Martin Family Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes. Its mission centers on providing unrestricted funding to health-related charities, community service initiatives, and food assistance programs. The foundation primarily serves organizations that address health issues, community development, and food security. Notable recipients include the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, CASA Kane County, and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. While the foundation's activities are primarily focused in Illinois, it also supports a few organizations outside the state, such as St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A small-to-midsize Illinois nonprofit focused on community services, food assistance, or health programs with local ties and capacity to use modest unrestricted grants.
Good Fit
- • Located in Illinois, especially the foundation's metro/county area.
- • Mission aligned with community service, food banks, or health charities.
- • Existing relationships or referrals from local intermediaries or recurring grantees.
- • Need for modest unrestricted operating support ($300–$5,000 range).
- • Track record of local impact and collaboration with other community nonprofits.
Geography
Giving is overwhelmingly local: 98% of 2023 dollars stayed in Illinois and most grants went to organizations in the foundation's state, with only a single small out-of-state award.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows six distinct independent grantees covering community service, food assistance, and health causes; however, a small group receives most dollars and five recipients are repeats from the prior year.
New Applicants
The foundation signals an invitation-only approach in its application metadata and behavior shows low turnover (five returning grantees and only one new recipient in 2023), so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to enter the portfolio without a referral or relationship.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
