Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $34,078,136 (2023)
• Grant Range: $50,000 - $500,000
• Decision Time: 3-4 months
• Geographic Focus: Conservation (global); Performing Arts (Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Mid-Atlantic region); Social Impact (Chicagoland)
• Application Method: Invitation-only

Contact Details

Website: https://pmaff.org/

Online Application Portal: www.grantinterface.com/pmangellfamfound

Location: Chicago, IL

EIN: 27-4818015

Contact for Inquiries: Available through the foundation's contact page at pmaff.org

Overview

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation was established in 2011 in honour of Paul M. Angell, founder of Newly Weds Foods and an early manufacturer of the ice cream cake roll. The foundation has grown significantly since hiring Kim Van Horn as its first employee and CEO in 2013. Today, the foundation is led by a team of eighteen professionals and makes nearly 400 grants annually. In 2023, the foundation distributed $34,078,136 in grants. The foundation operates three distinct programme areas: Conservation (focused on marine and ocean protection), Performing Arts (classical music and theatre), and Social Impact (addressing racial justice and systemic inequities). The foundation's philanthropic approach emphasises learning from grantee partners and embracing comprehensive approaches to complex challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation operates two grant cycles annually (spring and autumn), with different timelines for each programme area:

Conservation: Global scope with later application deadlines (typically January)

• Grant range: $50,000 - $500,000 (with some grants up to $500,000 for 3-year periods)
• Application method: Invitation-only

Performing Arts: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Mid-Atlantic region (Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia, PA)

• Grant range: $50,000 - $250,000 (typical range)
• Application method: Invitation-only

Social Impact: Primarily Chicagoland area

• Grant range: $50,000 - $250,000 (typical range)
• Application method: Invitation-only

Priority Areas

Conservation The foundation's conservation programme focuses on marine biodiversity and ocean protection, with specific interests in:

• Implementing sustainable and effective Marine Protected Areas
• Sustainable fisheries management
• Conserving sharks and rays
• Coral reef conservation
• Limiting plastics pollution
• Decarbonising maritime shipping
• Building international efforts for climate action
• Site-specific projects designed to improve ocean habitat health and enhance resilience to climate change
• Species protection, particularly apex predators
• Regional focus on Latin America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize) and the Great Lakes

Performing Arts The programme supports classical music and theatre through:

• Professional performers
• Presenters, including broadcasters
• Educational organisations focused on classical music and theatre
• Organisations perpetuating and propagating performing arts events

Social Impact The foundation's Social Impact programme addresses racial justice and systemic inequities through five focus areas:

1. Civic Engagement & Policy Advocacy
2. Economic Justice & Empowerment
3. Education & Youth Programmes (including early childhood education, teenage pregnancy prevention, school completion for at-risk youth, workforce preparedness, and African-American male achievement)
4. Justice (including criminal justice reform)
5. Safe, Healthy & Thriving Communities

The programme prioritises prevention, early intervention, and community-led strategies that create meaningful opportunities for youth and families, alongside advocacy efforts that transform systems.

What They Don't Fund

• Dance
• Film
• Individual commissions
• Religious institutions
• Debt reduction
• Fundraising events

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

• Jim Angell - President of the Board (family member)
• Sharon Angell - Board Member (family member)
• Amina Dickerson - Board Member (described as "a respected civic and arts leader" with "decades of experience across theatre, museum education, philanthropy, and community development")
• Sunny Fischer - Board Member
• Brian Johnson - Board Member
• Charles Angell (1941-2022) - Founder (deceased December 16, 2022, from complications of pancreatic cancer)

Four members of the board are members of the Angell family.

Executive Leadership

• Kim Van Horn - Chief Executive Officer (hired as the foundation's first employee in 2013, now leads a team of eighteen professionals)
• Wendy Vendel - Director of Operations

Programme Leadership

• Tiffany McDowell, PhD - Director of Social Impact
• Amanda Nickson - Senior Director of Conservation
• Mignon Stewart - Director of Performing Arts

Senior Programme Officers

• Mark Anthony Florido - Senior Programme Officer, Social Impact
• Tom Grasso - Senior Programme Officer, Conservation
• Audra Yokley - Senior Programme Officer, Performing Arts

Programme Officers

• Sarah Flores - Programme Officer, Conservation
• Julia Luthringer - Programme Officer, Conservation
• Eilene Ladson - Programme Officer, Social Impact
• Guillermo Muñoz Küster - Programme Officer, Performing Arts
• Dei Nikoi - Programme Officer, Performing Arts

Key Quote from Leadership

Kim Van Horn, CEO: "At the core of our philanthropy is a commitment to fostering innovation."

Kim Van Horn also stated: "Philanthropy does its best work when it learns from the leadership and expertise of grantee partners and when it embraces a comprehensive approach to complex realities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation currently accepts grant requests from pre-selected organisations or projects by invitation-only across all three priority areas.

