Zellis Family Foundation
The Zellis Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including health, education, cultural and religious life, and social services, as well as program-related investments supporting environmental conservation and community resilience.
Zellis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Zellis Family Foundation gave $2.7M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $145K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,749,139
- +104.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +26.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $144,692
- +61.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $49,445,947
- +33.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Zellis Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Two N Riverside Plaza 600, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 466-3966
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zellis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rheumatology Research Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 65 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Colorado (56%), followed by Georgia (18%), Illinois (7%), Washington, DC (6%), and New York (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Zellis Family Foundation gives
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 882% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 259% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $5K (2019) to $2.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rheumatology Research Foundation Atlanta, GA | Health | $500,000 |
| The University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Education | $500,000 |
| JEWISHcolorado Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $350,000 |
| Congregation Emanuel Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $320,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood Inc Denver, CO | Social Services | $200,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Education | $150,000 |
| Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc Denver, CO | Cultural and Religious | $140,000 |
| Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Washington, DC | Health | $129,139 |
| National Ramah Commission Inc New York, NY | Cultural and Religious | $60,000 |
| CommunityHealth Chicago, IL | Health | $50,000 |
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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 | $49,445,947 | $15,549,970 | $4,809,561 | $2,749,139 | 19 | $4,541,368 | $10,227,015 | $1,756,591 |
| 2023 | $37,068,915 | $10,488,111 | $3,329,513 | $1,342,895 | 15 | $1,465,438 | $2,093,054 | $1,675,950 |
| 2022 | $26,385,804 | $9,501,125 | $1,356,503 | $580,000 | 12 | $580,070 | $1,509,043 | $908,056 |
| 2021 | $18,650,445 | $10,209,979 | $493,213 | $280,000 | 12 | $313,067 | $10,112,395 | $482,417 |
| 2020 | $8,817,294 | $3,544,736 | $214,661 | $185,000 | 7 | — | $3,299,566 | $310,855 |
| 2019 | $5,497,219 | $2,511,757 | $17,104 | $5,000 | 2 | — | $464,719 | $162,029 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a general mission. Its reported grant purposes include health, education, cultural and religious activities, and social services. Its filing also describes program-related investments for purposes including environmental preservation and conservation, health, education and research, relief for people in need, and community improvement.
Its grantees describe a range of work. The Rheumatology Research Foundation says it advances research and training to improve the health of people with rheumatic diseases. JEWISHColorado says it convenes, connects, invests in, and protects Jewish life. Northwestern University describes a commitment to teaching, research, and student growth. The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing says it supports people who are deaf or hard of hearing by empowering parents, training professionals, and providing support. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $2,749,139. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. Among the largest were $500,000 to the Rheumatology Research Foundation for health and $500,000 to The University of Colorado Foundation for education; $350,000 to JEWISHColorado and $320,000 to Congregation Emanuel for cultural and religious purposes; and $200,000 to Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood Inc for social services. Other notable grants included $150,000 to Northwestern University, $140,000 to Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc, and $129,139 to the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
The filing describes program-related equity investments in Mad Capital Perennial Fund II, Second Story Farms, and Azolla Ventures Catalytic Fund I, and a program-related equity investment in Dirt Capital Partners 2023. It also describes a loan program-related investment in FRB Catalyst Facility to support Forest Resilience Bond projects focused on environmental restoration, wildfire risk reduction, watershed protection, and habitat improvement in the Western U.S.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists JoAnn Zell as president; Lucille McFarland as vice president and secretary; Michael Shiner as vice president and treasurer; Philip Tinkler and Joseph Miron as vice presidents; and Levi Gillis and Naomi Gillis as directors.
Zellis Family Foundation is led by JoAnn Zell, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
JoAnn Zell
President
Special Director & President → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Levi Gillis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naomi Gillis
Director
On filings since 2023
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 (3)
- Former: Kellie Zell (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Scott Peppet (2019–2023) — Director
- 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 Zellis Family Foundation
How much does Zellis Family Foundation give each year?
Zellis Family Foundation gave $2.7M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 15 grants.
What is Zellis Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Zellis Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $144,692, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Zellis Family Foundation give grants?
Zellis Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Georgia (18%) and Illinois (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (7 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Zellis Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Zellis Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (6 grants), "Health" (5 grants) and "Cultural and Religious" (4 grants).
Who are Zellis Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Zellis Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rheumatology Research Foundation ($500,000), The University of Colorado Foundation ($500,000) and JEWISHcolorado ($350,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zellis Family Foundation?
Zellis Family Foundation reported $49.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zellis Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a general mission. Its reported grant purposes include health, education, cultural and religious activities, and social services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zellis Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 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 2019–2024.
Does Zellis 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 October 2026.
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
Live grants for the work Zellis Family Foundation funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in Zellis Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Zellis Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zellis-family-foundation-morg_0e5ac89a35a2495085fbef33d71ea1b4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832650002_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zellis Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zellis-family-foundation-morg_0e5ac89a35a2495085fbef33d71ea1b4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Zellis 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.
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