The Ehlert Family Foundation
The Ehlert Family Foundation is a private family foundation (EIN 02-0626100) supporting people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder, youth services, animal rescue, and environmental conservation. The site lists leadership (Stacy Ehlert as President, Bunny Ehlert as Treasurer) and includes a gallery and contact form. The website’s content aligns with public filings (ProPublica) and foundation name/leadership.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A nonprofit (often Illinois-based) working in homelessness, substance use recovery, youth services, animal rescue, or community outreach with local ties or introductions to the foundation or its grantee network.
Good Fit
- • Programs address homelessness, substance use disorder, youth services, animal rescue, or community outreach.
- • Organizational presence or operations in Illinois or clear local impact within the state.
- • Existing relationships or introductions to board members, prior grantees, or local community leaders.
- • Capacity to receive general operating support or to meet expenditure responsibility requirements.
Geography
Giving is heavily concentrated in Illinois (about 82% of dollars) but grants also reached a few other states in the latest year, so the footprint is state‑focused rather than strictly local or national.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded roughly 12–14 distinct recipients each year across a range of mission areas, producing a moderate breadth of grantees; however, dollars are concentrated among a few large recipients (top five received 85%), which tempers the breadth.
New Applicants
Directly stated policy and application notes indicate grantmaking is by preselection rather than an open call, but observed history shows new grantees appearing each year (e.g., 8 new in 2023, 6 new in 2024), so unfamiliar applicants could enter the portfolio but usually via relationships or nomination rather than cold applications.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
