The Kohn & Mitchell Family Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in the Chicago area, prioritizing higher education, medical research/healthcare, and Jewish community infrastructure. Their grants flow mainly to prominent local institutions (major universities, academic medical centers, and Jewish communal organizations), often funding specific research programs, named clinical work, and institutional initiatives. The foundation appears to favor substantial, targeted gifts that advance medical research and support civic/Jewish service organizations tied to the Chicago region.
A $214,102 unrestricted gift to the University of Chicago in 2023 stands out as the largest recent grant on file for the Kohn & Mitchell Family Foundation, and it fits a broader pattern of large, targeted support for Chicago institutions. The foundation’s recent grants center on higher education, medical research and clinical programs, and Jewish communal organizations, with multiple gifts going to universities, academic medical centers, and service groups in metropolitan Chicago. Its record also includes investigator-directed support, department-level funding, and discretionary gifts, suggesting a preference for funding specific programs and named initiatives rather than broad, open-ended portfolios. The foundation’s recurring beneficiaries point to how it works in practice. The University of Chicago and its medical center receive support for educational, research, and clinical purposes, including the Forefront Fund and named research funds. Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Foundation appear in the recent record as well, with gifts tied to education, multimedia support, and physician-specific work in cardiovascular care and ophthalmology. Jewish community institutions such as JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, and Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School also appear repeatedly, showing a local funding pattern that spans academia, healthcare, and communal infrastructure.
Higher education is a core theme. In 2024, the foundation gave $100,000 to University of Chicago Medical Center for the Department of Human Genetics - Forefront Fund, and in 2023 it gave $108,763 to Northwestern University for educational purposes. A separate $40,000 award to Northwestern University funded the Mitchell Multimedia Gift Fund. Medical research and clinical support are another clear area. The foundation gave $93,046 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation to support Dr. Preeti Kansal in the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, and $10,000 to the same intermediary for Dr. Surendra Basti in ophthalmology. At the University of Chicago Medical Center, it also backed the Forefront Fund J. Mastrianni, MD, PhD, and Richard P. Kraig, MD, PhD. Jewish communal support appears through grants to JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, and Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School. The recent record also includes a $10,000 gift to JUF for the Israel Emergency Fund.
$1.2M
$9.6M
$235K
$707K
Most grants fall between $6K and $66K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$66K
About 85% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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A concentrated, high-dollar giving pattern with a small number of sizable grants to major local institutions; frequent repeat funding to the same core beneficiaries and gifts designated for specific programs, investigators, or named funds rather than many small unrestricted grants.
Notable grantees: JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, University of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Foundation
Typical grants cluster around a $6,000 lower quartile, $15,314 median, and $66,250 upper quartile, which indicates a mix of smaller community gifts and larger institutional awards. The recent record shows repeat support for the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, and Anti-Defamation League. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a family foundation, gives locally, and also funds individuals through named investigator support and scholarships.
Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Illinois: 85% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is IL. Chicago is the main recipient city, with additional grants to Evanston and Northbrook. Outside Illinois, the recent record includes New York City recipients such as Play for PINK and the Anti-Defamation League, but all recorded grants in the supplied dataset are in the United States.
Recent grants show support for universities, medical centers, Jewish communal organizations, and a small number of cultural and advocacy groups. Examples include University of Chicago, Northwestern University, JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Anti-Defamation League.
Yes. The recent record includes $100,000 to University of Chicago Medical Center for the Department of Human Genetics - Forefront Fund, $93,046 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation for Dr. Preeti Kansal in the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, and $10,000 to the same intermediary for Dr. Surendra Basti in ophthalmology.
Yes. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 85% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Chicago recipients dominate the list, with additional grants in Evanston and Northbrook.
Yes. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2024, including University of Chicago, Northwestern University, JUF of Metropolitan Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Sinai Congregation, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, and Anti-Defamation League.
The grant-size distribution centers on a median of $15,314, with a lower quartile of $6,000 and an upper quartile of $66,250. That suggests the foundation gives a combination of smaller community grants and larger institutional awards.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUF OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $198,795 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Department of Human Genetics - Forefront Fund |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $93,046 | 2024 | To support the work of Dr. Preeti Kansal in the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2024 | Forefront Fund J. Mastrianni, MD, PhD |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $40,000 | 2024 | Mitchell Multimedia Gift Fund |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| THE COVE SCHOOL | NORTHBROOK, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | Scholarship Fund |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $10,629 | 2024 | Richard P. Kraig, MD, PhD |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | To support the work of Dr. Surendra Basti in Ophthalmology |
| JUF OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | Israel Emergency Fund |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION | CHICAGO, IL | $6,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| BERNARD ZELL ANSHE EMET DAY SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $6,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | Dean's Discretionary Fund |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| PLAY FOR PINK | NEW YORK, NY | $2,459 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| LYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | Unrestricted |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $214,102 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| JUF of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $175,488 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $108,763 | 2023 | Educational |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $40,000 | 2023 | Educational |
| Play for PINK | New York, NY | $27,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Chicago Sinai Congregation | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Anti-Defamation League | New York, NY | $3,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
| Jewish Council for Youth Services | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | Unrestricted |
JUF OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
$198,795Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
$100,000Department of Human Genetics - Forefront Fund
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$93,046To support the work of Dr. Preeti Kansal in the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
$75,000Forefront Fund J. Mastrianni, MD, PhD
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$40,000Mitchell Multimedia Gift Fund
LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO
$20,000Unrestricted
THE COVE SCHOOL
$20,000Scholarship Fund
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
$10,629Richard P. Kraig, MD, PhD
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$10,000To support the work of Dr. Surendra Basti in Ophthalmology
JUF OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
$10,000Israel Emergency Fund
CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION
$6,000Unrestricted
BERNARD ZELL ANSHE EMET DAY SCHOOL
$6,000Unrestricted
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
$5,000Dean's Discretionary Fund
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE
$3,000Unrestricted
PLAY FOR PINK
$2,459Unrestricted
LYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
$1,000Unrestricted
University of Chicago
$214,102Unrestricted
JUF of Metropolitan Chicago
$175,488Unrestricted
Northwestern University
$108,763Educational
Northwestern University
$40,000Educational
Play for PINK
$27,000Unrestricted
Lyric Opera of Chicago
$20,000Unrestricted
Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School
$6,000Unrestricted
Chicago Sinai Congregation
$6,000Unrestricted
Anti-Defamation League
$3,000Unrestricted
Jewish Council for Youth Services
$1,000Unrestricted