Zell Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $69.3 million (tax year 2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $50,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Greater Chicago area (60%), with national grants to select institutions
• Assets: $275.1 million (2023)
• Application Process: No public application process; invitation-only

Contact Details

Foundation Information:

• Location: Chicago, IL
• EIN: 36-3487811
• Type: Private family foundation

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Zell Family Foundation was established in 1986 by billionaire real estate investor Sam Zell and his wife Helen. Following Sam's death in May 2023, the foundation received a $159 million infusion from his estate, dramatically increasing its grantmaking capacity. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation disbursed 70 grants totalling $69.3 million—a substantial increase over its previous four-year average of $22 million annually. Now led by Helen Zell as president, with the couple's three children (Kellie, Matthew, and JoAnn) serving as vice presidents, the foundation focuses on education, arts and culture, medical research, and Jewish causes. The foundation is known for making transformational gifts to institutions with which the family has long-standing relationships, particularly in the Greater Chicago area. Helen Zell's leadership extends beyond the foundation—she serves on the boards of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, Steppenwolf Theatre, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and was the first female board chair of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (2015-2020).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with published guidelines. Instead, it makes strategic investments in organisations aligned with the family's philanthropic interests. Recent major grants include:

• Transformational Gifts ($25M - $50M): Reserved for flagship institutions such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Northwestern University's Kellogg School
• Major Institutional Support ($5M - $25M): To educational institutions, particularly those named for family members, such as Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School ($24M) and Rochelle Zell Jewish High School ($9.5M)
• Significant Grants ($1M - $5M): To established cultural and educational organisations
• Standard Grants ($100K - $1M): To various Chicago-area nonprofits in aligned focus areas

Priority Areas

Education: A cornerstone of the foundation's giving, including:

• Higher education institutions (University of Michigan received three grants totalling $75M in 2023)
• Jewish day schools and educational institutions
• Educational equity initiatives (Chicago Public Education Fund, $1M; Teach for America, $750K)
• Entrepreneurship education programmes

Arts & Culture: Strong focus on Chicago's cultural landscape:

• Major performing arts organisations (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Joffrey Ballet)
• Museums and theatres (Steppenwolf Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art)
• Public cultural resources (Chicago Public Library Foundation)

Medical Research: Support for cancer research and healthcare institutions

Jewish Causes: Significant support for Jewish educational institutions, Israel-focused organisations (American Friends of Reichman University, $1.4M; Birthright Israel Foundation, $1.25M), and Jewish cultural preservation

Civil Rights & Public Policy: Including the ACLU Foundation ($100K), Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression ($1.35M), University of Chicago's Zell Series on academic freedom ($2.2M), and A Better Chicago ($200K)

What They Don't Fund

Based on grantmaking patterns, the foundation does not appear to fund:

• Organisations outside their established network of relationships
• Short-term projects or pilot programmes
• Small grassroots organisations without institutional track record
• Organisations outside their core focus areas (education, arts, medical research, Jewish causes)
• General operating support for organisations without long-standing relationships

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership

Helen Zell, President

• Widow of founder Sam Zell
• First female board chair of Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (2015-2020)
• Currently serves as vice chair of CSOA board
• Board member of Steppenwolf Theatre and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
• Chaired the Music Director Search Committee that appointed Klaus Mäkelä as CSO's 11th music director
• Known for hands-on involvement with supported organisations

Quote from Helen Zell: "The generosity of donors will ensure the long-term sustainability of our great cultural institutions that add vitality and beauty to our lives."

Vice Presidents: Sam and Helen's three children—Kellie, Matthew, and JoAnn Zell

Founder's Legacy

Sam Zell (1941-2023) was a pioneering real estate investor who built his fortune through contrarian investments. His philanthropic philosophy focused on making a difference in "very narrow fields" including higher education, arts and culture, and medical research. He created several named programmes including:

• Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at University of Michigan
• Zell Fellows Programme at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management
• Various named facilities and programmes at institutions he supported

Quote from Sam Zell: Reflecting on his giving, Zell stated, "Everybody's worried about the inequality; [the] reality is I'm going to give away this money, and I'm going to give away billions of dollars."

The foundation has nine officers, none of whom receive compensation, suggesting a lean operational structure with grantmaking decisions made at the trustee level.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Zell Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant requests. The foundation lacks a public website or published application guidelines.

Grants are made to organisations with which the family has established, long-standing relationships. Grantmaking decisions appear to be made at the discretion of the foundation's leadership, particularly Helen Zell and the family trustees, based on their personal connections to and involvement with recipient organisations.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grantmaking pattern reveals specific pathways through which organisations have received support:

Board Leadership Connections: Helen Zell's board service creates direct relationships with organisations. Her positions include:

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (former board chair, current vice chair)
• Steppenwolf Theatre (board member)
• Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (board member)

Organisations where foundation leadership serves in governance roles appear to be primary beneficiaries of major grants.

