The Barbara Bluhm-Kaul Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is designated as a family foundation. It was formerly known as the Mayfair Foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+56.4% YoY
Grant Count
16
-40.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$64K
+164.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives focused on:
- Arts and Culture — Including thought-provoking experiences of art, culture, and society
- Education
- Human Services
- Environmental Conservation — Supporting the natural environment
- Social Justice — Supporting the promise of America through equality, freedom of opportunity, and justice
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
s range from $108 to $537,300
Average Grant
amount is approximately $90,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- Wisconsin
Specific cities where the foundation has funded include Aspen, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $22,730
- Total revenues: $1,121,400
- Total expenses: $1,112,184
- Expense ratio: 99.2% of total revenue spent on programs
Historical Financials (2023):
- Revenue: $743,000
- Expenses: $737,000
- Total assets: $22,300
- Total liabilities: $8,830
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Barbara Bluhm-Kaul serves as a trustee of the foundation, contributing volunteer service without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA BLUHM-KAUL | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
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