Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund
The Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, that supports college education through scholarships for high school seniors in specified communities. Its website says the fund is no longer accepting applications from new scholarship candidates and that 2026 was its final year for granting new scholarship awards.
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund at a glance
In short: Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund gave $309K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $309,039
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,074
- -2.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,277
- Total assets
- $2,279,305
- -14.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s website says it is no longer accepting applications from new scholarship candidates. Its published application information describes an online application, with a high school transcript and proof of current residency required. Applicants were required to be high school seniors, meet the geographic and academic requirements below, and plan to attend an accredited U.S. college or university for a bachelor’s degree or four-year program. The FAQ also specifies an ACT score of at least 22 or SAT score of at least 1,100. These are published program requirements, not an open application opportunity.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states October 15 each year. The FAQ lists a 2026 application period of September 1 through November 1, 2026, while the fund’s homepage says 2026 was its final year for new scholarship awards and that it is no longer accepting applications from new candidates.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states October 15 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund
Mailing address: C/O Anne E Dickerson 222 North, Lasalle Street Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 236-3003
Website: https://www.brucefishkinscholarshipfund.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Philanthropic Trust ($60K). Together the top 2 received $65K.
Organizations only. It also paid 12 individual scholarships ($244,039), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 75 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s published eligibility areas include Chicago and surrounding suburbs in Illinois; Las Vegas and its suburbs in Nevada; and Fairfield County, Greens Farms, Redding, or Westport in Connecticut. The 2024 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (62%), Pennsylvania (19%), Connecticut (17%), and Nevada (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 255% 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $216K (2022) to $316K (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $309K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 12 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $244,039 |
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | Provide Funding for Individuals to Attend College | $60,000 |
| Green Farms Academy Westport, CT | Provide Funding for Individuals to Attend College | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,279,305 | $90,246 | $479,607 | $309,039 | 14 | $309,039 | $91,341 | $121,026 |
| 2023 | $2,669,166 | $167,082 | $326,845 | $272,841 | 12 | $272,841 | $167,082 | $127,928 |
| 2022 | $3,080,929 | $522,504 | $352,638 | $215,696 | 11 | $215,696 | $522,504 | $148,112 |
| 2021 | $2,658,563 | $323,752 | $448,419 | $316,052 | 18 | $316,052 | $323,752 | $162,003 |
| 2020 | $2,783,230 | $75,683 | $324,267 | $281,404 | 20 | — | $72,299 | $158,028 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund reported a distributable amount of $121K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s website describes its aim as giving outstanding students an opportunity to pursue higher education. Scholarship funds may cover tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and equipment required by a course syllabus. The FAQ says awards may be up to $50,000 per year and may be used for up to eight undergraduate semesters.
The fund’s 2024 filing reports grants for individuals’ college expenses and grants to organizations to provide funding for individuals to attend college. One recipient, National Philanthropic Trust, describes its own mission as increasing philanthropy by providing philanthropic expertise to donors, foundations, and financial institutions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 14 grants totaling $309,039. Grant amounts ranged from $2,153 to $61,990, with a median of $15,277. The largest reported grants included $61,990 to an individual recipient for tuition, room, and board at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; $60,000 to National Philanthropic Trust to provide funding for individuals to attend college; and $51,550 to an individual recipient for tuition, room, and board at Harvard University. Other reported awards funded individual recipients’ college expenses, including at the University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, Stanford University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and University of Illinois at Chicago. Green Farms Academy received $5,000 to provide funding for individuals to attend college.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The fund’s 2024 filing lists Caleb Fishkin as director, president, and secretary; Cortney Fishkin, Eliot Bares, Joshua Fishkin, Owen Burns, and Vince Gabor as directors; and Anne E Dickerson as assistant secretary.
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund is led by Caleb Fishkin, Director, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Caleb Fishkin
Director, President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cortney Fishkin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eliot Bares
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Fishkin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Owen Burns
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vince Gabor
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne E. Dickerson
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joseph Laub (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund
How much does Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund give each year?
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund gave $309K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $273K across 12 grants.
What is Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund's typical grant size?
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund's median grant in 2024 was $15,277, and its average grant was $22,074, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund give grants?
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (19%) and Connecticut (17%).
Does Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Pay Tuition, Room and Board at Harvard University" (3 grants).
How large is Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund?
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $309K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $121K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund fund?
The fund’s website describes its aim as giving outstanding students an opportunity to pursue higher education. Scholarship funds may cover tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and equipment required by a course syllabus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund?
The fund’s website says it is no longer accepting applications from new scholarship candidates. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund's EIN?
Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1647358. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bruce-fishkin-scholarship-fund-morg_0114d0958fd2482693153f41d54c5afa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271647358_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bruce-fishkin-scholarship-fund-morg_0114d0958fd2482693153f41d54c5afa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund'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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