For organisations that receive an invitation:

• Applications are submitted online through the foundation's grant portal: www.grantinterface.com/pmangellfamfound
• The application process begins with Letters of Inquiry (LOI) submitted by programme area
• This suggests a two-stage process where initial LOIs are reviewed before full proposals may be requested

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates two grant cycles per year:

Spring Cycle (typical timeline):

• LOIs typically open in autumn
• Performing Arts & Social Impact LOIs typically due between mid-November and late January
• Conservation LOIs typically due in late January
• Awards typically announced in early May
• Total timeline from application to decision: 3-4 months

Autumn Cycle (typical timeline):

• LOIs typically open between April and June
• Full applications typically due in August
• Awards typically announced in November
• Total timeline from application to decision: 3-4 months

Note: Conservation priority area operates on a different timeline than Performing Arts and Social Impact priority areas.

Grant Types Available

• General Operating Grants: Flexible funds for organisational use
• Programme/Project Grants: Targeted funding requiring specific budgets and narratives

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, success factors are based on patterns from publicly documented grants and the foundation's stated priorities:

Alignment with Geographic Focus:

• Conservation grants: Global scope, with documented support for Latin American projects (Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize) and Great Lakes initiatives
• Performing Arts: Must be located in Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, or Mid-Atlantic region (Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia)
• Social Impact: Strong preference for Chicagoland organisations

Types of Organisations Funded:

Conservation recipients include:

• Natural Resources Defense Council
• WildAid
• Earthjustice
• Marine Conservation Biology Institute of Seattle

Performing Arts recipients include:

• Washington Drama Society
• Merit School of Music (Chicago)
• Lookingglass Theatre Company
• DC Youth Orchestra
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Social Impact recipients include:

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago
• Youth Guidance of Chicago
• Raise Your Hand for Illinois Education
• University of Chicago (Network for College Success and Inclusive Economy Lab)
• BUILD Chicago (supported since 2015)
• Center for Changing Lives (Chicago)
• Inspiration Corporation's Food Service Training Programme
• North Lawndale Employment Network
• Planned Parenthood of Illinois
• Puerto Rican Arts Alliance

Foundation's Philosophical Approach: The foundation believes "philanthropy does its best work when it learns from the leadership and expertise of grantee partners" and emphasises innovation and comprehensive approaches to complex challenges. This suggests they value:

• Community-led strategies
• Prevention and early intervention approaches
• Systemic transformation efforts
• Innovative approaches to longstanding problems
• Organisations with strong expertise in their field

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must hold 501(c)(3) determination letter from the IRS
• Must be designated as a public charity
• International organisations may apply for Conservation grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organisations must be identified by the foundation or invited to apply. Building relationships over time or being known in the relevant sector is essential.

• Geographic specificity matters: Ensure your organisation falls within the foundation's stated geographic priorities for your programme area—this is strictly enforced and differs by programme.

• Grant size is substantial: With typical grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, and some conservation grants up to $500,000 for multi-year periods, the foundation makes significant investments in fewer organisations rather than many small grants.

• Community-led approaches are valued: The foundation explicitly prioritises "community-led strategies" in their Social Impact work and emphasises learning from grantee partners' expertise.

• Innovation is central: CEO Kim Van Horn states that "at the core of our philanthropy is a commitment to fostering innovation," suggesting that novel approaches to persistent problems are highly valued.

• Comprehensive, systemic focus: The foundation looks for organisations addressing root causes and systemic issues rather than short-term fixes, with emphasis on "advocacy efforts that transform systems."

• Strong professional staff structure: With 18 professional staff members across three programme areas, the foundation has substantial capacity for deep engagement with grantees—expect thorough review and relationship-building if invited to apply.

References

1. Paul M. Angell Family Foundation official website - https://pmaff.org/ (accessed December 2024)
2. Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, About Us - https://pmaff.org/about-us/ (accessed December 2024)
3. Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Our Funding - https://pmaff.org/for-applicants/our-funding/ (accessed December 2024)
4. Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Our Team - https://pmaff.org/about-us/our-team/ (accessed December 2024)
5. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, Paul M Angell Family Foundation - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/274818015 (accessed December 2024)
6. Instrumentl, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/paul-m-angell-family-foundation (accessed December 2024)
7. Inside Philanthropy, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-a/paul-m-angell-foundation (accessed December 2024)
8. Candid Foundation Directory, Paul M Angell Family Foundation - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=PAUL402 (accessed December 2024)
9. Terra Viva Grants, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation - https://www.terravivagrants.org/group-2-biodiversity-conservation-wildlife/paul-m-angell-family-foundation/ (accessed December 2024)
10. InfluenceWatch, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation - https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/paul-m-angell-family-foundation/ (accessed December 2024)
11. Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, 2025 Grant Cycle Dates - https://pmaff.org/2025-grant-cycle-dates/ (accessed December 2024)
12. Lustgarten Foundation announcement - https://lustgarten.org/the-lustgarten-foundation-receives-10-million-gift-from-the-paul-m-angell-family-foundation/ (accessed December 2024)