Mazza Foundation
Chicago, IL · EIN 36-6054751. Reported 147 grants totalling $7,597,500 to 75 organizations across tax years 2020-2023. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Mazza Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $40,000; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $300,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Shoulders Fund | Chicago, IL | $1,200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $900,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Misericordia Foundation | Chicago, IL | $900,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Depaul University | Chicago, IL | $800,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | $500,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital | Chicago, IL | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Loyola University Chicago - Arrupe College | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $225,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lumen Christi Institute | Chicago, IL | $180,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor - St Mary's Home | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Grant Park Music Festival | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Loyola University Arrupe College | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Red Cloud Indian School | Pine Ridge, SD | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly | Chicago, IL | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Lyric Opera | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Loyola Press | Chicago, IL | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Lighthouse | Chicago, IL | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Red Cloud Indian School Pine Ridge South Dakota | Pine Ridge, SD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Christ the King Jesuit College Prep | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep | Waukegan, IL | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mercy Home for Boys and Girls | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Ravinia Festival Association | Highland Park, IL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Inspiration Corporation | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mother Mcauley High School | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore MD | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Griffin Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwestern University Settlement Association | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Sinai Hospital Baltimore MD | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Allendale Association | Lake Villa, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Amate House | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Catholic Extension | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe Il | Glencoe, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation | Golf, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Gilda's Club Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Horizons for Youth | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Newberry Library - Chicago Il | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St Leonard's Ministries | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Catholic Extension Society | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep Waukegan Il | Waukegan, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Gregorian University Foundation | Washington DC, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hadley School for the Blind | Winnetka, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Highsight | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Alexian Brothers Housing & Health Alliance | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alexian Brother Housing and Alliance | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Chicago Academy of Sciencesnotebaert Nature Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Academy of Sciencespeggy Notebaert Nature | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation Golf Il | Golf, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Gilda's Club | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Gregorian University Foundation Washington DC | Washington DC, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ignatian Spirituality Project | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| National Museum of Mexican Art | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Northwestern University Settlement House | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Leonard's Ministriesgrace House | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Women's Care Center Foundation Inc | Mishawaka, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Illinois Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Calvert House | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Children's Choir | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Help Initiative | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hadley School for the Blind Winnetka Il | Winnetka, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (home) | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elde | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Uniting Voices Chicago (chicago Children's Choir) | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
40 of 75 (53%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 60%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Big Shoulders Fund
SCHOLARSHIPS, HIGH SCHOOL SUPPORT - Loyola University Chicago
ARRUPE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS - Lyric Opera of Chicago
OPERA IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS - Lyric Opera
LEARNING & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - Loyola Press
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM - Red Cloud Indian School
SCHOLARSHIPS, MIDDLE SCHOOL
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 72 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 34 | $1,720,000 | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 42 | $1,960,000 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 36 | $1,825,000 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 35 | $2,092,500 | $15,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 97% of this one's giving went to organizations in Illinois. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Mazza Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 120 S Riverside 1700, Chicago, IL, 60606. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-6054751 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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