George M Pullman Educational Foundation
The George M. Pullman Educational Foundation is a private operating foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, dedicated to advancing access to higher education for Cook County students. Established in 2017, the organization provides merit-based and need-based scholarships along with comprehensive support services to help outstanding high school graduates pursue bachelor's degrees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.7M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$684K
-1.1% YoY
Grant Count
95
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports the dreams and aspirations of outstanding graduating high school seniors through merit-based and need-based scholarships and continuing educational support as they pursue their bachelor's degree at colleges and universities of their choice.
The Foundation's approach emphasizes a distinctive model pairing significant financial aid with high-touch wraparound services designed to ensure students graduate on time with minimal debt. These services include:
- Renewable scholarships of up to $40,000 over four years (up to $10,000 annually)
- Individual monthly check-ins with scholars
- Seminars on topics identified by students
- Career guidance and mentorship
- Robust alumni network support
- On-demand mental health services
- Annual symposium
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation focuses on Cook County, Illinois, providing scholarships to high school graduates from the region who attend colleges and universities across the country.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $33.4 million
- Total Revenue: $2.36 million
- Total Expenses: $1.91 million
- Number of Employees: 3
Historical Asset Growth:
- Assets grew from $25.4 million in 2010 to $31 million in 2022, reaching $33.4 million by 2024
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,670,648 | $33,390,919 | $31,026,069 |
| Revenue | $2,828,382 | $2,364,764 | $1,819,435 |
| Expenses | $1,949,184 | $1,907,543 | $1,845,824 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,636,745 | $1,641,768 | $1,586,990 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,325,953 | $1,860,392 | $926,046 |
| 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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Angel Nieves ($12,500), Jordan Hanna ($12,500), Alexander Lorden ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABDELAZIZ HASAN CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,589 |
| ALEXANDER CALDERON CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| ALEXANDER LORDEN CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ALEXIS HERNANDEZ CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| A'MAREE WADDELL CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ANA SERBAN CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $5,000 |
| ANAYA OKONMAH CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| ANGEL NIEVES CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $12,500 |
| ANNA MARIE GALARION CHICAGO, IL | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eric Delli Bovi — Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC DELLI BOVI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $178,100 |
| BARBARA M KAUFMAN | BOARD PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| RICHARD DASPIT JR | VICE PRESIDENT, ASST SEC & TREAS | 0.3 | — |
| ROBERT W FIORETTI | SECRETARY | 0.3 | — |
| MARC CHRISTMAN | TREASURER | 0.3 | — |
| GIANNA BERN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| SCOTT BROWN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| KIMBERLEY FREEDMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In October 2025, the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation received a $10 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This substantial contribution supports the Foundation's endowment and empowers it to sustain and expand resources provided to Pullman Scholars. According to Executive Director Eric Delli Bovi, the award affirms the Foundation's distinctive model and comes at a significant juncture in the program's development.
George M. Pullman Educational Foundation Receives $10 Million from MacKenzieThe Foundation has distributed between $663,000 and $714,000 annually in recent years and has made 298 grants with a median grant size of $8,000.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George M Pullman Educational Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports the dreams and aspirations of outstanding graduating high school seniors through merit-based and need-based scholarships and continuing educational support as they pursue their bachelor's degree at colleges and universities of their choice. The Foundation's approach emphasizes a distinctive model pairing significant financial aid with high-touch wraparound services designed to ensure students graduate on time with minimal debt. These services include: • Renewable scholar…
How do I apply for a grant from George M Pullman Educational Foundation?
**Scholarship Support:** • Renewable scholarships up to $40,000 over four years • Scholarships often close remaining funding gaps for students • Merit-based and need-based awards **Program Outcomes:** • 95% completion rates among Pullman Scholars • 70% of graduates report graduating debt-free • 87% graduation rate within four years • 100% retention rate over four years • Average student loan debt among graduating seniors: $3,703 (compared to $37,000 national average) • 55% of scholars identify …
Where does George M Pullman Educational Foundation make grants?
The Foundation focuses on Cook County, Illinois, providing scholarships to high school graduates from the region who attend colleges and universities across the country.
What size grants does George M Pullman Educational Foundation award?
In 2025, George M Pullman Educational Foundation awarded 95 grants totaling $684K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is George M Pullman Educational Foundation's EIN?
George M Pullman Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2216171. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in George M Pullman Educational 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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