Yagan Family Foundation
The Yagan Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. Its grantmaking supports education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services, with grants primarily serving organizations in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and Massachusetts.
Yagan Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Yagan Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $88K), mostly in Illinois. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,025,316
- -0.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $88,057
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $79,921
- Total assets
- $50,662,430
- +2.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (6 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (50% 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 Yagan Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 17995, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: (617) 271-6147
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Yagan Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Chicago Center for Free Expression ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 118 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grantmaking primarily serves organizations in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and Massachusetts. In 2024, Illinois received 50% of grant dollars, Massachusetts 15%, Wisconsin 12%, Connecticut 10%, and the District of Columbia 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Yagan Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 23 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $57K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 161% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of 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 $598K (2020) to $2.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Center for Free Expression Chicago, IL | Education | $300,000 |
| The Institute for Political Innovation Milwaukee, WI | Civic Engagement | $250,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Budget Policy Lab Fund | $200,000 |
| Harvard University-Opportunity Insights Cambridge, MA | Research | $200,000 |
| Lawndale Christian Legal Center Chicago, IL | Public charity support | $150,000 |
| The Honeycomb Project Chicago, IL | Volunteer support | $128,820 |
| Represent US Florence, MA | Education | $100,000 |
| Start Early FKA Ounce of Prevention Chicago, IL | Education | $100,000 |
| Urban Initiatives Chicago, IL | Public charity support | $100,000 |
| Unite America Institute Inc Denver, CO | Civic Engagement | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Yagan Family Foundation?
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 | $50,662,430 | $4,112,858 | $2,703,982 | $2,025,316 | 23 | $2,525,316 | $3,434,192 | $2,278,911 |
| 2023 | $49,253,554 | $1,394,374 | $2,553,545 | $2,034,000 | 22 | $2,234,000 | $874,829 | $2,163,969 |
| 2022 | $50,472,128 | $7,073,476 | $2,160,861 | $1,664,000 | 21 | $2,364,000 | $6,574,948 | $2,248,578 |
| 2021 | $45,500,110 | $4,674,384 | $1,052,268 | $776,750 | 18 | $1,026,750 | $1,998,866 | $1,261,276 |
| 2020 | $41,858,063 | $28,581,897 | $758,131 | $597,963 | 34 | — | $844,737 | $258,204 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Yagan Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M 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’s filing identifies education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services as areas of grantmaking. Its 2024 grants also included awards designated for civic engagement, democracy, research, and humanitarian aid.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Lawndale Christian Legal Center says its vision is to support youth who are treated justly, embraced by their families and community, restored from trauma, empowered to lead, and free from the criminal justice system. Urban Initiatives describes its work as sports-based youth development programs addressing equity gaps for Chicago students. Fund for Constitutional Government says it promotes democracy, government and corporate transparency, fair economies, and efforts against corruption and climate change. Unite America Institute says it encourages broad-based, nonpartisan civic engagement and conducts research on political polarization. Overdose Crisis Response Fund describes its mission as saving lives from overdose.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $2,025,316. The filing reports a median grant of $79,921 and typical awards ranging from $75,000 to $300,000. Notable grants included $300,000 to the University of Chicago Center for Free Expression for education; $250,000 to The Institute for Political Innovation for civic engagement; $200,000 each to Yale University’s Budget Policy Lab Fund and Harvard University–Opportunity Insights for research; and $150,000 to Lawndale Christian Legal Center for public charity support. Other listed awards included $128,820 to The Honeycomb Project for volunteer support and $100,000 each to Represent US, Start Early, Urban Initiatives, Unite America Institute, and Fund for Constitutional Government.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sam Droste Yagan and Jessica Droste Yagan as trustees.
Yagan Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jessica Droste Yagan
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Droste Yagan
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 Yagan Family Foundation
How much does Yagan Family Foundation give each year?
Yagan Family Foundation gave $2.0M across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 22 grants.
What is Yagan Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Yagan Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $79,921, and its average grant was $88,057, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Yagan Family Foundation that year got $57K on average.
Where does Yagan Family Foundation give grants?
Yagan Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (15%) and Wisconsin (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants), Jerseyville, IL (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Yagan Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Yagan Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (6 grants) and "Public charity support" (4 grants).
Who are Yagan Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Yagan Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Chicago Center for Free Expression ($300,000), The Institute for Political Innovation ($250,000) and Yale University ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Yagan Family Foundation?
Yagan Family Foundation reported $50.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Yagan Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services as areas of grantmaking. Its 2024 grants also included awards designated for civic engagement, democracy, research, and humanitarian aid. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Yagan Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Yagan Family Foundation's EIN?
Yagan Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6993547. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Yagan 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 Yagan Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Yagan Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Colorado
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Colorado Gives Foundation
Arvada, CO
Colorado Gives Foundation funds nonprofits serving Jefferson County in areas including food security, early care and education, workforce development, housing, health and convenient neighborhoods; it also offers statewide nonprofit capacity-building support. Typical giving varies widely: its 2024 median grant was $17,814, while Thriving Jeffco Responsive Grant awards ranged from $2,500 to $100,000. It accepts applications through listed grant opportunities, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$527.1M
Grants
2,211
Total Given
$91.0M
Christian Community Foundation Inc
Colorado Springs, CO
WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$746.4M
Grants
1,651
Total Given
$161.8M
Daniels Fund
Denver, CO
The Daniels Fund supports nonprofits working in aging, amateur sports, disabilities, addiction, early childhood and K–12 education, homelessness, and youth development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $14,000, primarily for organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; select national-impact programs are also eligible, by invitation only.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
1,593
Total Given
$69.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Colorado
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Yagan Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/yagan-family-foundation-morg_39c6c9eb234245f09f2800e1d7ce9c73
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_816993547_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Yagan Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/yagan-family-foundation-morg_39c6c9eb234245f09f2800e1d7ce9c73},
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 Yagan 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.
Yagan Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?