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 honor 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 totaling approximately $75 million annually. In 2023, the foundation distributed $34,078,136 in grants. The foundation operates three distinct program areas: Conservation (focused on marine and ocean protection), Performing Arts (classical music and theater), and Social Impact (addressing racial justice and systemic inequities). The foundation's philanthropic approach emphasizes learning from grantee partners and embracing comprehensive approaches to complex challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two grant cycles annually (spring and fall), with different timelines for each program 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 program 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
Decarbonizing 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 program supports classical music and theater through:

Professional performers
Presenters, including broadcasters
Educational organizations focused on classical music and theater
Organizations perpetuating and propagating performing arts events

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

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

The program prioritizes 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 theater, 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

Program Leadership

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

Senior Program Officers

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

Program Officers

Sarah Flores - Program Officer, Conservation
Julia Luthringer - Program Officer, Conservation
Eilene Ladson - Program Officer, Social Impact
Guillermo Muñoz Küster - Program Officer, Performing Arts
Dei Nikoi - Program 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 organizations or projects by invitation-only across all three priority areas.

For organizations 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 program 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 open: October/November
Performing Arts & Social Impact LOIs due: Mid-November to late January
Conservation LOIs due: Late January
Awards announced: Early May
Total timeline from application to decision: 3-4 months

Fall Cycle (typical timeline):

LOIs open: April/May to June
Full applications due: August
Awards announced: 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 organizational use
Program/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 organizations

Types of Organizations 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 Program
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 emphasizes 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
Organizations 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 organizations may apply for Conservation grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations 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 organization falls within the foundation's stated geographic priorities for your program area—this is strictly enforced and differs by program.
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 organizations rather than many small grants.
Community-led approaches are valued: The foundation explicitly prioritizes "community-led strategies" in their Social Impact work and emphasizes 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 organizations 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 program areas, the foundation has substantial capacity for deep engagement with grantees—expect thorough review and relationship-building if invited to apply.

References

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