← Back to US Funders Directory

Michael And Karyn Lutz Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.9M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $897,317 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $19.7 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Information not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: Chicago, Illinois area
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: Northbrook, IL (also listed as Buffalo Grove, IL)

EIN: 27-0935543

Leadership:

  • Karyn Lutz, Chair
  • Lindsay Dolnick, Trustee

Note: This foundation does not appear to maintain a public website or publish contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Michael and Karyn Lutz Family Foundation was established in 2012 as a private family foundation honoring the legacy of Michael R. Lutz, a Chicago businessman and philanthropist who passed away in 2009. With approximately $19.7 million in assets and annual giving of nearly $900,000, the foundation continues the Lutz family's decades-long commitment to supporting youth development and education programs in the Chicago area. Led by Michael's widow, Karyn Lutz, the foundation has made transformative gifts to organizations serving children and teenagers, particularly those from underserved communities. The foundation's philanthropic approach appears to focus on strategic, relationship-based grantmaking with deep involvement in beneficiary organizations rather than responding to unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Youth Development and Education - The foundation's primary focus is supporting programs that provide safe, supportive environments where children and teenagers can learn and thrive.

After-School and Out-of-School Time Programs - Significant support for programs offering educational, recreational, and skill-building opportunities for teens outside of traditional school hours.

Arts, Technology, and Vocational Training for Youth - Funding for programs that help young people develop practical skills in creative fields, technology, and trades.

Jewish Youth Services - Support for organizations serving the Jewish community, particularly youth and family services.

Known Grant Recipients

After School Matters - The foundation's largest known beneficiary. In 2016, the Lutz family donated a 36,000 square-foot building valued at several million dollars to establish The Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. The center serves over 1,000 teens annually with programs in dance, music, culinary arts, technology, visual art, and vocational trades. In 2023, the foundation supported the addition of the Lutz Family Annex featuring welding, bike mechanics, and urban gardening facilities.

Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS) - In 2011, the foundation made a lead gift to JCYS that resulted in the renaming of the Lakeview Family Center to the JCYS Michael R. Lutz Family Center. This facility provides early childhood education, after-school programs, day camps, and programs for at-risk high school students in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.

Governance and Leadership

Karyn Lutz, Chair - Widow of Michael R. Lutz and primary leader of the foundation. Karyn has continued her late husband's philanthropic legacy with a focus on youth development. She has stated that the foundation's partnership with organizations like After School Matters aims to provide "extensive job opportunities that will enable our youth to live a fulfilling life with a sense of purpose and joy."

Lindsay Dolnick, Trustee - Granddaughter of Michael and Karyn Lutz, representing the next generation of family involvement in the foundation's philanthropic work.

Michael R. Lutz Legacy - Michael R. Lutz (1942-2009) was a Chicago businessman, Princeton graduate (Class of 1964), and University of Chicago MBA recipient who built his business in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood. He was an active philanthropist for over 40 years, serving as President of JCYS from 1977-1978. He was remembered for "his bright smile, generous heart and brilliant business acumen." The foundation was established to continue his commitment to providing educational and recreational opportunities for children throughout the Chicago area.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Michael and Karyn Lutz Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation that appears to award grants based on trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships with beneficiary organizations. There is no public website, application portal, or published grant guidelines.

Grants appear to be awarded to organizations with which the Lutz family has developed long-term relationships, often through board service, volunteer involvement, or personal connections to the mission. The foundation's major gifts have gone to organizations where Michael Lutz had direct involvement during his lifetime (such as JCYS, where he served as President) or to causes aligned with the family's values in youth development and education.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's giving history suggests that grants are made to organizations where family members have:

  • Personal involvement and board service - Michael Lutz served as President of JCYS and was an active member for over 40 years before the foundation made its major gift to that organization.

  • Geographic connection - The Lutz family has shown particular interest in supporting the Belmont Cragin neighborhood where Michael Lutz built his business and career, as evidenced by the donation of the building for the After School Matters center in that community.

  • Multi-generational family legacy - The Lutz family has established multiple named facilities (George W. Lutz Family Center and Lillian L. Lutz Recreation Center in Highland Park, in addition to the Michael R. Lutz centers), suggesting the foundation continues relationships with organizations that previous generations of the family supported.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private, relationship-based approach to grantmaking, the following factors appear important:

Long-term Relationship Building - The foundation's major grants have gone to organizations where the Lutz family had decades-long involvement. Both JCYS and After School Matters received transformative gifts after sustained relationships with the family.

Focus on Underserved Youth in Chicago - Organizations serving low-income and at-risk children and teenagers in Chicago, particularly in neighborhoods like Belmont Cragin, Wrigleyville, and the Northwest Side, align with the foundation's demonstrated priorities.

Comprehensive Youth Development Approach - Programs that combine education, recreation, skill-building, and career preparation appear to resonate with the foundation's mission. As evidenced by support for After School Matters, programs offering hands-on learning in arts, technology, and vocational trades are valued.

Measurable Impact and Scale - The foundation has supported programs serving large numbers of young people (the Lutz Center serves over 1,000 teens annually), suggesting an interest in organizations with significant reach.

Capital Projects with Lasting Impact - The foundation has made major capital gifts including building donations and facility naming opportunities, indicating potential interest in projects that create permanent infrastructure for youth services.

Jewish Community Connection - Support for JCYS suggests ongoing interest in organizations serving the Jewish community, continuing Michael Lutz's 40+ year commitment to Jewish youth services.

According to Martin Oliff, JCYS Executive Director, the foundation honors Michael Lutz's "commitment to the organization and his tireless efforts to ensure that children throughout the Chicago area have educational, recreational and leadership opportunities."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a foundation that accepts unsolicited proposals - Do not submit cold applications; the foundation awards grants through trustee discretion and established relationships.

  • Relationship development is essential - The foundation's major gifts followed decades of family involvement with beneficiary organizations through board service and volunteering.

  • Geographic focus on Chicago - All known grants support Chicago-area organizations, with particular emphasis on neighborhoods where the Lutz family has personal or business connections.

  • Youth development and education are core priorities - Programs serving children and teenagers, especially those providing after-school programming, skills training, and career preparation, align with the foundation's mission.

  • Significant capacity for transformational gifts - With nearly $20 million in assets, the foundation has made multi-million dollar capital gifts in addition to ongoing programmatic grants.

  • Multi-generational family involvement - The presence of granddaughter Lindsay Dolnick as a trustee suggests the foundation will continue supporting youth-focused organizations for years to come.

  • Jewish community ties - Organizations serving the Jewish community, particularly youth and family services, may align with the foundation's philanthropic interests based on Michael Lutz's long history with JCYS.

References

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Join the Launch ListLearn More
← Back to US Funders Directory