The Zellis Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2019, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status granted in June 2019. The foundation functions as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$49.4M
+33.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+104.7% YoY
Grant Count
19
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$145K
+61.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general support across several key areas:
- Education
- Health
- Cultural and Religious causes
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation made 12 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with total giving of $2,749,139. Grant sizes typically range from $7,895 to $500,000.
Grant Range
s typically range from $7,895 to $500,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking priorities are concentrated in:
- Colorado
- New York
- Illinois
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2024)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $49,445,947 |
| Total Revenues | $15,549,970 |
| Total Expenses | $4,809,561 |
| Total Grants, Contributions, etc. | $14,003,254 |
| Investment Income and Dividends | $991,503 |
| Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets | $552,144 |
Historical Assets (2023)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37.1M |
| Total Liabilities | $2.41M |
| Total Revenues | $10.5M |
| Total Expenses | $3.33M |
Staffing
The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $49,445,947 | $37,068,915 | $26,385,804 |
| Revenue | $15,549,970 | $10,488,111 | $9,501,125 |
| Expenses | $4,809,561 | $3,329,513 | $1,356,503 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,541,368 | $1,465,438 | $580,070 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,227,015 | $2,093,054 | $1,509,043 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,756,591 | $1,675,950 | $908,056 |
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
65 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
- Levi Gillis — Director
- Michael Shiner — Vice President and Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant philanthropic commitments, including a $50 million gift to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Zell family, associated with the foundation, has collectively given over $600 million to worthy causes, with the next generation actively expanding this philanthropic legacy.
$600 million given to worthy causes and accelerating: the next generation\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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