A Just Better Foundation
A Just Better Foundation is a private foundation based in Reddick, Illinois. It reported $112,000 in grants to 20 recipients in filing year 2025.
A Just Better Foundation at a glance
In short: A Just Better Foundation gave $112K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $112,000
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,600
- -16.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,215,799
- +9.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to A Just Better Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. No special forms are required, and the filing reports no restrictions or limitations on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing states that there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Andrew Bergan
Mailing address: 35867 E 3200 N Road, Reddick, IL 60961
Phone: (815) 674-1911
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who A Just Better Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Illinois Fire Safety Alliance ($20K). Together the top 10 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 35 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Other reported shares were Colorado, 9%; Washington, 4%; Massachusetts, 4%; and Alabama, 3%. The listed grants also included recipients in Georgia and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
How A Just Better Foundation gives
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 184% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $101K (2024) to $112K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $112K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Fire Safety Alliance Mt Prospect, IL | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Herscher Tiger Scholarship Herscher, IL | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| The Krulac Foundation Canton, IL | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Cu Welfare Foundation Denver, CO | Unrestricted | $9,000 |
| Friends of Will University Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Ambercrombie Kent Philanthropy Downers Grove, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Global Sojourns Giving Circle Vancouver, WA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center Montgomery, AL | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| The Carter Center Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,215,799 | $224,998 | $120,709 | $112,000 | 20 | $112,000 | $97,828 | $60,811 |
| 2024 | $1,111,510 | $962,805 | $106,283 | $101,000 | 15 | $101,000 | $509,860 | $24,214 |
| 2023 | $254,988 | $254,988 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,077 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, A Just Better Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include supporting people affected by burn injuries, providing educational assistance to children in sub-Saharan Africa, producing educational and cultural programming, advancing equitable access to nutritious food, and working for racial justice and human rights. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $112,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest awards included $20,000 each to Illinois Fire Safety Alliance and Herscher Tiger Scholarship; $10,000 to The Krulac Foundation; and $9,000 to CU Welfare Foundation. Other listed grants included $5,000 each to Friends of Will University, Ambercrombie Kent Philanthropy, and Global Sojourns Giving Circle; $4,000 to WGBH Educational Foundation; and $3,000 each to Southern Poverty Law Center, The Carter Center, The Barack Obama Foundation, and Feeding America.
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists Andrew Bergan as the contact for applications, says no special forms are required, and reports no restrictions or limitations on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Andrew Bergan as president and Micah McClelland and Melissa McClelland as directors.
A Just Better Foundation is led by Andrew Bergan, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew Bergan
President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Melissa McClelland
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Micah McClelland
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about A Just Better Foundation
How much does A Just Better Foundation give each year?
A Just Better Foundation gave $112K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $101K across 15 grants.
What is A Just Better Foundation's typical grant size?
A Just Better Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,600, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does A Just Better Foundation give grants?
A Just Better Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does A Just Better Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of A Just Better Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are A Just Better Foundation's largest grantees?
A Just Better Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Illinois Fire Safety Alliance ($20,000), Herscher Tiger Scholarship ($20,000) and The Krulac Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is A Just Better Foundation?
A Just Better Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $112K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does A Just Better Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from A Just Better Foundation?
The filing says the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is A Just Better Foundation's EIN?
A Just Better Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-4492691. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Does A Just Better Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). A Just Better Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/a-just-better-foundation-morg_7668f2fc67df482a8d2de71b5db3f0a7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_934492691_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{A Just Better Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/a-just-better-foundation-morg_7668f2fc67df482a8d2de71b5db3f0a7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from A Just Better Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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