EBR Foundation
EBR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1987. The foundation supports educational initiatives with a focus on STEM education and teacher innovation.
Key facts about EBR Foundation
- EIN
- 36-3488134
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $300,031
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- Average grant
- $12,501
- Median grant
- $8,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (4 of 24, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who EBR Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for EBR Foundation's 24 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (34%), Kentucky (17%) and North Carolina (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lake Forest, IL (2 grants), Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and Southern Pines, NC (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is EBR Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 24 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 937% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with EBR Foundation
- How to evaluate EBR Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to EBR Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$300K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
24
-20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+25.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, EBR Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation actively awards grants across multiple educational focus areas:
Ready to take the next step with EBR Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Illinois and supports educational institutions across multiple regions.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 24 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- EIN: 36-3488134
- Year Formed: 1987
- Most Recent Tax Filing: December 1, 2023
- Current Staff: 0 employees listed
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $657,161 | $931,629 |
| Revenue | $365,306 | $57,959 | $172,307 |
| Expenses | $324,070 | $318,052 | $324,685 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $306,405 | $305,774 | $305,969 |
| Net Investment Income | $349,858 | $45,121 | $157,880 |
| Distributable Amount | $32,703 | $49,939 | $62,223 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Chicago Zoological Society ($50,000), Great Lakes Disaster Training Fndn ($30,000), Woodford Humane Society ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Brookfield, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| GREAT LAKES DISASTER TRAINING FNDN Lake Forest, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| WOODFORD HUMANE SOCIETY Versailles, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| LAKE FOREST OPEN LANDS Lake Forest, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION OUTREACH Miami, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| NACDS FOUNDATION Arlington, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| WATOTO WORLD Haverhill, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| KENTUCKY EQUINE ADOPTION CENTER Nicholasville, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Asheboro, NC | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| S SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan B Mellin | President | — | — |
| Debra M Coy | Secretary | — | — |
| Mark Liyeos | Treasurer | — | — |
| Howard B Simpson | Director | — | — |
| Jessie S Jones | Director | — | — |
| William M Simpson | Director | — | — |
| James Simpson IV | Director | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Announced 2025 Star STEM Teacher Grant winners, celebrating innovation in classroom STEM education
Celebrating Innovation in the Classroom: 2025 Star STEM Teacher Grant WinnersAwarded $250,000 in grant funding distributed across five academic research projects
eBPF Foundation Announces $250,000 in Grant Awards for Five eBPF AcademicProvided $100,000 in research grants focused on advancing safety and efficiency in specialized technical research areas
eBPF Foundation awards $250,000 in academic research grantsAwarded $1 million grant to support new computer course development in public school systems
EBR public schools awarded $1M grant for new computer coursesFrequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from EBR Foundation?
The foundation actively awards grants across multiple educational focus areas: • **Star STEM Teacher Grants**: Annual grant program recognizing and supporting innovation in classroom STEM education, with 2025 winners announced • **Academic Research Grants**: Awards funding for academic research projects, including recent $250,000 in grant awards distributed across five academic research initiatives • **K-12 Education Support**: Provides substantial grants to public school systems for educationa…
Where does EBR Foundation make grants?
The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Illinois and supports educational institutions across multiple regions.
What size grants does EBR Foundation award?
In 2024, EBR Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $300K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is EBR Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, EBR Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is EBR Foundation's EIN?
EBR Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3488134. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in EBR Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ge Aerospace Foundation
Norwalk, CT
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
2,467
Total Given
$15.3M
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Arthur J Gallagher Foundation
Rolling Meadows, IL
Assets
—
Grants
2,692
Total Given
$1.6M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
Assets
—
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
Assets
$885.0M
Grants
1,485
Total Given
$31.9M
Baxter International Foundation
Deerfield, IL
Assets
$67.5M
Grants
1,300
Total Given
$13.7M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur
Chicago, IL
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Assets
—
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago, IL
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
Circle of Service Foundation
Chicago, IL
Assets
—
Grants
637
Total Given
$37.0M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
More Funders in Illinois
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.