Chicago, IL | Transforms postsecondary advising and support so that every student has the power to define their own future | $500,000 |
| Chicago Theatre Group Inc Chicago, IL | Committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions | $359,200 |
| Center for the Arts Crested Butte, CO | Enriching the community through arts and cultural experience for everyone | $50,000 |
| Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, IL | To inspire curiosity about life on earth while exploring how the world came to be and how we can make it a beter place | $50,000 |
| Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation E Saint Louis, IL | To instill youth in the greater east st. Louis area with the dream, drive and determination necessary to succeed in academics, athletics and leadership | $50,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Committed to excellent teaching, innovative research and the personal and intellectual growth of its students in a diverse academic community | $45,000 |
| St Teresa of Avila Parish Chicago, IL | For Religious Education Programs | $40,500 |
| Beyond Hunger Oak Park, IL | To harness the power of community to end local hunger | $25,000 |
| Metro Squash NFP Chicago, IL | Combines academic support, competitive squash and enrichment opportunities to empower students to realize their potential and make their mark | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walter Family Foundation Inc?
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 | $575,231 | — | $2,757,326 | $2,755,200 | 31 | $2,755,200 | — | $17,346 |
| 2023 | $552,557 | — | $2,138,107 | $2,066,500 | 22 | $2,066,500 | — | $36,075 |
| 2022 | $1,190,664 | $19,832,941 | $7,123,642 | $7,122,600 | 24 | $7,122,600 | $3,832,941 | $70,570 |
| 2021 | $372,563 | — | $2,844,499 | $2,844,000 | 17 | $2,844,000 | — | $12,444 |
| 2020 | $667,062 | — | $6,631,423 | $6,630,948 | 20 | — | — | $25,505 |
| 2019 | $632,425 | — | $8,225,497 | $8,224,750 | 26 | — | — | $23,713 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $17K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Lincoln Park Zoological Society describes its mission as connecting people with nature through a free, family-oriented wildlife experience and advancing animal care, education, science, and conservation. OneGoal says it provides underserved students with resources, support, and a network to earn a postsecondary degree. Chicago Theatre Group says it produces classic and contemporary works and gives voice to a wide range of artists and visions.
Other 2024 recipients include the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, whose stated mission is to help youth in the greater East St. Louis area succeed in academics, athletics, and leadership; the Field Museum of Natural History, which describes itself as an educational institution focused on relationships in nature and among cultures; and One Acre Fund, which says it works to help hunger-affected farm families in Africa lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $2,755,200. Grants ranged from $500 to $1,450,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest 2024 grants included $1,450,000 to Lincoln Park Zoological Society, $500,000 to OneGoal, and $359,200 to Chicago Theatre Group. Other grants included $50,000 each to the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, Colorado; the Field Museum of Natural History; and the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Walter as president, Kimbra Walter as vice president, Matthew Sennett as treasurer, and Robert Fedoris as secretary.
Walter Family Foundation Inc is led by Mark Walter, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Walter
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimbra Walter
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Sennett
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Fedoris
Secretary
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Walter Family Foundation Inc
How much does Walter Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Walter Family Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 22 grants.
What is Walter Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Walter Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $88,877, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter Family Foundation Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does Walter Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Walter Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Raleigh, NC (2 grants).
Does Walter Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Walter Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Walter Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Walter Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Lincoln Park Zoological Society ($1,450,000), Onegoal ($500,000) and Chicago Theatre Group Inc ($359,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Walter Family Foundation Inc?
Walter Family Foundation Inc reported $575K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Walter Family Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Walter Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Walter Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1384089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does Walter Family Foundation Inc 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Walter Family Foundation Inc funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-family-foundation-inc-morg_66e2f701f0824f57a996a5fd3edaff5c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461384089_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-family-foundation-inc-morg_66e2f701f0824f57a996a5fd3edaff5c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Walter Family Foundation Inc'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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