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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aspen Art Museum ($537,300), Orange County Museum of Art ($185,000), Art Institute of Chicago ($90,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC | $2,000 |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. | $5,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | COLLECTS AND CONSERVES ART WORKS FOR PUBLIC APPRECIATION. | $90,000 |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM ASPEN, CO | TO PROMOTE THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXPERIENCES OF ART, CULTURE, AND SOCIETY. | $537,300 |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL & SCHOOL ASPEN, CO | PROMOTE MUSIC EDUCATION FOR YOUNG MUSIXC STUDENTS | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDENS GLENCOE, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $600 |
| CHICAGO CARES CHICAGO, IL | TO SUPPORT MAKING CHICAGO A STRONGER COMMUNITY. | $20,000 |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION CHICAGO, IL | MEMBERSHIP | $3,875 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO, IL | PROMOTE LOCAL AND GLOBAL JEWISH NEEDS | $50,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation fund?
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
How do I apply for a grant from Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 27 grants in 2024, totaling approximately $658,000 in annual giving • Total giving in 2024 was $1,029,310 • Grant sizes range from $108 to $537,300 • Average grant amount is approximately $90,000 • Median grant amount information is available in recent filings **Recent Grants (2024):** • Orange County Museum of Art: $185,000 (to promote thought-provoking experiences of art, culture, and society) • Art Institute of Chicago: $90,000 (to collect and conser…
Where does Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation award?
In 2024, Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $64K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation's EIN?
Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7435405. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barbara Bluhm-kaul Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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