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Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 36-3540747

Pepper Family Foundation

A private foundation in Chicago, IL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 51 grants and $3.7 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $3,746,768

    Grants listed
    51
    Assets, end of year
    $34,957,557

  • Tax year 2024

    $3,243,186

    Grants listed
    28
    Assets, end of year
    $37,006,412

  • Tax year 2023

    $1,573,000

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $29,652,016

  • Tax year 2022

    $415,000

    Grants listed
    18
    Assets, end of year
    $21,169,798

  • Tax year 2021

    $558,000

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $11,512,177

  • Tax year 2020

    $677,500

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $9,048,598

  • Tax year 2019

    $540,000

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $8,945,081

  • Tax year 2018

    $1,255,500

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $9,319,596

Grants paid in 2025

51 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. The Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $1,010,000
  2. John G Shedd AquariumChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $510,000
  3. Northshore Hospitals FoundationEvanston, IL

    Operating funds

    $300,000
  4. Lincoln Park ZooChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $230,982
  5. Northwestern University Department of CommunicationsEvanston, IL

    Operating funds

    $200,000
  6. Adler PlanetariumChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $146,250
  7. Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL

    Operating funds

    $105,000
  8. Arkansas Museum of Fine ArtsLittle Rock, AR

    Operating funds

    $100,000
  9. Plymouth PlaceLagrange Park, IL

    Operating funds

    $100,000
  10. Chicago South Side Birth CenterChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $100,000
  11. Northwestern University Athletic DeptEvanston, IL

    Operating funds

    $89,000
  12. Brookfield ZooBrookfield, IL

    Operating funds

    $85,000
  13. St Michael Episcopal ChurchBarrington, IL

    Operating funds

    $63,042
  14. Barrington White HouseBarrington, IL

    Operating funds

    $55,000
  15. Elgin Symphony OrchestraElgin, IL

    Operating funds

    $55,000
  16. Junior Achievement of Central OhioColumbus, OH

    Operating funds

    $50,000
  17. Madonna MissionChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $50,000
  18. Friends of the Fieldsbarrington Cust 220Barrington, IL

    Operating funds

    $50,000
  19. Barrington Youth and Family ServicesBarrington, IL

    Operating funds

    $42,000
  20. Boys and Girls Club of the NW SuburbsCarpentersville, IL

    Operating funds

    $40,200
  21. OpenlandsChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $30,000
  22. Chicago Baseball and Educational AcademyChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $30,000
  23. Arden Shore Child and Family ServicesWaukegan, IL

    Operating funds

    $26,000
  24. Mercyone Genesis FoundationDavenport, IA

    Operating funds

    $26,000
  25. Quad City Music GuildMoline, IL

    Operating funds

    $25,526
  26. Warp CorpsWoodstock, IL

    Operating funds

    $25,500
  27. The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH

    Operating funds

    $25,207
  28. Maryville Academy Center for ChildrenChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $25,000
  29. Salute IncPalatine, IL

    Operating funds

    $25,000
  30. The Hap FoundationOakbrook Ter, IL

    Operating funds

    $25,000
  31. The Cultural TrustBettendorf, IA

    Operating funds

    $25,000
  32. Big Shoulders FundChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  33. Chicago Field MuseumChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  34. Chicago History MuseumChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  35. Museum of Science and IndustryChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  36. Chicago Children's TheatreChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  37. Grace Episcopal ChurchGalena, IL

    Operating funds

    $10,000
  38. Lake Zurich Cusd 95 Marching BandLake Zurich, IL

    Operating funds

    $5,000
  39. St Paul Lutheran ChurchWaukegan, IL

    Operating funds

    $3,800
  40. Galena Territory FoundationGalena, IL

    Operating funds

    $2,000
  41. Harper CollegePalatine, IL

    Operating funds

    $1,000
  42. Hazelden Betty Ford FoundationCenter City, MN

    Operating funds

    $1,000
  43. Augustana CollegeRock Island, IL

    Operating funds

    $1,000
  44. Leukemia and Lymphoma SocietyWashington, DC

    Operating funds

    $500
  45. Barrington Area Community FoundationBarrington, IL

    Operating funds

    $500
  46. Curtis Granderson FoundationWalnut Creek, CA

    Operating funds

    $500
  47. Anti Cruelty SocietyChicago, IL

    Operating funds

    $500
  48. Lead(h)erDavenport, IA

    Operating funds

    $500
  49. Sea Shepherd Conservation SocietyWoodbridge, VA

    Operating funds

    $259
  50. The Gentle Barn FoundationDittmer, MO

    Operating funds

    $252
  51. Evans Scholars FoundationGlenview, IL

    Operating funds

    $250

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education4 grants $1,023,00054% of the total
  2. Arts and culture6 grants $256,77614% of the total
  3. Human services4 grants $192,50010% of the total
  4. Sports and recreation1 grant $105,0006% of the total
  5. Health1 grant $100,0005% of the total
  6. Animals3 grants $85,7595% of the total
  7. 6 other causes7 grants $137,0007% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois41 grants $3,518,550
  2. Arkansas1 grant $100,000
  3. Ohio2 grants $75,207
  4. Iowa3 grants $51,500
  5. California1 grant $500
  6. District of Columbia1 grant $500
  7. Virginia1 grant $259
  8. Missouri1 grant $252

Officers, directors and trustees

6 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • J Stanley PepperDIRECTOR Hours 4Pay $10,000
  • W Franklin Appleby JrSECRETARY & TREASURER Hours 4Pay $258,380
  • J Richard PepperDIRECTOR, ASSISTANT TREASURER Hours 4Pay $10,000
  • J Scot PepperDIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT Hours 4Pay $10,000
  • Lisa PepperDIRECTOR, PRESIDENT Hours 4Pay $10,000
  • Jaime Pepper BlandDIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPIC RELATIONS Hours 40Pay $104,015

The return

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