Best Walter & Edith Foundation
Best Walter & Edith Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It makes grants to organizations that provide substantial benefits to children, including through care, treatment, education, support, and health-related services.
Best Walter & Edith Foundation at a glance
In short: Best Walter & Edith Foundation gave $308K across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Illinois. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $308,260
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,904
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,029,466
- -2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (3 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Best Walter & Edith Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Proposals may be submitted in writing to the foundation administrator at any time. Awards are restricted to organizations that give substantial benefits to children, including care, treatment, education, support, and health, and may include indirect benefits.
- Review Cycle
- Year-round applications are accepted.
- Deadline
- Year-round applications are accepted.
- Contact
Application contact: Walter Edith Best Foundation Adm
Mailing address: C/O Bmo Bank Na PO Box 95672, Chicago, IL 60694-5672
Phone: (312) 461-6301
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Best Walter & Edith Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwest Community Hospital ($20K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
194 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 194 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 2% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Best Walter & Edith Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 39 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 138% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $266K (2024) to $308K (2025). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $308K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Community Hospital Arlington, IL | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Northwestern Memoral Foundation Chicago, IL | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Chicago, IL | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | Program Support | $20,000 |
| Ascension Autism Spectrum (Asddrc) Bolingbrook, IL | Program Support | $17,500 |
| Catholic Charities - Chicago Chicago, IL | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Misericordia Heart of Mercy Center Chicago, IL | Program Support | $15,000 |
| CASA Kane County Geneva, IL | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Edward Foundation Naperville, IL | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Family Shelter Service Wheaton, IL | Program Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Best Walter & Edith Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF, and its EIN is 366857916.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,029,466 | $292,997 | $409,430 | $308,260 | 39 | $360,805 | $248,528 | $260,698 |
| 2024 | $4,117,310 | $279,835 | $355,526 | $265,620 | 38 | $313,332 | $239,990 | $250,680 |
| 2023 | $4,192,207 | $219,239 | $353,909 | $270,374 | 39 | $314,490 | $180,876 | $231,484 |
| 2022 | $4,327,614 | $231,425 | $394,210 | $299,350 | 39 | $346,154 | $192,679 | $247,698 |
| 2021 | $4,491,019 | $455,675 | $389,132 | $296,560 | 39 | — | $412,688 | $281,020 |
| 2020 | $4,425,123 | $112,625 | $360,283 | $272,500 | 37 | — | $72,495 | $254,086 |
| 2019 | $4,671,413 | $206,840 | $374,063 | $280,900 | 44 | — | $166,067 | $252,092 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Best Walter & Edith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $261K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its grantmaking restriction as supporting organizations that give substantial benefits to children, including indirect benefits.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. CASA Kane County says it trains volunteers to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest says it provides toys, gifts, and gift cards to bring comfort and distraction to children and teens diagnosed with cancer. Marklund describes its work as meeting the residential, therapeutic, vocational, and educational needs of people with profound disabilities, including children and adults with developmental disabilities and people on the autism spectrum. Northwest Community Hospital says it provides clinical programs and services to meet community health needs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 39 grants totaling $308,260. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. Among its largest grants were $20,000 each to Northwest Community Hospital, Northwestern Memoral Foundation, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, and Lurie Children’s Hospital; and $17,500 to Ascension Autism Spectrum (ASDDRC). Other notable awards included $15,000 each to Catholic Charities - Chicago, Misericordia Heart of Mercy Center, and CASA Kane County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas J Kuhn and BMO Bank N A as co-trustees.
Best Walter & Edith Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas J. Kuhn
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$28K (2019) → $32K (2025)
BMO Bank N A
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$58K (2024) → $64K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: BMO Harris Bank N A (2019–2023) — Co-Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $64K, to BMO Bank N a (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Best Walter & Edith Foundation
How much does Best Walter & Edith Foundation give each year?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation gave $308K across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $266K across 38 grants.
What is Best Walter & Edith Foundation's typical grant size?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,904, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Best Walter & Edith Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Best Walter & Edith Foundation give grants?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (15 grants), Naperville, IL (3 grants), Geneva, IL (2 grants) and Wheaton, IL (2 grants).
Does Best Walter & Edith Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on Best Walter & Edith Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (38 grants).
Who are Best Walter & Edith Foundation's largest grantees?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwest Community Hospital ($20,000), Northwestern Memoral Foundation ($20,000) and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Best Walter & Edith Foundation?
Best Walter & Edith Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $361K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $261K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Best Walter & Edith Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its grantmaking restriction as supporting organizations that give substantial benefits to children, including indirect benefits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Best Walter & Edith Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Best Walter & Edith Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Best Walter & Edith Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/best-walter-and-edith-foundation-morg_5117b047242b4ab59a75d4a1ea2e9b79
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366857916_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Best Walter \& Edith Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/best-walter-and-edith-foundation-morg_5117b047242b4ab59a75d4a1ea2e9b79},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Best Walter & Edith Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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