Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial
Oak Park, IL · EIN 59-7229565. Reported 184 grants totalling $7,781,470 to 87 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $30,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $15,000 and $45,000; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $380,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation | Oak Park, IL | $898,419 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Concordia University Chicago | River Forest, IL | $616,787 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Ageoptions | Oak Park, IL | $550,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Center for Disability & Elder Law | Chicago, IL | $290,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| West Cook YMCA | Oak Park, IL | $260,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Palatine, IL | $255,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Aging Care Connections | La Grange, IL | $234,800 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Concordia University Wisconsin Inc | Mequon, WI | $230,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North Shore Senior Center | Northfield, IL | $215,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Kott Gerontolofy Institute | Oak Park, IL | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois | Oak Brook Terrace, IL | $185,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| CASA Central Social Services Corp | Chicago, IL | $180,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | Des Plaines, IL | $180,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| L'arche Chicago | Forest Park, IL | $170,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Peoples Resource Center | Wheaton, IL | $145,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Little City Foundation | Palatine, IL | $142,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Center of Concern | Des Plaines, IL | $140,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Concordia Univeristy Operating | River Forest, IL | $130,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Window to the World Communications Inc | Chicago, IL | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Oak-Leyden Developmental Services | Oak Park, IL | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Senior Home Sharing | Lombard, IL | $100,514 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Depaul University Development | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Open Arms Free Clinic Inc | Elkhorn, WI | $92,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care | North Riverside, IL | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Center for Disability and Elder Law | Chicago, IL | $85,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Concordia University Inc | Mequon, WI | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Depaul University Development Lockbox | Chicago, IL | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Depaul University | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Commons Association | Chicago, IL | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Concordia Univeristy Institutional | River Forest, IL | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor Palatine | Palatine, IL | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Quinn Center of Saint Eulalia | Maywood, IL | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank | Geneva, IL | $63,200 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Chicago Scots | North Riverside, IL | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Taller De Jose | Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Des Plaines Community Senior Center | Des Plaines, IL | $57,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Howard Brown Health | Chicago, IL | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Palatine Township Senior Citizens Council | Palatine, IL | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Caledonia Snr Living Il Standrew Society of the Socittish Old Ppls Home | North Riverside, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lutheran Child & Family Services | Oak Brook Terrace, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Meals at Home | Evanston, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Il | Des Plaines, IL | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chinese Mutual Aid Association Inc | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Embrace Living Communities | Oak Brook, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Mercy House Lakefront | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Eulalia Church | Maywood, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| United Cerebral Palsy Seguin Services | Cicero, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Illinois Saint Andrew Society of the Socittish Old Peoples Home | North Riverside, IL | $35,250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dental Lifeline Network Il | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kenneth Young Center | Elk Grove Village, IL | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Barrington Area Council on Aging | Barrington, IL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Leyden Family Services | Franklin Park, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Naperville Elderly Homes Inc | Naperville, IL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois | North Riverside, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Walworth County Food Pantry Inc | Elkhorn, WI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Window to the World | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Meals on Wheels Foundation of Northern Illinois & Community Nutrition | North Riverside, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Oak-Leyden Operating | Oak Park, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Senior Home Sharing Operating | Lombard, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Council for Jewish Elderly | Skokie, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Meals at Home Meals on Wheels | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| People's Resource Center | Wheaton, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Humanitarian Service Project | Carol Stream, IL | $17,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Leyden Family Service | Franklin Park, IL | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Bridge Food and Diaper Pantry | Elkhorn, WI | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Barrington Area Council on Agin | Barrington, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Independence Health and Therapy | Woodstock, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped | Denver, CO | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Peoplecare Inc | Riverside, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Plcca Inc | Maywood, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wesley Willows | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services Associations Meals and Whee | North Riverside, IL | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franciscan Tertiary Province of the Sacred Heart Inc | Oak Brook, IL | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Meals at Home Meals on Wheels of Northeastern Il | North Riverside, IL | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center on Halsted | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dupage Senior Citizens Council | Lombard, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Elder Care Services of Dekalb County | Dekalb, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Howard Brown Health Center | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Milwaukee Christian Center | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Foundation of Dentistry for the Andicapped | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry Dba Beyond Hunger | Oak Park, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Palatine Township Senior Citizens | Palatine, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rebuilding Together North Suburban Chicago | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry | Des Plaines, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franciscan Tertiary of the Sacred Heart Inc | Oak Brook, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
36 of 87 (41%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 72%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 101 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 39 | $1,720,900 | $40,000 |
| 2021 | 30 | $1,399,570 | $32,500 |
| 2022 | 32 | $1,400,000 | $32,500 |
| 2023 | 38 | $1,571,000 | $27,500 |
| 2024 | 45 | $1,690,000 | $20,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
94% of its giving went to organizations in Illinois. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $30,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 1049 Lake Street 204, Oak Park, IL, 60301. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 59-7229565 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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