Spellman Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation says it does not accept unsolicited requests and that its contributions go to preselected charitable organisations, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered.
- Only approach it if you have a route to an invitation, and keep any first contact to a brief enquiry rather than a full proposal.
- If an invitation comes, the filing shows the typical grants reported run from $1,000 to $100,000, and half of its 8 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less, with a median of $10,000, so a request near that level fits its pattern.
- The filing does not state a timetable or a funding field, so ask about both if you are invited.
- Organisations that would send an unsolicited proposal should not expect this foundation to be a source of funding.
Overview
Spellman Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Glencoe, IL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings describe the grants only as general donations, rather than naming a specific funding field. Recipients included an education foundation, a community fund, a Holocaust memorial museum, a performing arts organisation, community organisations, an endowment fund, a friends organisation, and a high school. The giving therefore reaches charitable, educational, cultural and community bodies, but the filings do not state broader priorities, applicant eligibility or a preferred grant area. The application information says that contributions are made to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in District of Columbia, Illinois and Utah.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Grant size: In its TY2025 filing, half of its 8 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2024–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 62% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 14% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 8 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Israel Education Foundation · General donation$100,0002025 tax year
- Jewish United Fund · General donation$16,6662025 tax year
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum · General donation$15,0002025 tax year
- Park City Performing Arts · General donation$10,0002025 tax year
- Ark Chicago · General donation$10,0002025 tax year
- Schechter Endowment Fund · General donation$6,2502025 tax year
- American Friends of Unit 669 · General donation$3,6002025 tax year
- Park City High School · General donation$1,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Melissa Spellman — Director
- Marc Spellman — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 tax year | $10,466 | $0 | $10,170,766 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $203,205 | $162,516 | $11,105,716 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to Spellman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Glencoe, IL
Applying to Spellman Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Glencoe, IL