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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zellis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rheumatology Research Foundation ($500,000), The University of Colorado Foundation ($500,000), JEWISHcolorado ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Washington, DC | Health | $129,139 |
| CommunityHealth Chicago, IL | Health | $50,000 |
| Congregation Emanuel Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $320,000 |
| Food Bank of the Rockies Denver, CO | Social Services | $10,000 |
| Harold Grinspoon Foundation Agawam, MA | Education | $50,000 |
| Hearing Health Foundation New York, NY | Health | $50,000 |
| Heart and Armor Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Social Services | $50,000 |
| Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $140,000 |
| JEWISHcolorado Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $350,000 |
| National Center for Women and Information Technology Washington, DC | Education | $40,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zellis Family Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds general support across several key areas: • **Education** • **Health** • **Cultural and Religious causes** • **Human Services** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking**
How do I apply for a grant from Zellis Family Foundation?
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. | Grantee | Focus Area | Amount | |---------|-----------|--------| | Rheumatology Research Foundation | Health | $500,000 | | University of Colorado Foundation | Education | $500,000 | | JEWISHcolorado | Cultural and Religious | $350,000 | The foundation has also supported the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's PJ Library Program.
Where does Zellis Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities are concentrated in: • Colorado • New York • Illinois
What size grants does Zellis Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Zellis Family Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $145K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Zellis Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Zellis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Zellis Family Foundation's EIN?
Zellis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2650002. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zellis Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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