Best Walter & Edith Foundation
The Best Walter & Edith Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1986. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent grantmaking foundation focused on supporting nonprofit organizations primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$308K
+16.1% YoY
Grant Count
39
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+13.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on supporting programs that benefit children. Key areas of interest include:
- Social services
- Education
- Health
- Childcare
The foundation provides both general operating support and project support to eligible organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 28 grants in its most recent filing period, with additional grants totaling $187,760 beyond those specifically listed.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area, with some giving extending to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Financial Position (as of most recent filing):
- Total assets: $4,029,466
- Total revenues: $292,997
- Total expenses: $409,430
- Investment income and dividends: $135,510
- Number of employees: 1
Contact Information:
- Address: PO Box 95672, Chicago, IL 60694-5672
- Telephone: (312) 461-6301
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
194 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Northwest Community Hospital ($20,000), Northwestern Memoral Foundation ($20,000), Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSOCIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL AURORA, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES - CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT CAROL STREAM, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| LAZARUS HOUSE ST CHARLES, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,760 |
| NORTHWEST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ARLINGTON, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| EDWARD FOUNDATION NAPERVILLE, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CASA KANE COUNTY GENEVA, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE WHEATON, IL | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Donald Moreau serves as Trustee of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS J KUHN | CO-TRUSTEE | 2 | $31,836 |
| BMO BANK N A | CO-TRUSTEE | 2 | $63,673 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Best Walter & Edith Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on supporting programs that benefit children. Key areas of interest include: • Social services • Education • Health • Childcare The foundation provides both general operating support and project support to eligible organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Best Walter & Edith Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,850 to $20,000 • Total annual giving: $308,260 (most recent filing) • Recent grants include: • Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $20,000 (Program Support) • Northwest Community Hospital (NCH): $20,000 (Program Support) • CASA Kane County: $15,000 (Program Support) The foundation made 28 grants in its most recent filing period, with additional grants totaling $187,760 beyond those specifically listed.
Where does Best Walter & Edith Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area, with some giving extending to California.
What size grants does Best Walter & Edith Foundation award?
In 2025, Best Walter & Edith Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $308K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Best Walter & Edith Foundation's EIN?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6857916. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Best Walter & Edith 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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