Builders Vision Foundation
Builders Vision Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2017. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is classified as a corporate foundation. The foundation functions as an investment and philanthropy platform that scales and accelerates innovative solutions across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7B
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$96.8M
+18.5% YoY
Grant Count
390
+13.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$248K
+4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Builders Vision Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Builders Vision Foundation operates as an investment and philanthropy platform focused on driving systems change across three interconnected sectors:
- Food & Agriculture — Supporting a resilient, diversified, and healthy food and agriculture system
- Energy — Advancing a clean energy future through technological and industrial innovation
- Oceans — Promoting a healthy ocean system vital to global environmental resilience and economic prosperity
The foundation's approach emphasizes systems-level change and collective efforts to shift sectors toward more impact-friendly outcomes.
Grantmaking
The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
$500 to $9,500,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across a wide geographic area including:
- Illinois (primary focus)
- California
- District of Columbia
- Additional funding presence in: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and 17+ additional states
Major cities receiving funding include Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $1,654,082,903
- Total revenues: $245,156,232
- Total expenses: $117,928,006
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $1.53 billion
- Total revenues: $520 million
- Total expenses: $111 million
Assets & Revenue (2022):
- Total assets: $1,117,727,346
- Total revenues: $189,732,780
- Total expenses: $104,642,867
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,654,082,903 | $1,526,854,677 | $1,117,727,346 |
| Revenue | $245,156,232 | $519,855,780 | $189,732,780 |
| Expenses | $117,928,006 | $110,762,871 | $104,642,867 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $98,952,622 | $83,985,645 | $92,895,237 |
| Net Investment Income | $218,604,910 | $454,846,115 | $175,926,211 |
| Distributable Amount | $86,403,210 | $68,697,232 | $51,507,221 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Best Friends Animal Society ($1,000,000), American Heart Association Inc ($615,938), 548 Foundation Inc ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3Arts Inc Chicago, IL | to support an award program for teaching artists | $120,000 |
| 548 Foundation Inc Chicago, IL | to support implementation of a clean jobs workforce training program | $500,000 |
| 6018North NFP Chicago, IL | to provide general operating support | $25,000 |
| A Just Harvest Chicago, IL | to provide general operating support | $90,000 |
| Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School Chicago, IL | to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of its plant-based eating program | $400,000 |
| Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship Waukegan, IL | to provide education, training, and technical assistance to creative enterprises | $60,000 |
| Advocates for Urban Agriculture NFP Chicago, IL | to provide technical assistance support and related resources for urban farming water in Chicago | $187,000 |
| Advocates for Urban Agriculture NFP Chicago, IL | to support a farmed animal initiative | $15,000 |
| Aequo Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | to support a project providing housing for the elderly and disabled in Baltimore | $50,000 |
| Africa Bridge Marylhurst, OR | to provide general operating support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lukas Walton — Director, CEO, Chair
- Bruce McNamer — Director, President
- Lisa Forbes — Director, Secretary
- Robert A Smith — Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant philanthropic activity in Chicago, with major commitments to street violence prevention and food resilience initiatives in 2024. The organization's leadership, particularly CEO Lukas Walton, has been recognized for employing a systems investing approach that coordinates multiple reform-minded organizations to collectively shift sectors toward sustainable outcomes.
Home Builders Charitable Foundation Awards $70,000 to 12 Local OrganizationsThe foundation has partnered with organizations including T. Rowe Price to advance sustainable blue economy initiatives and has collaborated on building decarbonization efforts through grant funding mechanisms.
Home Builders Charitable Foundation Awards $70,000 to 12 Local OrganizationsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Builders Vision Foundation fund?
Builders Vision Foundation operates as an investment and philanthropy platform focused on driving systems change across three interconnected sectors: • **Food & Agriculture** — Supporting a resilient, diversified, and healthy food and agriculture system • **Energy** — Advancing a clean energy future through technological and industrial innovation • **Oceans** — Promoting a healthy ocean system vital to global environmental resilience and economic prosperity The foundation's approach emphasizes …
How do I apply for a grant from Builders Vision Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Scale:** • Total giving in 2024: $96,630,143 • Total giving in 2023: $84 million • Typical grant range: $500 to $9,500,000 • Median grant size: $146,000 • Number of grants made: 344 grants in 2023; 316 grants in prior year reporting **Recent Grants (2024):** • Chicago Community Foundation: $4,000,000 (Street Violence Reduction, Mitigation and Prevention Program) • Donors Forum: $3,000,000 (Food Resilience Program in Chicago) **Application Status:** The foundation is open to n…
Where does Builders Vision Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across a wide geographic area including: • Illinois (primary focus) • California • District of Columbia • Additional funding presence in: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and 17+ additional states Major cities receiving funding include Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Builders Vision Foundation award?
In 2024, Builders Vision Foundation awarded 390 grants totaling $96.8M — an average of about $248K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Builders Vision Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Builders Vision Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Builders Vision Foundation's EIN?
Builders Vision Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1503941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Builders Vision 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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