Cless Family Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Cless Family Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 36-3796675

Foundation Overview

Based in Northbrook, IL, Cless Family Foundation has awarded 154 grants totaling $18,865,918 to organizations in Idaho, Illinois and 7 other states across the US. Individual grants range from $50 to $1,977,720, with a median award of $30,000.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$18,865,918
Total Assets
$55,209,899
Median Grant (all grants)
$30,000

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
31
Median Grant
$50,000
% Median Grant Growth
+100% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Relationship-Focused: 26%

8 of 31 recipients (26%) were new grantees. Foundation strongly favors organizations with proven track records. New partnerships develop slowly over time.

Geographic Focus
Illinois

82% of all grants are concentrated in Illinois, demonstrating highly focused geographic giving. This foundation prioritizes deep community impact in its primary service area. Within Illinois, funding concentrates in Evanston (56%), Chicago (15%), Glenview (11%).

Funding Trajectory
+45%

Moderate 45% growth trend over 3 years suggests stable and gradually increasing funding capacity. This positive trajectory indicates reliable grant-making resources and sustainable philanthropic commitment.

Program Areas
General Purposes + 2 others

Diversified giving across multiple program areas with primary emphasis on general purposes (50%). This broad approach suggests openness to various causes and innovative cross-sector solutions.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Cless Family Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
All Children Thrive $175,000 Baltimore, MD, US Charitable 2023
Books & Breakfast $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2023
Chicago Engineers' Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2023
Chicago Lighthouse $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2023
Childcare Network Of Evanston $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Chartiable 2023
Countryside Day School $10,000 Northbrook, IL, US Education 2023
Eths Education Foundation $100,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2023
Evanston Scholars $200,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2023
Foundation 65 $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2023
Glenbrook High School Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2023
Glenview Education Foundation $60,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2023
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $50 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2023
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $49,950 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2023
Lincoln Park Public High School $75,000 Chicago, IL, US Education 2023
Mcgaw Ymca $25,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2023
Misericordia Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2023
Moran Center For Youth Advocacy $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2023
Northlight Theater $10,000 Skokie, IL, US Charitable 2023
Northshore University Health System Foundation $20,039 Evanston, IL, US Medical Research 2023
Northshore University Health System $904,961 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2023
Rose-hulman Institute Of Technology $70,000 Terre Haute, IN, US Education 2023
Schwab Charitable $554,113 Orlando, FL, US Charitable 2023
St Athanasius $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2023
Stand Up To Cancer $250,000 Los Angeles, CA, US Medical Research 2023
Stuttering Foundation $50,000 Memphis, TN, US Charitable 2023
The Brain Tumor Research Charity $585,563 Stuart, FL, US Medical Research 2023
The Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation $15,000 Glenview, IL, US Chartiable 2023
University Of Illinois - Chicago $75,000 Urbana, IL, US Education 2023
Winnetka Public Schools Foundation $25,000 Winnetka, IL, US Education 2023
Wolcott College Prep $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Education 2023
Youth & Opportunity United $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2023
Books & Breakfast $30,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Chicago Engineers' Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2022
Chicago Lighthouse $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2022
Childcare Network Of Evanston $15,000 Evanston, IL, US Chartiable 2022
Countryside Day School $10,000 Northbrook, IL, US Education 2022
Duke University $300,000 Durham, NC, US Medical Research 2022
Eths Education Foundation $700,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Evanston Case $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Evanston Scholars $25,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Foundation 65 $60,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Glenview Youth Services $300,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2022
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $25,000 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2022
Idaho Horse Therapy $10,000 Shoshone, ID, US Charitable 2022
Learning Bridge $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Lincoln Park Public High School $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Education 2022
Mcgaw Ymca $30,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northlight Theater $10,000 Skokie, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northshore University Health System $1,977,720 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northshore University Health System $1,022,280 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Provenance Precision Medicine Foundation $25,000 Wilmette, IL, US Medical Research 2022
Rose-hulman Institute Of Technology $25,000 Terre Haute, IN, US Education 2022
Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation $50,000 Colleybille, TX, US Medical Research 2022
Stuttering Foundation $50,000 Memphis, TN, US Charitable 2022
The Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Chartiable 2022
Wolcott College Prep $5,750 Chicago, IL, US Education 2022
Youth & Opportunity United $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Books & Breakfast $30,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Chicago Engineers' Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2022
Chicago Lighthouse $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2022
Childcare Network Of Evanston $15,000 Evanston, IL, US Chartiable 2022
Countryside Day School $10,000 Northbrook, IL, US Education 2022
Duke University $300,000 Durham, NC, US Medical Research 2022
Eths Education Foundation $700,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Evanston Case $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Evanston Scholars $25,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Foundation 65 $60,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Glenview Youth Services $300,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2022
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $25,000 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2022
Idaho Horse Therapy $10,000 Shoshone, ID, US Charitable 2022
Learning Bridge $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2022
Lincoln Park Public High School $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Education 2022
