Zell Family Foundation
EIN 363487811
Possibly inactive.
Last 990-PF filing on record is from 2023
(3 years ago). Verify before investing time in an application.
Total Given 2020–2023
$370.1M
372 grants · $92.5M avg/year
based on 4 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$10M+/yr
major funder
capacity
$155K
typical big bets · $50K–$550K
grant size
35%
supporter · 56/162 multi-year
repeat
$275.1M
Assets (2023)
162
Distinct Recipients
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
No — Preselected Only
Phone
(312) 466-3335
Financial Trends
Giving Over Time
Total Assets Over Time
View financial data as table
| Year | Total Giving | Total Assets | Revenue | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $65.6M | $279.3M | $76.8M | 95 |
| 2021 | $29.1M | $274.3M | $17.3M | 87 |
| 2022 | $82.8M | $244.8M | $8.7M | 107 |
| 2023 | $192.6M | $275.1M | $158.4M | 83 |
Grant Size Distribution
Based on 372 grants on record
Minimum
$2K
25th Pctl
$50K
Median
$155K
Average
$995K
75th Pctl
$550K
Maximum
$35.0M
Geographic Distribution
Officers & Directors
MS
Michael Shiner
2 yrs
Treasurer/Vice President
Leadership
JM
Joseph Miron
3 yrs
Secretary/ Vice President
Leadership
HZ
Helen H Zell
4+ yrs
Executive Director/Vice President to 9/24, President From 9/24
Leadership
SZ
Samuel Zell
4+ yrs
President
Leadership
LM
Lucille McFarland
3 yrs
Vice President
Leadership
PT
Philip Tinkler
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
JZ
Joann L Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
MZ
Matthew M Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
KZ
Kellie Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
SZ
Samuel Zell
4+ yrs
President
Leadership
JM
Joseph Miron
3 yrs
Secretary/ Vice President
Leadership
MS
Michael Shiner
2 yrs
Treasurer/Vice President
Leadership
KZ
Kellie Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
MZ
Matthew M Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
JZ
Joann L Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
PT
Philip Tinkler
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
LM
Lucille McFarland
3 yrs
Vice President
Leadership
HZ
Helen H Zell
4+ yrs
Executive Director/ V.P
Leadership
SZ
Samuel Zell
4+ yrs
President
Leadership
LM
Lucille McFarland
3 yrs
Treasurer/Vice President
Leadership
KZ
Kellie Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
MZ
Matthew M Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
JZ
Joann L Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
PT
Philip Tinkler
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
HZ
Helen H Zell
4+ yrs
Executive Director/Vice Pr
Leadership
JM
Joseph Miron
3 yrs
Secretary
Leadership
JZ
Joann L Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
MZ
Matthew M Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
KZ
Kellie Zell
4+ yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
SZ
Samuel Zell
4+ yrs
President/Director
Leadership
PT
Philip Tinkler
4+ yrs
Vice President
Leadership
HZ
Helen H Zell
4+ yrs
Executive Director/Vice Pr
Leadership
JB
James Bunegar
Treasurer
Leadership
CS
Carleen Schreder
Secretary
Leadership
Grants Awarded (372 total)
| Purpose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $35,000,000 | HELEN ZELL WRITERS FUND | 2023 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $30,000,000 | THE SAMUEL ZELL AND ROBERT H. LURIE INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES | 2023 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $25,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School | Chicago, IL | $24,000,000 | ZELL FAMILY FUND FOR JEWISH EDUCATION | 2023 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $20,000,000 | REDUCTION OF DEBT | 2020 |
| Zell Entrepreneurship Foundation | Chicago, IL | $18,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - FURTHERING THE GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES | 2020 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $10,000,000 | ZELL FOUNDERS EXPENDABLE FUND AT ZLI | 2023 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | $10,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| Rochelle Zell Jewish High School | Deerfield, IL | $10,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| Rochelle Zell Jewish High School | Deerfield, IL | $9,500,000 | TO ELIMINATE DEBT AND STRENGTHEN ENDOWMENT | 2023 |
| Interdisciplinary Center Herzliyaamerican Friends of Idc | New York, NY | $8,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2022 |
| Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School | Chicago, IL | $7,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2022 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $6,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - CENTER FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION | 2022 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $5,600,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (SZ/RL INSTITUTE) | 2022 |
| American Friends of Reichman University (Fka-Idc) | New York, NY | $5,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $4,800,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - ZELL GRADUATE FELLOWS | 2022 |
| Chicago Public Education Fund (Fund VI) | Chicago, IL | $4,500,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2022 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $4,400,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - POST-MFA WRITING FELLOWSHIP | 2022 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $4,100,000 | HELEN ZELL EXPENDABLE FUND FOR GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT | 2023 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $4,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - CENTER FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION | 2022 |
| Rochelle Zell Jewish High School | Deerfield, IL | $3,500,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2022 |
| Camp Ramah | New York, NY | $3,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2023 |
| Teach for America | New York, NY | $2,250,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT | 2020 |
| Zell Entrepreneurship Foundation | Chicago, IL | $2,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - FURTHERING THE GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES | 2020 |
| Zell Entrepreneurship Foundation | Chicago, IL | $2,000,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT - FURTHERING THE GRANTEE'S TAX-EXEMPT CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES | 2021 |