EBR Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-3488134

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.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$300K

+0.0% YoY

Grant Count

-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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Grantmaking

The foundation actively awards grants across multiple educational focus areas:

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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

Illinois $469K (31%)

Kentucky $208K (14%)

Massachusetts $183K (12%)

Virginia $176K (12%)

North Carolina $130K (9%)

Florida $70K (5%)

Georgia $65K (4%)

New York $60K (4%)

+9 more states

States

California District of Columbia Florida Georgia Illinois Kentucky Massachusetts Montana North Carolina New Hampshire New York Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina Virginia Vermont Washington

Cities

ArlingtonAsheboroAtlantaBrookfieldCamdenCharlotteChicagoHaverhillJohnsonLaguna HillsLake ForestLeesburgLexingtonMiamiNewburyNicholasvilleOak LawmOak LawnOwassoPhiladelphia

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

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

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

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 include Chicago Zoological Society ($50,000), Great Lakes Disaster Training Fndn ($30,000), Woodford Humane Society ($30,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
GREAT LAKES DISASTER TRAINING FNDN LAKE FOREST, IL	UNRESTRICTED	$30,000
CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BROOKFIELD, IL	UNRESTRICTED	$50,000
LAKE FOREST OPEN LANDS LAKE FOREST, IL	UNRESTRICTED	$20,000
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION OUTREACH MIAMI, FL	UNRESTRICTED	$20,000
WALTHOUR-MOSS FOUNDATION SOUTHERN PINES, NC	UNRESTRICTED	$5,000
NACDS FOUNDATION ARLINGTON, VA	UNRESTRICTED	$20,000
WATOTO WORLD HAVERHILL, MA	UNRESTRICTED	$20,000
NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ASHEBORO, NC	UNRESTRICTED	$15,000
S SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION STATEN ISLAND, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$15,000
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS TAUNTON, MA	UNRESTRICTED	$7,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 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

2025

Announced 2025 Star STEM Teacher Grant winners, celebrating innovation in classroom STEM education

Celebrating Innovation in the Classroom: 2025 Star STEM Teacher Grant Winners

Awarded $250,000 in grant funding distributed across five academic research projects

eBPF Foundation Announces $250,000 in Grant Awards for Five eBPF Academic

Provided $100,000 in research grants focused on advancing safety and efficiency in specialized technical research areas

eBPF Foundation awards $250,000 in academic research grants

Awarded $1 million grant to support new computer course development in public school systems

EBR public schools awarded $1M grant for new computer courses

Frequently 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.