Bolhous Foundation
Bolhous Foundation is a private foundation based in Glenview, Illinois. It supports opportunities for economically disadvantaged women and girls, with grantmaking intended to help remove barriers from early education through career development.
Bolhous Foundation at a glance
In short: Bolhous Foundation gave $150K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Illinois. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,000
- -16.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $198,407
- -29.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% 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 Bolhous Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2516 Waukegan Road 180, Glenview, IL 60025
Phone: (312) 584-0544
Website: HTTPS://BOLHOUSFOUNDATION.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bolhous Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ($15K). Together the top 10 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 53 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The foundation’s 2025 recipients included organizations in Chicago and Lynwood.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bolhous Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 50% 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 (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2025) to $400K (2023). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $150K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Chicago Foundation for Women Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Chicago Architecture Center Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| YWCA Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Youth Guidance Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Hope Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Chicago Innovation Foundation Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Ladies of Virtue Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Mean Girls Empowerment Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Focus Fairies Mentoring Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
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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 | $198,407 | $357,390 | $439,632 | $150,000 | 10 | $427,236 | — | $9,377 |
| 2024 | $280,743 | $33,191 | $586,008 | $250,000 | 14 | $569,735 | $18,333 | $32,799 |
| 2023 | $833,465 | $63,645 | $708,942 | $400,000 | 17 | $694,895 | $49,598 | $64,081 |
| 2022 | $1,478,924 | $18,890 | $540,356 | $300,000 | 12 | $527,466 | $8,000 | $91,106 |
| 2021 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | — | — | — | — | — | $247 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bolhous Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K 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 stated mission is to empower economically disadvantaged women and girls by removing barriers to their success. It describes its approach as strategic grantmaking and collaboration with community leaders and organizations, investing in research-driven interventions and programs.
Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions address women’s and girls’ advancement, mentoring, youth development, and education. For example, Focus Fairies Mentoring says it empowers girls and young women of color from underserved Chicago communities; Ladies of Virtue says it prepares girls for college, careers, and community leadership; and HOPE Chicago says it provides access to debt-free postsecondary education for Chicago Public School students and their parents. The Chicago Foundation for Women describes its work as addressing challenges facing women and girls throughout their lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $150,000. Each grant was $15,000.
Notable 2025 grants, all for general support, included $15,000 each to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago Architecture Center, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Youth Guidance, HOPE Chicago, Chicago Innovation Foundation, Ladies of Virtue, Mean Girls Empowerment, and Focus Fairies Mentoring.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Kathleen Bolhous, M Rodrick Bolhous, and Abigayil Joseph as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Abigayil Joseph as its CEO.
Bolhous Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Abigayil Joseph
Director
On filings since 2021
52 hrs/week
$180K (2022) → $199K (2025)
M. Rodrick Bolhous
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Kathleen Bolhous
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $199K, to Abigayil Joseph (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Bolhous Foundation
How much does Bolhous Foundation give each year?
Bolhous Foundation gave $150K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $250K across 14 grants.
What is Bolhous Foundation's typical grant size?
Bolhous Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bolhous Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Bolhous Foundation give grants?
Bolhous Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants).
Does Bolhous Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bolhous Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bolhous Foundation's largest grantees?
Bolhous Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ($15,000), Chicago Foundation for Women ($15,000) and Chicago Architecture Center ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bolhous Foundation?
Bolhous Foundation reported $198K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $427K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bolhous Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to empower economically disadvantaged women and girls by removing barriers to their success. It describes its approach as strategic grantmaking and collaboration with community leaders and organizations, investing in research-driven interventions and programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bolhous Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bolhous Foundation's EIN?
Bolhous Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3966378. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Bolhous 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Bolhous Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bolhous Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bolhous Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bolhous-foundation-morg_85ce82f8b2ba4cbc9666656514ec725b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873966378_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bolhous Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bolhous-foundation-morg_85ce82f8b2ba4cbc9666656514ec725b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Bolhous 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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