Zarpet Family Foundation
The Zarpet Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2019 and based in Chicago, Illinois. With total assets of approximately $35.7 million, the foundation distributed $826,460 in grants during 2023 across 9 awards. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation under IRS classification 501(c)(3) and does not maintain a public website, publicize application guidelines, or accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, trustees identify grantees through discretion and pre-existing relationships, making it a relationship-driven foundation with funding activity across multiple states including Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Texas.
Zarpet Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Zarpet Family Foundation gave $2.8M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $346K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,768,445
- +235.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $346,056
- +276.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $47,847,105
- +34.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Zarpet Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Denver Film Society ($1.0M). Together the top 8 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 36 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Zarpet Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 793% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 278% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2019) to $2.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Film Society Denver, CO | Sustainability | $1,000,000 |
| Groundworks Art Lab Boulder, CO | Cultural and Religious | $1,000,000 |
| The University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Health | $658,445 |
| Yahad In Unum Mid America Cincinnati, OH | Education | $50,000 |
| Emergency Family Assistance Association Boulder, CO | Social Services | $25,000 |
| Ah Haa School for the Arts Telluride, CO | Education | $15,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | Education | $10,000 |
| CU Boulder Hillel Foundation Boulder, CO | Cultural and Religious | $10,000 |
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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 | $47,847,105 | $15,305,398 | $6,234,916 | $2,768,445 | 8 | $4,588,417 | $9,174,437 | $1,652,248 |
| 2023 | $35,657,654 | $9,776,637 | $2,550,772 | $826,460 | 9 | $905,828 | $1,455,625 | $1,598,304 |
| 2022 | $25,258,936 | $8,366,449 | $577,395 | $555,000 | 7 | $555,070 | $467,004 | $893,174 |
| 2021 | $18,818,352 | $10,235,514 | $542,278 | $310,000 | 5 | $344,424 | $10,127,891 | $495,854 |
| 2020 | $8,842,088 | $3,544,802 | $164,934 | $135,000 | 7 | — | $3,299,631 | $321,922 |
| 2019 | $5,472,220 | $2,511,758 | $42,104 | $30,000 | 2 | — | $464,719 | $161,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zarpet Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Zarpet Family Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Zarpet Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $47.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $2.8M. Net investment income was $9.2M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Zarpet Family Foundation is led by Kellie Zell, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kellie Zell
President
Special Director & President → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Harper
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Harper
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Peppet
Director
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Peppet
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bret Kirchner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucille McFarland
Vice President & Secretary
Secretary → Vice President & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Tinkler
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Miron
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Shiner
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James Bunegar (2019–2021) — Vice President & Treasurer
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 Zarpet Family Foundation
How much does Zarpet Family Foundation give each year?
Zarpet Family Foundation gave $2.8M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $826K across 9 grants.
What is Zarpet Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Zarpet Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $37,500, and its average grant was $346,056, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Zarpet Family Foundation give grants?
Zarpet Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (3 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Zarpet Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Zarpet Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Zarpet Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Zarpet Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Denver Film Society ($1,000,000), Groundworks Art Lab ($1,000,000) and The University of Colorado Foundation ($658,445), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zarpet Family Foundation?
Zarpet Family Foundation reported $47.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Zarpet Family Foundation's EIN?
Zarpet Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2650413. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 10, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Zarpet Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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