Family Legacy Institutions: Organisations bearing the Zell family name or honouring Sam's parents receive substantial support:

• Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School (named for Sam's father)
• Rochelle Zell Jewish High School (named for Sam's mother)
• Programmes at University of Michigan (both Sam and Helen's alma mater)

Established Chicago Cultural Institutions: The foundation has a documented pattern of supporting Chicago's major cultural organisations, particularly those where the family has demonstrated long-term engagement beyond just financial support.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysing the foundation's giving patterns reveals what the foundation values:

Institutional Excellence and Leadership

The foundation's largest grants go to organisations recognised as leaders in their fields. Major gifts emphasise preserving institutions' futures and supporting long-term sustainability, not short-term projects.

Strategic, Transformational Impact

Helen Zell's comments about major gifts focus on ensuring "the long-term sustainability of our great cultural institutions." The foundation appears to favour gifts that:

• Address fundamental institutional needs (reducing debt, strengthening endowments, supporting retirement benefits)
• Enable organisations to maintain excellence over time
• Support both immediate needs and future capacity

Multi-Dimensional Support Priorities

Major gifts illustrate the foundation's approach to comprehensive institutional support, funding:

• Debt reduction
• Endowment strengthening
• Musician and staff retirement benefits
• Domestic and international touring
• Special artistic projects
• Digital content initiatives

Family Connection and Values

The foundation prioritises:

• Entrepreneurship education: Gifts to Kellogg School and University of Michigan's Zell Lurie Institute reflect Sam Zell's business philosophy
• Jewish education and culture: Substantial support for Jewish day schools and Israel-focused organisations
• Academic freedom: The University of Chicago's Zell Series on academic freedom received $2.2M, and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression received $1.35M, reflecting the family's commitment to free expression

Long-Term Relationship Building

The foundation's giving reveals decades-long relationships with recipient organisations. Helen Zell's involvement with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra dates back to 2007, demonstrating that major grants culminate long periods of engagement rather than representing first-time relationships.

Geographic Focus with Strategic Exceptions

Approximately 60% of grants support Greater Chicago organisations, with the remaining 40% going to:

• Alumni institutions (University of Michigan)
• National organisations aligned with family values (Teach for America, ACLU)
• Jewish causes with national or international scope

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No unsolicited applications accepted: This is strictly an invitation-only funder with no public application process. Traditional grant seeking will not be effective.

• Board relationships are the primary pathway: Organisations where Helen Zell serves in leadership positions receive the foundation's largest grants. Trustee involvement typically precedes major funding by many years.

• Transformational giving model: The foundation makes fewer, larger grants rather than numerous small awards. Recent giving shows grants ranging from $100,000 to $50 million, with a clear preference for major institutional support.

• Chicago focus with selective exceptions: 60% of funding goes to Greater Chicago organisations, with major exceptions for the University of Michigan (alma mater) and select national organisations aligned with family values.

• Legacy-driven priorities: The dramatic increase in grantmaking following Sam Zell's death suggests the foundation is fulfilling his philanthropic vision. The family's commitment to entrepreneurship education, Jewish causes, arts and culture, and academic freedom reflects deeply held values.

• Long-term sustainability emphasis: Helen Zell's statements emphasise preserving institutions' futures rather than funding short-term projects. The foundation appears to value endowment building, debt reduction, and structural stability.

• Family foundation in transition: With Helen Zell now leading and the next generation (Kellie, Matthew, and JoAnn) serving as vice presidents, the foundation's future giving patterns may evolve, though current priorities remain rooted in Sam and Helen's established relationships.

References

• Inside Philanthropy. "What's Next for the Zell Family Foundation?" https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/is-the-zell-family-foundations-increase-in-grantmaking-a-portent-of-greater-future-giving (accessed December 2024)

• InfluenceWatch. "Zell Family Foundation." https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/zell-family-foundation/ (accessed December 2024)

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra. "The Zell Family Foundation gives $50 million to the CSOA." https://cso.org/experience/article/21308/the-zell-family-foundation-gives-50-million-t (accessed December 2024)

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Zell Family Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/363487811 (accessed December 2024)

• Cause IQ. "Zell Family Foundation | Chicago, IL." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/zell-family-foundation,363487811/ (accessed December 2024)

• Instrumentl. "Zell Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/zell-family-foundation (accessed December 2024)

• Inside Philanthropy. "Zell Family Foundation | Inside Philanthropy." https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/illinois-grants/zell-family-foundation (accessed December 2024)

• Lifestyles Magazine. "$600 million given to worthy causes and accelerating: the next generation of the Zell family." https://lifestylesmagazine.com/uncategorized/600-million-given-to-worthy-causes-and-accelerating-the-next-generation-of-the-zell-family-is-proving-that-legacy-isnt-just-what-you-inherit-its-what-you-thoughtfully-expan/ (accessed December 2024)