Well Told Grants

Foundations / Illinois

Gray Collection Trust

Preselected recipients only Chicago, Illinois · EIN 261596672

Gray Collection Trust is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2025 it gave $1.9 million in 2 grants; the typical grant was $931,000 and the largest $1.8 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was down from $5.2 million the year before.

100% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2022$00$9.7 million
2023$6.8 million1$2.9 million
2024$5.2 million1$2.9 million
2025$1.9 million2$1.1 million

How to apply

Gray Collection Trust says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What Gray Collection Trust funds

Where it gives

All of its grants went to recipients in Illinois.

StateGrantsAmount
Illinois2$1.9 million

Grants paid in 2025

All 2 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Smart Museum of Art University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
To return cultural artifacts to their country of origin$1.8 million
Hellenic Republic Consulate General of Greece in Chicago
Chicago, IL
To contribute to the museum's permanent collection$62,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does Gray Collection Trust accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does Gray Collection Trust give?

$1.9 million in tax year 2025, across 2 grants, with a typical grant of $931,000.

Who runs Gray Collection Trust?

Its 2025 filing lists Paul Gray (Trustee) and Mary Gray (Trustee).

What does Gray Collection Trust fund?

Based on its grants, mainly arts and culture and education.

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