Brad Sethness Foundation
The Brad Sethness Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 21 grants totaling $243,000 to charitable organizations.
Brad Sethness Foundation at a glance
In short: Brad Sethness Foundation gave $243K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), top state Alaska. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $243,000
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,571
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $3,938,269
- -0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alaska (39% 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 Brad Sethness 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: 707 Skokie Blvd Suite 600, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 400-0099
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Brad Sethness Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Judes Children's Research Hospit ($28K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 104 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Alaska (39%), Iowa (21%), Wisconsin (12%), Tennessee (12%), and Michigan (4%). The listed grants also include recipients in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Brad Sethness Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 21 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $243K (2025) to $295K (2022). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $243K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Judes Children's Research Hospit Memphis, TN | Unrestricted | $28,000 |
| Hatcher Alpine Experience Palmer, AK | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Bean's Cafe the Childrens Lunchbox Anchorage, AK | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| YWCA Clinton, IA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center Palmer, AK | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Paul B Sharar Foundation Clinton, IA | Bickelaupt Arboretum | $15,000 |
| Bob Finch Memorial Fund Clinton, IA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Eagle River Rotary Eagle River, WI | Warm the Children | $10,000 |
| St Vincent Depaul Society-Ironwood Ironwood, MI | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Vilas Food Pantry Eagle River, WI | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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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 | $3,938,269 | $304,032 | $314,578 | $243,000 | 21 | $243,000 | $260,613 | $281,486 |
| 2024 | $3,948,815 | $170,264 | $346,691 | $280,000 | 21 | $280,000 | $126,798 | $270,804 |
| 2023 | $4,125,242 | $135,422 | $320,219 | $265,800 | 19 | $265,800 | $96,010 | $254,209 |
| 2022 | $4,310,039 | $142,832 | $351,651 | $295,000 | 22 | $295,000 | $106,356 | $258,731 |
| 2021 | $4,518,858 | $303,893 | $315,675 | $260,000 | 21 | $260,000 | $262,951 | $287,903 |
| 2020 | $4,530,640 | $-13,091 | $313,361 | $260,000 | 22 | — | $58,747 | $252,191 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brad Sethness Foundation reported a distributable amount of $281K 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 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes children’s health, education, food assistance, animal rescue, adaptive recreation, and community services. For example, the Paul B Sharar Foundation says it solicits contributions for research and educational activities at the Eastern Iowa Community District’s Clinton campus; Vilas Food Pantry says it provides food to families in need and emergencies; and Challenge Alaska says it improves the lives of people with disabilities through adaptive sports, therapeutic recreation, and education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $243,000 through 21 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $28,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest grants included $28,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, $25,000 to Hatcher Alpine Experience, $20,000 each to Bean’s Cafe The Children’s Lunchbox and the YWCA in Clinton, Iowa, and $15,000 each to Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center and the Paul B Sharar Foundation. The foundation listed the grants to St. Jude, Hatcher Alpine Experience, Bean’s Cafe, the YWCA, and Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center as unrestricted; the Paul B Sharar Foundation grant was for the Bickelhaupt Arboretum.
Other 2025 recipients included the United Negro College Fund ($10,000), Vilas Food Pantry ($10,000), Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin ($10,000), Mat-Su Food Bank ($10,000), Challenge Alaska ($10,000), Alaska Farmland Trust Corporation ($5,000), and Miss Hall’s School ($5,000). The grantees’ stated missions describe work in areas including college access, food distribution, animal rescue, local agriculture, and education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel B. Sethness as president and director, Marilyn B. Sethness as vice president and director, Marina M. Sethness as treasurer and director, and Randall Romei as secretary and director.
Brad Sethness Foundation is led by Daniel B. Sethness, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel B. Sethness
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn B. Sethness
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randall Romei
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marina M. Sethness
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Margaret M. Sethness (2020) — Treasurer & Director
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 Brad Sethness Foundation
How much does Brad Sethness Foundation give each year?
Brad Sethness Foundation gave $243K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $280K across 21 grants.
What is Brad Sethness Foundation's typical grant size?
Brad Sethness Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,571, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Brad Sethness Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Brad Sethness Foundation give grants?
Brad Sethness Foundation's top state is Alaska, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Iowa (21%) and Wisconsin (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Clinton, IA (4 grants), Palmer, AK (3 grants), Anchorage, AK (3 grants) and Eagle River, WI (2 grants).
Does Brad Sethness Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Brad Sethness Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brad Sethness Foundation's largest grantees?
Brad Sethness Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Judes Children's Research Hospit ($28,000), Hatcher Alpine Experience ($25,000) and Bean's Cafe the Childrens Lunchbox ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Brad Sethness Foundation?
Brad Sethness Foundation reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $243K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $281K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Brad Sethness Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes children’s health, education, food assistance, animal rescue, adaptive recreation, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Brad Sethness 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 Brad Sethness Foundation's EIN?
Brad Sethness Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2683469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Brad Sethness 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 June 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Brad Sethness Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Brad Sethness Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/brad-sethness-foundation-morg_8fb3d26ada644672a99b687222ef959f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_832683469_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Brad Sethness Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/brad-sethness-foundation-morg_8fb3d26ada644672a99b687222ef959f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Brad Sethness 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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