Helen V Brach Foundation
The Helen V Brach Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1974. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is one of the few foundations in Chicago that provides significant support to animal welfare and anti-cruelty programs alongside education and human services initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$127.9M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.9M
-8.9% YoY
Grant Count
553
+4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-13.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen V Brach Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.7M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's charter provides that it should operate for the following purposes: charitable, educational, literary, prevention of cruelty to animals, prevention of cruelty to children, promotion of music, arts and theater, religious and scientific.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Anti-animal cruelty and animal welfare
- Youth services
- Homelessness
- Health
- Veterans
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
Notable recent grantees include:
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Ohio, and the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending March 2025:
- Total assets: $127,921,392
- Total revenue: $17,155,097
- Total expenses: $7,670,064
- Net income: $9,485,033
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $127,921,392 | $118,436,357 | $112,878,083 |
| Revenue | $17,155,097 | $13,643,070 | $2,664,272 |
| Expenses | $7,670,064 | $8,084,792 | $8,259,937 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,983,278 | $7,457,703 | $7,822,001 |
| Net Investment Income | $16,618,310 | $13,215,981 | $3,055,526 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,740,557 | $6,995,768 | $6,894,384 |
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 Big Shoulders Fund ($100,000), Access Living of Chicago ($50,000), Bethlehem University Fdn ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 11th Street Church of God Urichsville, OH | Matching Grant | $2,500 |
| 11th Street Church of God Urichsville, OH | Matching Grant | $2,500 |
| Access Living of Chicago Chicago, IL | To support the Access Living Youth Institute to give youth with disabilities the tools they need to live independent lives | $50,000 |
| Advocate IL Masonic Med Center Downers Grove, IL | To support Mobile Dental Program providing preventive and restorative dental treatment in underserved communities | $10,000 |
| Advocates for Justice and Education Washongton, DC | Matching Grant | $1,000 |
| Aid for Women Chicago, IL | Discretionary Grant | $3,000 |
| Aid for Women Chicago, IL | Matching Grant | $3,000 |
| Aid for Women Chiago, IL | To support operation of residential program, Heathers House, for mothers and their children | $10,000 |
| Amate House Chicago, IL | To support Amate House Fellows working in schools and non-profits across the City of Chicago | $10,000 |
| Amer Federation Pueri Cantores Orange, CA | Matching Grant | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees include:
- Raymond F Simon
- James J O'Connor
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John J Sheridan | Director | 2 | $20,000 |
| R Matthew Simon | President | 40 | $301,000 |
| Charles A Vorhees | Director | 2 | $20,000 |
| Cherryl T Thomas | Directoor | 2 | $20,000 |
| R Matthew Simon | Member | 4 | $25,000 |
| Mark T Simon | Member | 4 | $25,000 |
| Joseph J Griseta | Associate Director | 40 | $258,750 |
| Stephanie Simon | Member | 4 | $25,000 |
| Virginia Groark Hale | Member | 2 | $20,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 104 S Michigan Ave, Suite 1310, Chicago, IL 60603-6114
Phone: 312-372-4417
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen V Brach Foundation fund?
The foundation's charter provides that it should operate for the following purposes: charitable, educational, literary, prevention of cruelty to animals, prevention of cruelty to children, promotion of music, arts and theater, religious and scientific. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Anti-animal cruelty and animal welfare • Youth services • Homelessness • Health • Veterans • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Helen V Brach Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical awards range from $100,000–$250,000 • The foundation made 563 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Total giving: $5,926,523 (fiscal year ending March 2025) **Recent Grants:** Notable recent grantees include: • Big Shoulders Fund ($100,000) - for scholarships, leadership development for school leaders and educators, and academic enrichment programs • Nu Rho Psi the National Honor Society in Neuroscience / Loyola University Chicago Chapter ($100,000) - f…
Where does Helen V Brach Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Ohio, and the District of Columbia, with a particular emphasis on Chicago.
What size grants does Helen V Brach Foundation award?
In 2025, Helen V Brach Foundation awarded 553 grants totaling $5.9M — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen V Brach Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Helen V Brach Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen V Brach Foundation's EIN?
Helen V Brach Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7376427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Helen V Brach 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.