The Kenneth & Harle Montgomery Foundation concentrates sizable, local grants on community-serving institutions in the Chicago area, with a clear emphasis on social welfare, cultural arts, science education, and medical charity. They favor a small number of significant investments—often repeat grants—into organizations that provide direct services, cultural programming, and informal STEM education for youth and families.
Kenneth & Harle Montgomery Foundation C/o Bell & Anderson LLC makes large, repeated grants to a relatively small set of recipients, with some of its clearest support going to Yerkes Future Foundation Inc, which received $175,000 in 2025 after earlier grants of $75,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in 2024. The foundation also backed John G Shedd Aquarium with $100,000 in both 2024 and 2025, showing a pattern of continuing support rather than isolated awards. Its grantmaking reaches across social welfare, education, medical charity, and cultural arts, and it often funds institutions that serve families, students, and community audiences directly. Chicago-area organizations appear frequently, including People’s Resource Center and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, but the portfolio is not limited to one city or one field. Awards in the recent grants list range from five-figure support to six-figure commitments, and several recipients appear more than once across multiple years. The foundation’s mix of education, welfare, and cultural support suggests a broad categorical approach within a defined set of community-serving institutions.
In social welfare, the foundation gave $132,500 to People’s Resource Center in Wheaton, Illinois, and also supported African Grove Institute for the Arts in Pasadena, California with $100,000 and $50,000 grants for social welfare. For medical charity, it awarded $150,000 to Spirit of Charity Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2024, following a $50,000 grant to the same organization in 2023. Education-focused grants include $67,500 to Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago and $50,000 to Evans Scholars Foundation in Golf, Illinois, both in 2023. Cultural and public-learning institutions also appear in the recent grants, including repeated support for John G Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
Typical grant sizes cluster in the middle five figures: p25 is $5,000, median is $14,000, and p75 is $25,000. Recent awards also include several $100,000 and $150,000 grants, which indicates that the foundation uses a mix of standard grants and larger commitments. Repeated recipients are common in the recent list, including Yerkes Future Foundation Inc, John G Shedd Aquarium, Spirit of Charity Foundation, African Grove Institute for the Arts, Southern California Public Radio, Evans Scholars Foundation, and Family Pictures Institute for Inclusive Storytelling Inc. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$798K
$12.5M
$1.5M
$929K
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 17% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated giving: relatively few, large grants with multiple repeat awards to the same organizations; funding is program- and institution-focused rather than scattered small grants.
Notable grantees: People's Resource Center, African Grove Institute for the Arts, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Yerkes Future Foundation, Spirit of Charity Foundation
The foundation’s grants are national, with all recent grants in the United States. Illinois accounts for 17% of grants, and Chicago appears often through recipients such as John G Shedd Aquarium and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Other frequently named recipient locations include Pasadena, California; Wheaton, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; and New Orleans, Louisiana. The top state by grant count is Arizona, even though the headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.
Recent grants show support for social welfare, education, medical charity, and cultural arts. Examples include People’s Resource Center for social welfare, Spirit of Charity Foundation for medical support, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law for education, and John G Shedd Aquarium for general support tied to public learning.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list, including Yerkes Future Foundation Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025; John G Shedd Aquarium in 2024 and 2025; Spirit of Charity Foundation in 2023 and 2024; and Family Pictures Institute for Inclusive Storytelling Inc in 2023 and 2024.
The grant-size distribution centers in the middle five figures. The 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $14,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $100,000, $132,500, $150,000, and $175,000.
The foundation gives nationally, and every recent grant listed is in the United States. Illinois receives 17% of grants, while the top state by grant count is Arizona. Chicago-area recipients appear often, but grants also land in California, Ohio, Louisiana, New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION INC | WILLIAMS BAY, WI | $175,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AFRICAN GROVE INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER | WHEATON, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO | PASADENA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $42,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CITY OF HOPE | DUARTE, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| THE UCI FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| STANFORD LAW SCHOOL | STANFORD, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UTOPIA FOUNDATION INC | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NATIONAL CHEERS FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| WINDANSEA SURF CLUB | LA JOLLA, CA | $14,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| STELLA MARIS ACADEMY | LA JOLLA, CA | $13,104 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VISIONARIES VOICES | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MUSEUM OF US | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| NALP FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $6,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| LAKE GENEVA FOOD PANTRY | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF LAW | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GARZA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM | POST, TX | $4,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LEVELLAND WALLACE THEATER | LEVELLAND, TX | $3,750 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE FOUNDATION | LEVELLAND, TX | $3,750 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CAPROCK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION | POST, TX | $2,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SPIRIT OF CHARITY FOUNDATION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $150,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER | WHEATON, IL | $132,500 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AFRICAN GROVE INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| YERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION INC | WILLIAMS BAY, WI | $75,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO | PASADENA, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $42,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FAMILY PICTURES INSTITUTE FOR INCLUSIVE STORYTELLING INC | GREENWOOD LAKE, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CLIFTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| NATIONAL CHEERS FOUNDATION | LA JOLLA, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| STANFORD LAW SCHOOL | STANFORD, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ELDER LAW AND DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| WINDANSEA SURF CLUB | LA JOLLA, CA | $13,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| STELLA MARIS ACADEMY | LA JOLLA, CA | $11,700 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| VISIONARIES VOICES | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UTOPIA FOUNDATION INC | TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MUSEUM OF US | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| LAKE GENEVA FOOD PANTRY | LAKE GENEVA, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF LAW | SAN DIEGO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NALP FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $5,000 | 2024 | SOCIAL WELFARE |
| GARZA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM | POST, TX | $4,500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM
$100,000GENERAL
AFRICAN GROVE INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS
$100,000SOCIAL WELFARE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$42,000EDUCATIONAL
THE UCI FOUNDATION
$25,000SOCIAL WELFARE
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
UTOPIA FOUNDATION INC
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
NATIONAL CHEERS FOUNDATION
$15,000SOCIAL WELFARE
WINDANSEA SURF CLUB
$14,000EDUCATIONAL
STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
$13,104EDUCATIONAL
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
FATHER JOE'S VILLAGES
$8,000SOCIAL WELFARE
NALP FOUNDATION
$6,000SOCIAL WELFARE
LAKE GENEVA FOOD PANTRY
$5,000GENERAL
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC
$5,000SOCIAL WELFARE
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF LAW
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
GARZA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$4,500EDUCATIONAL
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$3,750EDUCATIONAL
CAPROCK CULTURAL ASSOCIATION
$2,500EDUCATIONAL
AFRICAN GROVE INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS
$100,000SOCIAL WELFARE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO
$50,000EDUCATIONAL
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$42,000EDUCATIONAL
NATIONAL CHEERS FOUNDATION
$15,000SOCIAL WELFARE
ELDER LAW AND DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER
$15,000SOCIAL WELFARE
SOUTHWESTERN LAW SCHOOL
$15,000EDUCATIONAL
WINDANSEA SURF CLUB
$13,000EDUCATIONAL
STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
$11,700EDUCATIONAL
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
UTOPIA FOUNDATION INC
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
LAKE GENEVA FOOD PANTRY
$5,000GENERAL
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL OF LAW
$5,000EDUCATIONAL
NALP FOUNDATION
$5,000SOCIAL WELFARE
GARZA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
$4,500EDUCATIONAL