Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation
EIN 36-3485579 · IL
Giving Profile
In 2025, Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation based in IL paid 19 grants totaling $135.5K to 19 organizations across 3 states. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $30K, with a median of $5K. Its largest recipients included NEWBERRY LIBRARY - CONVERSATIONS, RYAN OPERA CENTER, and CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications — giving is by invitation only.
Foundation at a Glance
- Total assets
- $136,424
- Giving (latest yr)
- $135,515
- Filing year
- 2025
- Itemized grants
- 19
- Median grant
- $5K
- Recipients
- 19
- States reached
- 3
- Officers/trustees
- 3
- Unsolicited applications
- No — invitation only
Where the Money Goes
Top recipients
- Newberry Library - Conversations$30,000
- Ryan Opera Center$25,000
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra$15,000
- Intrinsic Schools of Chicago$10,000
- Lurie Children's Memorial Foundation$10,000
Where grants went
- Illinois$129,515 · 17 grants
- New York$5,000 · 1 grant
- Michigan$1,000 · 1 grant
Grants Paid (19)
Researching funders? Get the full dataset
Every US private foundation by cause and state — giving history, grant sizes, top recipients, and contact details — as a downloadable spreadsheet.
FAQFrequently Asked Questions
No. Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications — its grantmaking is by invitation only. Cultivating a relationship or securing an introduction is typically required.
In its most recent filing, Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation reported 19 itemized grants totaling $135.5K. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $30K (median $5K).
Recent recipients include NEWBERRY LIBRARY - CONVERSATIONS, RYAN OPERA CENTER, CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, among 19 organizations in total. The full grant list is on this page.
Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation is a private foundation based in Illinois, per its IRS 990-PF filing.
Sue and Melvin Gray Foundation gives by invitation only, so there is no open application. Officer and address details from its 990-PF are the best starting point for an introduction.
More foundations like this
Howard G Buffett Foundation
Illinois
- Assets
- $718.1M
- Giving / yr
- 🎁 $698.7M
Funds in IL
William R Kenan JR Charitable Trust
Illinois
- Assets
- $665.1M
- Giving / yr
- 🎁 $35.1M
Funds in IL
Leona M & Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust
New York
- Assets
- $7.1B
- Giving / yr
- 🎁 $440.9M
Funds in NY · CA · ND +12
Robert W Woodruff Foundation Inc
Georgia
- Assets
- $1.9B
- Giving / yr
- 🎁 $190.3M
Funds in GA · CA · NY +1