Bramsen Charitable Foundation
Bramsen Charitable Foundation is a private foundation, based in Barrington, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $29.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $2.2M. Net investment income was $5.0M.
Bramsen Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Bramsen Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $439K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,194,250
- -63.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -37.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $438,850
- -41.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $29,931,970
- +26.9% vs 2024
- 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 September 2026.
Who Bramsen Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Zoological Society ($2.0M). Together the top 5 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 28 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bramsen Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 584% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 360% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $49K (2023) to $6.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield, IL | Operating Needs | $2,000,000 |
| Home Centered Care Institute Schaumburg, IL | Operating Needs | $180,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Foundation North Riverside, IL | Operating Needs | $10,000 |
| Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center Chicago, IL | Operating Needs | $4,000 |
| Barrington History Museum Barrington, IL | Operating Needs | $250 |
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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 | $29,931,970 | $8,736,211 | $2,399,513 | $2,194,250 | 5 | $2,194,250 | $5,035,415 | $609,757 |
| 2024 | $23,595,272 | $10,470,535 | $6,060,789 | $6,020,000 | 8 | $6,020,000 | $8,303,771 | $548,497 |
| 2023 | $19,185,526 | $4,717,810 | $49,015 | $49,000 | 4 | $49,000 | $2,326,479 | $566,360 |
| 2022 | $14,516,731 | $5,520,174 | $391,228 | $320,700 | 5 | $320,700 | $201,522 | $440,134 |
| 2021 | $9,387,785 | $4,576,656 | $2,502,278 | $2,473,400 | 6 | $2,473,400 | $2,515,731 | $386,668 |
| 2020 | $7,313,407 | $2,179,179 | $123,538 | $106,000 | 2 | — | $148,947 | $263,436 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bramsen Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $610K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Bramsen Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eliza L Kerr
Successor Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth C Bramsen
Successor Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James E Bramsen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/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 Bramsen Charitable Foundation
How much does Bramsen Charitable Foundation give each year?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation gave $2.2M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.0M across 8 grants.
What is Bramsen Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $438,850, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bramsen Charitable Foundation give grants?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Bramsen Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bramsen Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bramsen Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Zoological Society ($2,000,000), Home Centered Care Institute ($180,000) and Meals on Wheels Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Bramsen Charitable Foundation?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation reported $29.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $610K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Bramsen Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Bramsen Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2704828. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bramsen Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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