Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust
The Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting education, human services, and philanthropic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
-4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$213K
+9.4% YoY
Grant Count
44
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+2.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $212K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made by invitation only.
Grant Range
$1,000–$16,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, Illinois, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $3,418,260
- Total revenues: $297,824
- Total expenses: $275,643
- Investment income and dividends: $138,401
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $159,696
- Giving rate: 5.7% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,263,911 | $3,418,260 | $3,397,511 |
| Revenue | $144,316 | $297,824 | $248,849 |
| Expenses | $297,830 | $275,643 | $327,970 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $281,114 | $261,148 | $315,098 |
| Net Investment Income | $120,904 | $287,222 | $237,615 |
| Distributable Amount | $211,739 | $194,717 | $202,539 |
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
177 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lawrenceville School ($16,000), University of Kentucky ($15,000), Ephraim Mcdowell Markey ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY LEXINGTON, KY | K-FUND | $15,000 |
| MAYSVILLE COMMUNITY MAYSVILLE, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| ST EDWARDS CATHOLIC SCHOOL NASHVILLE, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CYNTHIANA-HARRISON CYNTHIANA, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| GOOD SHEPHERD DAY SCHOOL LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | ORIENTAL INSTITUTE | $5,000 |
| LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| THE LEXINGTON SCHOOL LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EPHRAIM MCDOWELL MARKEY LEXINGTON, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trustees of the Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust are Northern Trust Company and Jessica Robbins.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | TRUSTEE | 40 | $28,594 |
| EARL ROBBINS | DIRECTOR | 40 | $15,000 |
| THERESE HIANIK | DIRECTOR | 40 | $15,000 |
| FRAZER D LEBUS JR | DIRECTOR | 40 | $15,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust fund?
The trust's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $195,000–$220,265 • Number of grants: 41 grants (most recent year) • Grant range: $1,000–$16,000 • Median grant size: $3,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • The Lawrenceville School: $16,000 • The Family Service Center of Wilmette Glenview Northbrook and Kenilworth: $15,000 • Lexington School: $7,500 • Battle Grove Cemetery (Memorial Garden): $5,000 **Application Policy:** The trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made by invitation only.
Where does Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in Kentucky, Illinois, and New York.
What size grants does Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust awarded 44 grants totaling $213K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $212K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust's EIN?
Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6022085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bertha Lebus Charitable Trust'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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