The Bruce Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and based in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic giving across civic, social, educational, and health initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+72.7% YoY
Grant Count
53
+35.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+27.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds civic, social, educational, social services, rescue dogs, human services, and health initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 39 grants in 2024, with a total grant distribution of approximately $1.12 million in 2023 and $1.94 million in expenses for 2024. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois and funds organizations nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $23.4 million
- Total Revenues: $18.3 million
- Total Expenses: $1.9 million
- Total Grants, Contributions, etc.: $18.0 million
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $9.1 million
- Total Revenues: $812,000
- Total Expenses: $1.1 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hillsdale College ($500,000), Beverly Farm ($100,000), Chicago Furniture Bank ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABILITY LAB CHICAGO, IL | HEALTH | $20,000 |
| ALRAY FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | EDUCATIONAL | $15,000 |
| BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT VALLEY VILLAGE, CA | RESCUE DOGS | $30,000 |
| BEVERLY FARM GODFREY, IL | SOCIAL | $100,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TUCSON TUCSON, AZ | SOCIAL | $20,000 |
| BRIGHT HORIZONS TUCSON, AZ | EDUCATION | $20,000 |
| CHICAGO FURNITURE BANK CHICAGO, IL | CIVIC | $70,000 |
| CITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND CAMBRIDGE, MA | EDUCATION | $15,000 |
| DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL | $15,000 |
| EASTER SEALS BLAKE FOUNDATION TUCSON, AZ | SOCIAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Robert B Bruce serves as Principal in a management capacity with the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN M BRUCE | VICE PRESIDE | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH H BRUCE | VICE PRESIDE | 0.5 | — |
| R JEFFREY BRUCE | PRES SEC.TRE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 20 N Wacker Drive, Suite 2414, Chicago, IL 60606-3004
Telephone: 312-236-9162
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bruce Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds civic, social, educational, social services, rescue dogs, human services, and health initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Bruce Foundation?
The foundation made 39 grants in 2024, with a total grant distribution of approximately $1.12 million in 2023 and $1.94 million in expenses for 2024. Recent grantees include: • Chicago Furniture Bank ($70,000) • Hope for the Homeless ($60,000) • The Grand Canyon Trust ($50,000) • Hillsdale College The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with grants distributed across multiple focus areas.
Where does Bruce Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois and funds organizations nationally.
What size grants does Bruce Foundation award?
In 2024, Bruce Foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Bruce Foundation's EIN?
Bruce Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4257410. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bruce Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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