Believer Fund
Believer Fund is a private foundation, based in Oak Park, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $529K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $60K. Net investment income was $103K.
Believer Fund at a glance
In short: Believer Fund gave $60K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $60K), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $60,000
- -45.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,000
- -45.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $60,000
- Total assets
- $528,655
- +18.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maryland (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Believer Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Impact Assets ($60K).
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 3 grants of 4 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Believer Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 80% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2023) to $110K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $60K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Assets Bethesda, MD | General | $60,000 |
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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 | $528,655 | $92,437 | $69,304 | $60,000 | 1 | $62,765 | $103,344 | $78,683 |
| 2024 | $445,522 | $26,874 | $116,424 | $110,000 | 1 | $112,665 | $23,115 | $70,476 |
| 2023 | $535,072 | $33,391 | $68,960 | $60,000 | 1 | $62,465 | $34,050 | $71,020 |
| 2022 | $570,641 | $20,722 | $71,039 | $65,000 | 1 | $67,265 | $16,948 | $76,850 |
| 2021 | $620,958 | $18,833 | $12,206 | — | — | — | $13,878 | $65,726 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Believer Fund reported a distributable amount of $79K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Believer Fund is led by Jeanne S. Affelder, Co-President, Sec'y & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeanne S. Affelder
Co-President, Sec'y & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey A. Weissglass
Co-President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles D. Wattles
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Believer Fund
How much does Believer Fund give each year?
Believer Fund gave $60K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $110K across 1 grant.
How large is Believer Fund?
Believer Fund reported $529K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $63K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $79K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Believer Fund operate?
Believer Fund has awarded grants in Massachusetts, Maryland.
What is Believer Fund's EIN?
Believer Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4332831. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Believer Fund funds
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