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Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 36-3796675

Cless Family Foundation

A private foundation in Northbrook, IL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 24 grants and $3.1 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

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

  • Tax year 2025

    $3,108,605

    Grants listed
    24
    Assets, end of year
    $19,260,886

  • Tax year 2024

    $2,806,968

    Grants listed
    26
    Assets, end of year
    $19,993,626

  • Tax year 2023

    $3,629,676

    Grants listed
    31
    Assets, end of year
    $20,557,725

  • Tax year 2022

    $4,900,750

    Grants listed
    27
    Assets, end of year
    $20,505,400

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,928,742

    Grants listed
    36
    Assets, end of year
    $22,980,763

  • Tax year 2020

    $2,506,000

    Grants listed
    33
    Assets, end of year
    $22,962,693

Grants paid in 2025

24 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Schwab CharitableOrland, FL

    Charitable

    $1,164,605
  2. Northshore Hospitals FoundationEvanston, IL

    Medical research

    $825,000
  3. Glenview Youth ServicesGlenview, IL

    Education

    $300,000
  4. The Brain Tumor Research CharityCharleston, SC

    Medical research

    $275,000
  5. Books & BreakfastEvanston, IL

    Education

    $50,000
  6. Chicago Engineer's FoundationChicago, IL

    Charitable

    $50,000
  7. Foundation 65Evanston, IL

    Education

    $50,000
  8. Matthias Academy CorporationBenet Lake, WI

    Education

    $50,000
  9. Provenance Precision Medicine FoundationWilmette, IL

    Medical research

    $50,000
  10. The Chicago LighthouseChicago, IL

    Charitable

    $50,000
  11. Moran Center for Youth FoundationEvanston, IL

    Charitable

    $35,000
  12. Winnetka Public Schools FoundationWinnetka, IL

    Education

    $30,000
  13. Childcare Network of EvanstonEvanston, IL

    Chartibale

    $25,000
  14. Lincoln Park Public High SchoolChicago, IL

    Education

    $25,000
  15. Northlight TheatreEvanston, IL

    Charitable

    $25,000
  16. Rose-Hulman Institute of TechnologyTerre Haute, IN

    Education

    $25,000
  17. Youth & Opportunity UnitedEvanston, IL

    Charitable

    $25,000
  18. Friends of Lincoln Park High SchoolChicago, IL

    Education

    $17,000
  19. New Castle High SchoolNew Castle, IN

    Education

    $15,000
  20. Countryside Day SchoolNorthbrook, IL

    Education

    $10,000
  21. Evanston GrowsEvanston, IL

    Charitable

    $5,000
  22. Wolcott College PrepChicago, IL

    Education

    $5,000
  23. Horward L Rehs Memorial Fund for ALS ResearchArlington, VA

    Medical research

    $1,000
  24. Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL

    Education

    $1,000

Where the money goes

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

  1. Education5 grants $108,00057% of the total
  2. Human services1 grant $50,00027% of the total
  3. Arts and culture1 grant $25,00013% of the total
  4. Community development1 grant $5,0003% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois18 grants $1,578,000
  2. Florida1 grant $1,164,605
  3. South Carolina1 grant $275,000
  4. Wisconsin1 grant $50,000
  5. Indiana2 grants $40,000
  6. Virginia1 grant $1,000

Officers, directors and trustees

5 people as filed

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

  • Ruth I ClessPRES/TREAS/DIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Martin ClessDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Jennifer U ZehrVP/SECRETARY/DIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Bryan C ClessDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Stephen G ClessDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0

The return

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