Bluespruce Foundation
Bluespruce Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports charitable organizations through grants, including organizations working in areas such as domestic violence services, health and research, education, history, and environmental stewardship, as reflected in its 2025 grants.
Bluespruce Foundation at a glance
In short: Bluespruce Foundation gave $982K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), top state Colorado. 45% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $981,979
- -59.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +53.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,695
- -73.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $5,251
- -79.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (10 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (42% 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 Bluespruce Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 15 East Oak Street 300, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 840-7059
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bluespruce Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Edward and Jennifer Magnus Schwab Charitable Fund ($397K). Together the top 10 received $938K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 85 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Colorado (42%), Michigan (41%), and Illinois (13%). New York and California each received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Bluespruce Foundation open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 22 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 41% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2020) to $2.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $982K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Edward and Jennifer Magnus Schwab Charitable Fund Ann Arbor, MI | General Support | $396,614 |
| Hurd Family Donor Advised Fund Aspen, CO | General Support | $386,615 |
| WINGS Program Inc Palatine, IL | General Support | $50,000 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Aurora, CO | General Support | $10,000 |
| Stanford University Development Services Stanford, CA | General Support | $10,000 |
| Chicago Historical Society Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Second Stage Theater New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation Saline, MI | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Bluespruce Foundation?
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 | $5,251 | $974,439 | $994,419 | $981,979 | 23 | $994,419 | $24,082 | $5,920 |
| 2024 | $25,231 | $1,320,288 | $2,458,815 | $2,446,512 | 15 | $2,457,815 | $74,770 | $6,418 |
| 2023 | $1,163,758 | $1,023,520 | $1,224,155 | $1,205,095 | 14 | $1,224,155 | $36,925 | $60,161 |
| 2022 | $1,364,393 | $1,160,413 | $511,654 | $510,600 | 20 | $510,654 | $21,086 | $79,888 |
| 2021 | $715,634 | $731,232 | $141,376 | $135,000 | 13 | $141,376 | $7,244 | $46,502 |
| 2020 | $125,778 | $206,756 | $80,978 | $66,750 | 7 | — | — | $7,441 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bluespruce Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. WINGS Program Inc describes its mission as providing housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation says it raises and stewards funds to support children’s care, education, research, and advocacy. ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation describes its work as funding research, supporting patients and families, and raising awareness of DIPG and other cancers. Other grantees include educational, historical, and environmental organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $981,979. Grants ranged from $250 to $396,614, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $396,614 to Edward and Jennifer Magnus Schwab Charitable Fund and $386,615 to Hurd Family Donor Advised Fund, both for general support. Other notable awards included $50,000 to WINGS Program Inc, $25,000 each to Northwestern University and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation, and $10,000 each to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, Stanford University Development Services, Chicago Historical Society, Second Stage Theater, and ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation. These listed grants were for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bluespruce Foundation is led by Jennifer Jacoby Hurd, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Jacoby Hurd
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Magnus
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Hurd
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Bluespruce Foundation
How much does Bluespruce Foundation give each year?
Bluespruce Foundation gave $982K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 15 grants.
What is Bluespruce Foundation's typical grant size?
Bluespruce Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $42,695, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bluespruce Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Bluespruce Foundation give grants?
Bluespruce Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (41%) and Illinois (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants) and Aspen, CO (4 grants).
Does Bluespruce Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bluespruce Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bluespruce Foundation's largest grantees?
Bluespruce Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Edward and Jennifer Magnus Schwab Charitable Fund ($396,614), Hurd Family Donor Advised Fund ($386,615) and WINGS Program Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bluespruce Foundation?
Bluespruce Foundation reported $5K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $994K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bluespruce Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. WINGS Program Inc describes its mission as providing housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to end domestic violence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bluespruce Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bluespruce Foundation's EIN?
Bluespruce Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3854465. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Bluespruce Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bluespruce Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bluespruce Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bluespruce Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bluespruce-foundation-morg_a73e6fcee62843b8b58734ab3557f14b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843854465_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bluespruce Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bluespruce-foundation-morg_a73e6fcee62843b8b58734ab3557f14b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Bluespruce 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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