Zarpet Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $826,460 (2023)
• Average Grant Size: $91,829
• Total Grants Made: 9 (2023)
• Total Assets: $35,657,654
• Founded: 2019
• Geographic Focus: Multi-state (Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas)
• Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Address:
Zarpet Family Foundation
2 N Riverside Plaza, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60606-2627

EIN: 83-2650413

Website: Not publicly listed
Phone/Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Zarpet Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2019 and based in Chicago, Illinois. With total assets of approximately $35.7 million, the foundation distributed $826,460 in grants during 2023 across 9 awards. The foundation operates as a private independent foundation under IRS classification 501(c)(3), making it eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. Since its inception, the foundation has demonstrated steady growth in its grantmaking activity, starting with 2 grants in 2019 and expanding to 9 grants by 2023. In its most recent fiscal period, the foundation reported total revenue of $9,776,637 and expenses of $2,550,772. The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicize contact information beyond its registered address, which is typical for smaller private family foundations operating through trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Geographic Distribution

The Zarpet Family Foundation has funded projects and initiatives in diverse locations across the United States, including:

Cities funded:

• Ann Arbor, MI
• Boulder, CO
• Brooklyn, NY
• Cincinnati, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• Longmont, CO
• New York, NY
• Seminole, FL
• Telluride, CO
• Ypsilanti, MI

States with funding activity:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Michigan
• New York
• Ohio
• Texas

Grant Size Patterns

• Average grant size: $91,829 (based on 2023 giving)
• Total 2023 distribution: $826,460 across 9 grants
• Historical grant activity:
  • 2023: 9 grants
  • 2022: 7 grants
  • 2021: 5 grants
  • 2020: 7 grants
  • 2019: 2 grants

Focus Areas

The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in publicly available documents. The geographic diversity of funding suggests a flexible approach to grantmaking rather than concentration in a single programmatic area.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by multiple vice presidents who serve in various capacities:

• Vice President & Director
• Vice President & Secretary
• Vice President & Treasurer
• Additional Vice Presidents

The foundation reports 10 total leadership and staff members. Full names and detailed biographies of trustees and directors are available in the foundation's Form 990-PF tax filings but are not publicized in summary databases.

The foundation has not provided data to charity evaluation organizations regarding its leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, or ability to innovate and respond to changes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Zarpet Family Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation does not maintain a public website, does not publicize application guidelines, and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. This is characteristic of private family foundations that identify and select grantees through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships.

The foundation operates through what is common among smaller private family foundations: trustees identify organizations aligned with their philanthropic interests and proactively reach out to potential grantees, rather than reviewing applications from the general public.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Private family foundations without formal application processes typically make funding decisions on the trustees' schedule rather than fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not have a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process, traditional "application success factors" do not apply to the Zarpet Family Foundation. However, based on research into similar private family foundations, the following observations may be relevant:

Discretionary Grantmaking Model:
The Zarpet Family Foundation operates using a model common among private family foundations with substantial assets but no public application process. Trustees identify grantees proactively based on their personal knowledge, networks, and philanthropic priorities.

Geographic Patterns:
The foundation's funding across multiple states (Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Texas) suggests trustees may have personal or business connections to these regions. The concentration of multiple cities in Colorado (Boulder, Denver, Longmont, Telluride) may indicate particular interest or connection to that state.

Grant Size Flexibility:
With an average grant size of approximately $91,829, the foundation appears capable of making both smaller and larger awards depending on the project and organization.

Typical Characteristics of Similar Foundations: Private family foundations of this size and structure typically:

• Fund organizations where trustees serve on boards or have direct relationships
• Support causes connected to family members' professional or personal interests
• May prefer established organizations with proven track records over newer nonprofits
• Often provide multi-year support to a core group of organizations they know well
• May respond to personal appeals from trusted colleagues or advisors

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: The Zarpet Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or maintain public application guidelines. Direct application is not possible.

• Relationship-Driven: Like most private family foundations without staff, grantmaking is relationship-based. Organizations are selected through trustee networks rather than competitive application processes.

• Substantial Assets, Focused Giving: With $35.7 million in assets but only 9 grants annually, the foundation is selective and likely funds organizations with direct connections to trustees.

• Multi-State Footprint: Geographic diversity from Michigan to Texas to Colorado suggests trustees have connections across multiple regions, with notable concentration in Colorado.

• Steady but Modest Distribution: Annual giving of approximately $826,460 represents about 2.3% of assets, below the typical 5-7% distribution rate, suggesting conservative grantmaking approach.

• Private Operations: Lack of website, public contact information, or publicized guidelines indicates the foundation prefers privacy and does not seek to attract applications from the general public.

• Not a Prospect for Cold Outreach: Organizations without pre-existing connections to the Zarpet family or foundation trustees should not consider this a viable funding prospect, as the foundation's operating model is built on personal relationships and trustee discretion rather than open grantmaking.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Zarpet Family Foundation (EIN: 83-2650413). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/832650413 (Accessed February 2026)

• Charity Navigator: Zarpet Family Foundation Profile. Available at: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/832650413 (Accessed February 2026)

• Cause IQ: Zarpet Family Foundation Organization Profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/zarpet-family-foundation,832650413/ (Accessed February 2026)

• Instrumentl: Zarpet Family Foundation 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/zarpet-family-foundation (Accessed February 2026)

• GuideStar/Candid: Zarpet Family Foundation Profile (EIN: 83-2650413). Available at: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/83-2650413 (Accessed February 2026)

• IRS Form 990-PF filings for Zarpet Family Foundation (2019-2023), publicly available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS public records