Malott Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Malott Family Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so there is no route for a small nonprofit to apply speculatively.
- Its geographic focus is given as a priority for the Chicago metropolitan area, and its work centres on K-12 education and the arts, alongside preservation, conservation and education efforts in selective areas of the environment.
- Grants to organisations typically range from $5,000 to $400,000, with about eight in ten of its 117 grants falling in that span and a median grant of $25,000, so a modest request in that bracket reflects most of what is given, even though the largest grant was around $1,450,000.
- Giving here looks strongly relationship-led, as 76% of grant dollars went to organisations also funded in the two previous filings, suggesting this is not a foundation that responds to open approaches from new contacts.
- Given the invitation-only process, organisations without an existing connection to the foundation have no stated way to put themselves forward.
Overview
Malott Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (thefundchicago.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses on K–12 education and the arts, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area. It also supports preservation, conservation and education efforts in selective areas of the environment. Its stated focus combines education and arts with this qualified environmental work. The filings show grants to educational organisations, cultural institutions, food banks, churches and community-service organisations. The filing says the foundation gives to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; no further eligibility or selection criteria are supplied.
Themes
- K-12 education
- Arts
- Environmental conservation
Geographic Focus
Priority: Chicago metropolitan area. (as reported in other published sources)
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 76% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 117 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to organisations Malott Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 38% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 42 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $27,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Red Cross · Community$1,455,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Botanical Garden · Community$1,300,0002024 tax year
- National Park Foundation · Community$860,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Public Educational Fund · Community$500,0002024 tax year
- Malott Family Donor Advised Fund Charitable Giving Account · Community$400,0002024 tax year
- Pohle Family Foundation Charitable Giving Fund · Community$400,0002024 tax year
- Kizziah Family Donor Advised Fund · Community$400,0002024 tax year
- Feeding America · Community$370,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Elizabeth Malott Pohle — Secretary
- Robert Deane Malott — Director
- Barbara H Malott Kizziah — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,372,234 | $3,633,000 | $150,174,308 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,654,395 | $7,155,000 | $156,126,406 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $12,381,072 | $7,100,000 | $173,280,986 | Filing for 2024 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
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At a glance
Applying to Malott Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Malott Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL