Funders › Illinois

The Kellcie Fund

Chicago, IL · EIN 36-4267581. Reported 300 grants totalling $1,067,831 to 112 recipients across tax years 2023-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$1,000median grant
$1,067,831granted, 2023-2025
112recipients, as named on its returns
82%of grantees funded again the next year
$11.7Massets, latest filing

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. The Kellcie Fund did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $1,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $500 and $2,500; the smallest was $100 and the largest $50,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
112 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
137 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
24 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
14 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
6 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
7 grants

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.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
NPR FoundationWashington, DC$150,000332025
Prx IncorporatedSt Louis, MO$110,000432025
Chicago Public Media IncChicago, IL$100,000222024
James B Moran Center for Youth AdvocacyEvanston, IL$50,000332025
John F Kennedy Center for the Performing ArtsWashington, DC$50,000222024
Jtp Professional Service CorporationSaint Pual, MN$50,000222024
Lake Tanganyika Floating HospitalChicago, IL$50,000112025
Circle of Hope Health Care ServicesWashington, DC$45,000332025
Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU IncChicago, IL$35,000332025
National Public Housing MuseumChicago, IL$26,000322025
Colgate University Treasurers OfficeHamilton, NY$23,500332025
Access Living of Metropolitan ChicagoChicago, IL$20,000332025
Evanston Community Foundation IncEvanston, IL$15,000332025
Planned Parenthood of IllinoisChicago, IL$15,000332025
Teach for America IncNew York, NY$15,000332025
Center for Conflict ResolutionChicago, IL$14,000332025
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL$13,500832025
Marshall Project IncNew York, NY$12,000332025
University of ChicagoChicago, IL$11,0001232025
C and W FoundationEvanston, IL$10,000222024
Erie Family Health CentersChicago, IL$10,000222024
La Rabida Children's HospitalChicago, IL$10,000112025
White Stork - United States LtdWinnetka, IL$10,000222025
Center for International Policy IncWashington, DC$9,000432025
Media for Change IncPalmetto Bay, FL$8,000332025
Cw Market FoundationEvanston, IL$7,500112025
Mother JonesSan Francisco, CA$7,500332025
Project&Chicago, IL$7,500332025
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA$7,500332025
Lake Forest Country Day SchoolLake Forest, IL$6,500332025
Chicago Humanities FestivalChicago, IL$6,000332025
Midwest Access ProjectChicago, IL$5,000222024
Operation White StorkWinnetka, IL$5,000112023
Trustees of Phillips AcademyAndover, MA$4,500332025
Chicago Council on Global AffairsChicago, IL$4,000222025
Evanston GrowsEvanston, IL$4,000332025
Evanston ScholarsEvanston, IL$4,000332025
Greater Chicago Food DepositoryChicago, IL$3,500332025
Legal Aid ChicagoChicago, IL$3,500332025
National Peace Corps AssociationWashington, DC$3,200532025
American Jewish World Service IncChicago, IL$3,000332025
Americans for Immigrant JusticeMiami, FL$3,000332025
Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL$3,000332025
Books and BreakfastEvanston, IL$3,000332025
Choate Rosemary Hall Foundation IncorporatedWellingford, CT$3,000332025
Evanston Wilmette Golf Course AssociationEvanston, IL$3,000332025
GlobalgivingWashington, DC$3,000332025
Injustice Watch NfpChicago, IL$3,000332025
Jazz Foundation of America IncNew York, NY$3,000332025
Lake Forest Open Lands AssociationLake Forest, IL$3,000332025
Mq Foundation IncNew York, NY$3,000332025
New Israel FundSan Francisco, CA$3,000222025
Players Philanthropy FundTowson, MD$3,000332025
Shirley Ryan AbilitylabChicago, IL$3,000332025
Southern Poverty Law Center IncMontgomery, AL$3,000332025
The Joffrey BalletChicago, IL$3,000332025
Union of Concerned Scientists IncChicago, IL$3,000332025
Chicago Fund on Aging and DisabilityChicago, IL$2,500222025
Northlight TheaterSkokie, IL$2,500112025
T Daniel Productions NfpChicago, IL$2,500212023
Warren W Cherry PreschoolEvanston, IL$2,031222025
CASA De PazAurora, CO$2,000222024
Chicago Children's MuseumChicago, IL$2,000332025
Global Philanthropy PartnershipChicago, IL$2,000332025
Military Religious Freedom Foundation IncAlburquerque, NM$2,000222024
Pomfret School IncorporatedPomfret Center, CT$2,000332025
The Corporation of Saint Mary's College Notre DameNotre Dame, IN$2,000222024
United States Association for UnhcrWashington, DC$2,000222024