Mcgaw Ymca $30,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northlight Theater $10,000 Skokie, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northshore University Health System $1,977,720 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Northshore University Health System $1,022,280 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Provenance Precision Medicine Foundation $25,000 Wilmette, IL, US Medical Research 2022
Rose-hulman Institute Of Technology $25,000 Terre Haute, IN, US Education 2022
Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation $50,000 Colleybille, TX, US Medical Research 2022
Stuttering Foundation $50,000 Memphis, TN, US Charitable 2022
The Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Chartiable 2022
Wolcott College Prep $5,750 Chicago, IL, US Education 2022
Youth & Opportunity United $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2022
Across The River $10,000 Buhl, ID, US Charitable 2021
Books & Breakfast $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Chicago Engineers' Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2021
Chicago Lighthouse $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2021
Childcare Network Of Evanston $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Chartiable 2021
Connections For The Homeless $100,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Countryside Day School $31,742 Northbrook, IL, US Education 2021
Duke University $250,000 Durham, NC, US Medical Research 2021
Eths Education Foundation $70,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Evanston Art Center $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Evanston Case $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Evanston Grows $7,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Evanston Public Library $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Evanston Scholars $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Foundation 65 $100,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Glenview Ed Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2021
Glenview Youth Services $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2021
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $25,000 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2021
Idaho Horse Therapy $10,000 Shoshone, ID, US Charitable 2021
James B Moran Center For Youth Advocacy $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Learning Bridge $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Mcgaw Ymca $35,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Northbrook Public Library $10,000 Northbrook, IL, US Charitable 2021
Northfield Food Pantry $25,000 Glenview, IL, US Charitable 2021
Northshore University Health System $1,375,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Rose-hulman Institute Of Technology $20,000 Terre Haute, IN, US Education 2021
Sara Shottenstein Foundation $5,000 San Francisco, CA, US Medical Research 2021
Shy Wolf Sanctuary $10,000 Naples, FL, US Charitable 2021
St Athanasius $10,000 Evantson, IL, US Charitable 2021
Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation $50,000 Colleybille, TX, US Medical Research 2021
Stuttering Foundation $50,000 Memphis, TN, US Charitable 2021
The Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Chartiable 2021
University Of Illinois - Chicago $250,000 Urbana, IL, US Education 2021
Warren W Cherry Preschool $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2021
Youth & Opportunity United $100,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2021
Books & Breakfast $45,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Chicago Engineers' Foundation $25,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2020
Chicago Lighthouse $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2020
Childcare Network Of Evanston $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Chartiable 2020
Connections For The Homeless $100,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Countryside Day School $10,000 Northbrook, IL, US Education 2020
Eths Education Foundation $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Evanston Art Center $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Evanston Case $5,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Evanston Community Foundation $85,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Evanston Public Library $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Evanston Scholars $50,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Foundation 65 $170,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Glenbrook High School Foundation $50,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2020
Glenview Ed Foundation $25,000 Glenview, IL, US Education 2020
Greater Chicago Food Depository $75,000 Chicago, IL, US Charitable 2020
Honor Flight Chicago Corp $25,000 Rosemont, IL, US Charitable 2020
James B Moran Center For Youth Advocacy $20,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Kids Create Change $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Learning Bridge $10,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Lincoln Park Public High School $50,000 Chicago, IL, US Education 2020
Mcgaw Ymca $90,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Meals On Wheels $30,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Northshore University Health System $501,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020
Nssra Foundation $100,000 Northbrook, IL, US Charitable 2020
Rose-hulman Institute Of Technology $25,000 Terre Haute, IN, US Education 2020
Stupid Strong Charitable Foundation $150,000 Colleybille, TX, US Medical Research 2020
Stuttering Foundation $75,000 Memphis, TN, US Charitable 2020
The Brain Tumor Research Charity $300,000 Stuart, FL, US Medical Research 2020
The Debra Gelfand Children's Foundation $25,000 Glenview, IL, US Chartiable 2020
University Of Illinois - Chicago $150,000 Urbana, IL, US Education 2020
Warren W Cherry Preschool $15,000 Evanston, IL, US Education 2020
Youth & Opportunity United $150,000 Evanston, IL, US Charitable 2020

Foundations Similar to Cless Family Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($52,526,959-$57,056,440), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in IL that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 75-6094930 | 408 grants awarded
$55,777,988
(≈ Similar)
$30,000
median grant
Chicago, IL
Same state
101%
Excellent match

EIN: 36-3662848 | 175 grants awarded
$53,723,676
(≈ Similar)
$25,000
median grant
Chicago, IL
Same state
101%
Excellent match

EIN: 27-1895175 | 326 grants awarded
$57,056,440
(≈ Similar)
$29,000
median grant
Chicago, IL
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 26-2753703 | 80 grants awarded
$52,845,318
(≈ Similar)
$20,000
median grant
Chicago, IL
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 82-4255910 | 14 grants awarded
$52,526,959
(≈ Similar)
$54,000
median grant
Decatur, IL
Same state
100%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Cless Family Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 36-3796675
Website N/A
Address 2110 MALLARD DR Northbrook, IL 60062-6643

Key People (5)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Cless Family Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Pres/treas/director Ruth I Cless
Director Martin Cless
Vp/secretary/director Jennifer U Zehr
Director Bryan C Cless
Director Stephen G Cless

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Cless Family Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.