Cornell Brewer Foundation
The Cornell Brewer Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, including a medical center, churches, and organizations working in areas such as youth outreach, community support, and clean water.
Cornell Brewer Foundation at a glance
In short: Cornell Brewer Foundation gave $308K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $26K), top state California. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $307,500
- -14.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -65.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,625
- +150.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $7,987,232
- -3.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cornell Brewer 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: 461 N Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (224) 688-9900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cornell Brewer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Schwab Charitable Fund ($130K). Together the top 10 received $298K.
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 137 grants of 146 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 49% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 37% to Illinois, 10% to Virginia, 3% to Texas, and 2% to Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cornell Brewer Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 154% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $224K (2020) to $367K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $308K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable Fund San Francisco, CA | Public or Society Benefit | $130,000 |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | HEALTH | $50,000 |
| Young America's Foundation Reston, VA | Public or Society Benefit | $30,000 |
| Shoreline Community Church SB Santa Barbara, CA | Specific Church | $20,000 |
| Willow Creek Community Church South Barrington, IL | Specific Church | $20,000 |
| Philemon House Palatine, IL | Public or Society Benefit | $15,000 |
| Filo Community NFP Crystal Lake, IL | Public or Society Benefit | $10,000 |
| Living Water International Stafford, TX | Public or Society Benefit | $10,000 |
| Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Dundee Township, IL | Public or Society Benefit | $7,500 |
| A Rosie Place for Children South Bend, IN | Public or Society Benefit | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cornell Brewer Foundation?
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 | $7,987,232 | $562,988 | $870,624 | $307,500 | 12 | $771,886 | $364,250 | $500,926 |
| 2024 | $8,285,464 | $690,931 | $854,678 | $358,000 | 35 | $796,049 | $572,300 | $491,360 |
| 2023 | $8,449,228 | $334,555 | $978,685 | $341,500 | 38 | $923,067 | $253,937 | $457,351 |
| 2022 | $9,093,358 | $288,269 | $763,235 | $367,000 | 33 | $706,688 | $231,722 | $478,935 |
| 2021 | $9,568,324 | $1,812,958 | $790,196 | $261,500 | 28 | $597,140 | $480,596 | $507,824 |
| 2020 | $8,566,394 | $1,523,687 | $560,018 | $224,095 | 25 | — | $1,470,222 | $400,757 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornell Brewer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $501K 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 show support for organizations with varied purposes. Rush University Medical Center describes its mission as improving health through patient care, education, research, and community partnerships. Young America’s Foundation describes itself as a youth outreach organization of the Conservative Movement. Philemon House describes its work as housing, educating, and discipling young men coming out of incarceration. Filo Community NFP says it supports technical artists who serve local churches, while Living Water International says it helps communities in developing countries gain access to clean water and experience the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $307,500. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $130,000, with a median grant of $12,500. The largest listed awards were $130,000 to Schwab Charitable Fund, $50,000 to Rush University Medical Center, and $30,000 to Young America’s Foundation. Other listed grants included $20,000 each to Shoreline Community Church SB and Willow Creek Community Church, and $15,000 to Philemon House.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Charles H. Brewer as president and David D. Jackson as vice president and treasurer.
Cornell Brewer Foundation is led by Charles H. Brewer, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Charles H. Brewer
President
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$143K (2020) → $173K (2025)
David D. Jackson
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
6 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $173K, to Charles H Brewer (President).
Frequently asked questions about Cornell Brewer Foundation
How much does Cornell Brewer Foundation give each year?
Cornell Brewer Foundation gave $308K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $358K across 35 grants.
What is Cornell Brewer Foundation's typical grant size?
Cornell Brewer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $25,625, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cornell Brewer Foundation that year got $52K on average.
Where does Cornell Brewer Foundation give grants?
Cornell Brewer Foundation's top state is California, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (37%) and Virginia (10%).
Does Cornell Brewer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Cornell Brewer Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public or Society Benefit" (9 grants).
Who are Cornell Brewer Foundation's largest grantees?
Cornell Brewer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Schwab Charitable Fund ($130,000), Rush University Medical Center ($50,000) and Young America's Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Cornell Brewer Foundation?
Cornell Brewer Foundation reported $8.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $772K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $501K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cornell Brewer Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. Rush University Medical Center describes its mission as improving health through patient care, education, research, and community partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cornell Brewer 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 Cornell Brewer Foundation's EIN?
Cornell Brewer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3205517. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Cornell Brewer Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cornell Brewer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Dick and Betsy Devos Family Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
The foundation supports leadership and nonprofit capacity building, family well-being in West Michigan, and education freedom, with grants also spanning community development, arts, education, trails, and public policy. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $1 million, with a median of $20,000; giving is focused on West Michigan, though it also funds organizations elsewhere. It accepts applications through an online portal on a rolling basis.
Assets
$47.6M
Grants
91
Total Given
$7.1M
CDV5 Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
CDV5 Foundation funds children’s health and wellness, mental health, entrepreneurship—especially among women and youth—American values, and direct assistance, primarily in Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, with support for select regions elsewhere. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,500 to $925,000, with a median of $25,000. It accepts applications at any time through its online portal and reviews requests on a rolling basis.
Assets
$72.2M
Grants
59
Total Given
$4.2M
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
The foundation funds faith and religion, education, arts, healthcare, essential needs, and civic and community programs, with preference for Christian organizations and capital or project-based requests. In 2024, grants ranged from $250 to $233,334, with a median of $7,500; it focuses on West Michigan, especially Grand Rapids, and 96% of 2024 grant dollars went to Michigan. It accepts unsolicited requests, though grants to organizations without a prior funding history are rare.
Assets
$42.8M
Grants
188
Total Given
$4.3M
Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc
Grand Haven, MI
The foundation funds arts and culture, health and human services, diversity and inclusion, education, economic and community betterment, and environmental projects serving Northwest Ottawa County or the wider West Michigan region. Its 2024 grants had a median award of about $19,900; organizations may submit a preliminary application for Community Impact grants at any time.
Assets
$192.9M
Grants
197
Total Given
$10.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cornell Brewer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cornell-brewer-foundation-morg_49519f38463f450daac633ef4fc28c85
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263205517_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cornell Brewer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cornell-brewer-foundation-morg_49519f38463f450daac633ef4fc28c85},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Cornell Brewer 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.
Cornell Brewer Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?