The Kjellstrom Family Foundation
Rockford, IL · EIN 20-6368876. Reported 201 grants totalling $3,126,851 to 111 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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. The Kjellstrom Family 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 $11,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $6,000 and $20,000; the smallest was $26 and the largest $87,700. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Il Center for Nonprofit Excellence | Rockford, IL | $305,643 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rockford Area Arts Council | Rockford, IL | $137,700 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Severson Dells Nature Center | Rockford, IL | $116,942 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Discovery Center Museum | Rockford, IL | $93,352 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rockford Symphony Orchestra | Rockford, IL | $92,578 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club | Rockford, IL | $85,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| YMCA | Rockford, IL | $85,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Friends of the Coronado | Rockford, IL | $82,330 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shelter Care | Rockford, IL | $75,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Easterseals | Rockford, IL | $71,427 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Ramp | Rockford, IL | $67,420 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Midway Village Museum | Rockford, IL | $65,605 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rockford Promise | Rockford, IL | $62,285 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Youth Services Network | Rockford, IL | $61,070 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Racvb | Rockford, IL | $55,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Burpee Museum of Natural History | Rockford, IL | $49,550 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Milestone | Loves Park, IL | $45,400 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rock River Valley Pantry | Rockford, IL | $40,600 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Rockford | Rockford, IL | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rockford Art Musuem | Rockford, IL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Farmers Rising Rockford | Rockford, IL | $39,965 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Patriots Gateway Community Center | Rockford, IL | $37,455 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rockford Barbell | Rockford, IL | $36,055 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Starlight Theater | Rockford, IL | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation | Machesney Park, IL | $30,250 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Zion Development | Rockford, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nwcc | Rockford, IL | $29,450 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brooke Road United Methodist Church | Rockford, IL | $29,310 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Westside Showroom | Rockford, IL | $28,919 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Music Academy | Rockford, IL | $28,751 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ken Rock Community Center | Rockford, IL | $28,100 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Nikolas Ritschel Foundation | Rockford, IL | $27,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| YWCA | Rockford, IL | $26,861 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army | Rockford, IL | $26,792 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Goldie Floberg Center | Rockford, IL | $26,572 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ethnic Heritage Museum | Rockford, IL | $25,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Northwest Community Center | Rockford, IL | $25,163 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Children's Home Aid | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Freeport Art Museum | Freeport, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Keith Country Day School | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Kfact | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Rock House Kids | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Arc Winnebago Boone & Ogle | Rockford, IL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brightpoint | Rockford, IL | $24,918 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Riverfront Museum Park | Rockford, IL | $24,104 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Rock Valley College Foundation | Rockford, IL | $24,083 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity | Loves Park, IL | $23,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| CASA-Winnebago County | Rockford, IL | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boylan Catholic High School | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Sight and Hearing | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Children's Safe Harbor | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jackson Charter School | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Life Decisions | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pec Playhouse Theatre | Pecatonica, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ramp Disability Resources & Services | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rockford Dance Company | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Special Olympics | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rockford Rescue Mission | Rockford, IL | $17,493 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Rvc Foundation | Rockford, IL | $16,043 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rockford Park District | Rockford, IL | $15,680 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Rockford | Rockford, IL | $15,040 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Angelic Organics | Caledonia, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stateline Youth for Christ | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Baby Bank | Belvidere, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The YMCA of Rock River Valley | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Youth for Christ | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Spectrum School | Rockford, IL | $14,716 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Music Academy in Rockford | Rockford, IL | $14,299 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Children's Home & Aid Society | Rockford, IL | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lutheran Social Services | Rockford, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Children's Theater Project | Rockford, IL | $12,355 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| League of Women Voters | Rockford, IL | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northern Il Food Bank | Rockford, IL | $11,190 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boone-Winnebago County Regional Office of Ed | Loves Park, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boylan High School | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Circles of Learning | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| NAMI Northern Illinois | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Nicne Fbo Food Insecurity | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Safe Families for Children | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Uniform Co-Op at St Mark Lutheran Church | Rockford, IL | $8,800 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trinity House | Rockford, IL | $8,360 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| 100 Strong | Rockford, IL | $8,266 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rockford Public Library | Rockford, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Arc of Winnebago Boone & Ogle Counties | Rockford, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Durand School District | Durand, IL | $6,454 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fatherhood Encouragement Project | Rockford, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center | Rockford, IL | $5,750 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Laurent House Foundation | Rockford, IL | $5,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Anderson Japanese Gardens | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bridges to Prosperity Northern Illinois | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cleta's Stay and Sew | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girls on the Run | Crystal Lake, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rock River Valley Blood Center | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rockford Art Museum | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rockford Family Peace Center | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Mark Lutheran Church | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Stepping Stones of Rockford | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford | Rockford, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jeremiah Development | Rockford, IL | $4,739 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rockford Wind Ensemble | Rockford, IL | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Swedish Historical Society | Rockford, IL | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Womanspace | Rockford, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of Northwest Illinois | Freeport, IL | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boy Scouts of America- Blackhawk Area Council | Rockford, IL | $2,600 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Artists' Ensemble Theatre | Rockford, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rrvbc | Rockford, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boone County Arts Council | Belvidere, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Village of Progress | Oregon, IL | $1,316 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
43 of 111 (39%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 50%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 90 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30 | $617,014 | $12,200 |
| 2022 | 31 | $456,807 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 40 | $631,704 | $13,291 |
| 2024 | 53 | $710,866 | $10,000 |
| 2025 | 47 | $710,460 | $12,000 |
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
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $11,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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 The Kjellstrom Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 8500 East State Street, Rockford, IL, 61108. 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 20-6368876 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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