University of DenverDenver, CO$2,000222024
American Writers MuseumChicago, IL$1,500112025
Anti-Defamation LeagueNew York, NY$1,500222025
Better Government Association IncChicago, IL$1,500222024
Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsChicago, IL$1,500222024
Center for Independent FuturesEvanston, IL$1,500332025
Chicago Foundation for WomenChicago, IL$1,500222025
Connections for the Homeless IncEvanston, IL$1,500332025
Curts CafeEvanston, IL$1,500332025
Fund for Innovative T VChicago, IL$1,500332025
Futuro Media GroupNew York, NY$1,500332025
Human Rights Watch IncNew York, NY$1,500332025
Jewish Council on Urban AffairsChicago, IL$1,500332025
Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD$1,500322025
Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing FoundationChicago, IL$1,500332025
Miami WaterkeeperCoral Gables, FL$1,500322025
National Museum of Mexican ArtChicago, IL$1,500332025
Proctor AcademyAndover, NH$1,500332025
Shriver Center on Poverty LawChicago, IL$1,500332025
Telluride Adaptive Ski ProgramTelluride, CO$1,500332025
Telluride Medical Center FoundationTelluride, CO$1,500332025
University of Arizona FoundationTucson, AZ$1,500332025
World Ocean SchoolBoston, MA$1,500332025
Beacon AcademyEvanston, IL$1,000222025
Dystonia Medical Research FoundationChicago, IL$1,000222024
Equal HopeChicago, IL$1,000222024
Evanston Public Library FriendsEvanston, IL$1,000222025
Impact for Equity IncChicago, IL$1,000222024
International Women's Democracy CenterWashington, DC$1,000222025
Mcgaw YMCAEvanston, IL$1,000112025
Meals on WheelsArlington, VA$1,000112024
Mujeres Latinas En Accion IncChicago, IL$1,000222025
Ukraine Childrens Aid Fund IncFairfield, CT$1,000222024
Evanston Animal Shelter AssociationEvanston, IL$750332025
Washington Office on Latin America IncWashington, DC$750332025
Wilderness Inquiry IncMinneapolis, MN$750332025
Working in the SchoolsChicago, IL$750332025
Youth & Opportunity United (you)Evanston, IL$750332025
Youth Job Center IncEvanston, IL$750332025
The Nora ProjectHighland Park, IL$600222024
Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of YouthWashington, DC$500112023
Crow Canyon Archaeological CenterCortz, CO$500112024
Evanston Roundtable MediaEvanston, IL$500112025
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation NfpChicago, IL$500112023

99 of 112 (88%) received money in more than one year over the 3 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 82%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.

Plus 2 grants to individuals totalling $813,656 -- scholarships, hardship and emergency assistance. We deliberately do not publish the names of people who received them, even though the filings do.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 244 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.

Education
57 grants
Arts & Culture
40 grants
International Affairs
26 grants
Crime & Legal
23 grants
Health Care
18 grants
Recreation & Sports
11 grants
Human Services
10 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
9 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2023108$341,031$1,000
202498$336,800$1,000
202594$390,000$1,000

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

48% 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.

Illinois
$516K
District of Columbia
$264K
Missouri
$110K
New York
$61K
Minnesota
$51K
California
$18K
Florida
$12K
Colorado
$8K

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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.

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund83 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc83 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc66 shared recipientsNational Philanthropic Trust66 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program64 shared recipientsThe Chicago Community Trust59 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $1,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Foundations funding education in IllinoisEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding education in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding arts & culture in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this groupFoundations funding international affairs in District of ColumbiaEvery funder in this group

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from The Kellcie Fund's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). 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: 227 W Monroe St Ste 3750, Chicago, IL, 60606. 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 36-4267581 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.