Berry Family Charitable Trust
Berry Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Scales Mound, Illinois. Its filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation). The trust reported making contributions to 31 public charities during 2025.
Key facts about Berry Family Charitable Trust
In short: Berry Family Charitable Trust gave $122K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-6759096
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $121,750
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $3,927
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (5 of 31, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,920,306
- Primary geography
- Illinois (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$122K
+6.6% YoY
Grant Count
31
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Berry Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $123K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Berry Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 31 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for higher education, arts and culture, agricultural education, food assistance, and services for children and families. For example, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as engaging the Tri-State community and enriching quality of life through live musical performances and educational programs. The Crystal Lake Food Pantry says it organizes volunteers to collect and distribute food to people in need in its area; Kemmerer Village says it provides services to children and families facing stress and turmoil.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust made 31 grants totaling $121,750. Grants ranged from $500 to $20,000, with a median of $2,000. Among the largest were $20,000 to Union League Boys & Girls Club; $10,500 to Dubuque Symphony Orchestra; $10,000 each to Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and Scales Mound Community Foundation; and $5,000 each to Centenary University, Kemmerer Village, Luminarts Cultural Foundation, National FFA Foundation, and River Bend Food Bank.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 15% to Iowa, 5% to Indiana, 4% to New Jersey, and 4% to Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $93K (2023) to $125K (2021). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $122K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Union League Boys & Girls Club ($20K). Together the top 10 received $86K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Union League Boys & Girls Club Chicago, IL | General Contribution to Help Fund Foundation | $20,000 |
| Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Dubuque, IA | Membership | $10,500 |
| Kellogg School of Management Evanston, IL | Alumni Giving | $10,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | General Contribution | $10,000 |
| Scales Mound Community Foundation Scales Mound, IL | General Contribution | $10,000 |
| Centenary University Hackettstown, NJ | General Contribution | $5,000 |
| Kemmerer Village Assumption, IL | Support services to children and families who face stress and turmoil. | $5,000 |
| Luminarts Cultural Foundation Chicago, IL | General Contribution to Help Fund Foundation | $5,000 |
| National FFA Foundation Indianapolis, IN | To support the organization that provides resources for the future of agricultural education. | $5,000 |
| River Bend Food Bank Davenport, IA | Social Service Contribution | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,920,306 | $92,740 | $147,938 | $121,750 | 31 |
| 2024 | $1,975,504 | $33,058 | $146,945 | $114,250 | 28 |
| 2023 | $2,089,026 | $23,213 | $109,905 | $93,000 | 12 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,920,306 | $1,975,504 | $2,089,026 |
| Revenue | $92,740 | $33,058 | $23,213 |
| Expenses | $147,938 | $146,945 | $109,905 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,621 | $121,931 | $93,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $71,058 | $19,036 | $55,708 |
| Distributable Amount | $123,006 | $114,544 | $107,329 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann S Berry, Elizabeth Berry, Robert Berry, Lara Berry, Christine Lillie, and Joseph Lillie as trustees.
Berry Family Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann S. Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Lillie
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joseph Lillie
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lara Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert Berry
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James O. Berry (2020–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 2101 W Miller Ridge Road, Scales Mound, IL 61075
Phone: (815) 777-1107
Frequently asked questions about Berry Family Charitable Trust
How much does Berry Family Charitable Trust give each year?
Berry Family Charitable Trust gave $122K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $114K across 28 grants.
What is Berry Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Berry Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,927, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Berry Family Charitable Trust that year got $3K on average.
Where does Berry Family Charitable Trust give grants?
Berry Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants), Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Barrington, IL (2 grants).
Does Berry Family Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of Berry Family Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Berry Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Berry Family Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Union League Boys & Girls Club ($20,000), Dubuque Symphony Orchestra ($10,500) and Kellogg School of Management ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Berry Family Charitable Trust?
Berry Family Charitable Trust reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $126K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $123K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Berry Family Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for higher education, arts and culture, agricultural education, food assistance, and services for children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Berry Family Charitable Trust?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Berry Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
Berry Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-6759096. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Berry Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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