John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found
The John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 and based in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic, charitable, and grantmaking purposes. The foundation was founded by John Bucksbaum, a real estate entrepreneur who served as chairman and CEO of General Growth Properties and later founded Bucksbaum Retail Properties, and his wife Jacolyn, who has a background in the motion picture industry.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
-33.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$989K
-44.8% YoY
Grant Count
127
+58.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-65.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found reported a distributable amount of $234K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses on:
- Early childhood development
- Jewish education
- Excellence in sports
- Arts and civic organizations
- K-12 and higher education
- Health and disease prevention
The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not operate a website, which limits publicly available information on its specific grantmaking strategies and priorities.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a website or provide readily available contact information for grant applications, making it difficult for grantseekers to access formal application procedures. Networking may be necessary to reach the foundation.
Grant Range
$150,000 to $825,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $78,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across 20 U.S. states, with particular emphasis on:
- Illinois (especially Chicago)
- Colorado (especially Aspen)
- New York
Additional states supported include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3.07 million
- Revenue: $328,000
- Expenses: $1 million
- Total Liabilities: $50,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4.6 million
- Total Giving: $1.8 million
- Total Revenue: $424,763
- Total Expenses: $740,357
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,067,457 | $4,612,766 | $5,988,194 |
| Revenue | $328,328 | $424,763 | $2,461,879 |
| Expenses | $1,000,137 | $740,357 | $4,083,063 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $988,826 | $1,792,945 | $2,412,202 |
| Net Investment Income | $323,995 | $419,990 | $276,617 |
| Distributable Amount | $234,099 | $292,277 | $293,048 |
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
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club ($101,000), American Jewish Committee ($50,000), Aspen Center for Environmental Studies ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABRAHAM INITIATIVES NEW YORK, NY | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $1,000 |
| ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE CHICAGO, IL | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $5,000 |
| ACTORS TRAINING CENTER WILMETTE, IL | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE NEW YORK, NY | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $5,000 |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $5,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE NEW YORK, NY | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $1,000 |
| ASPEN ALPINE CLUB INC ASPEN, CO | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $10,000 |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM ASPEN, CO | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $5,000 |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ASPEN, CO | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE FOR THE INTENT ESTABLISHED BY THE VARIOUS CHARITIES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Bucksbaum – President and Director (unpaid)
- Jacolyn Bucksbaum – Vice President and Director (unpaid)
- E. Michael Greaves – Director (unpaid)
- Robert Trattner – Treasurer and Secretary (unpaid)
Board Background: Jacolyn Bucksbaum serves on the boards of the Latin School of Chicago, Chicago International Film Festival, and the Society for Contemporary Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. She is co-founder of The Focus Foundation. The foundation board operates without paid staff or compensation to directors.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN BUCKSBAUM | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACOLYN BUCKSBAUM | VICE PRESIENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| E MICHAEL GREAVES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT TRATTNER | TREASURER/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2024, the Bucksbaum family made a transformational $25 million gift to the Art Institute of Chicago, designated for photography and media curation. This represented the institution's largest-ever gift for photography and media collection, supporting the creation of a new photography hub at the museum.
$25 million gift from Jackolyn Bucksbaum and family to art institute \u2013\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found fund?
The foundation focuses on: • **Early childhood development** • **Jewish education** • **Excellence in sports** • **Arts and civic organizations** • **K-12 and higher education** • **Health and disease prevention** The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not operate a website, which limits publicly available information on its specific grantmaking strategies and priorities.
How do I apply for a grant from John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 33 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $1,792,919 • Grant range: $150,000 to $825,000 • Median grant size: $2,500 • Average grant amount: approximately $78,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • University of Denver: $825,000 • The Obama Foundation: $250,000 • Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club: $105,000 **Other Supported Organizations:** • US Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation • Washington University • University of Chicago • University of Houston • Latin School …
Where does John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across 20 U.S. states, with particular emphasis on: • **Illinois** (especially Chicago) • **Colorado** (especially Aspen) • **New York** Additional states supported include: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and others.
What size grants does John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found award?
In 2024, John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found awarded 127 grants totaling $989K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found reported a distributable amount of $234K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found's EIN?
John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0450497. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
RHS Foundation
MOLINE, IL
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
37
Total Given
$342K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Found to a real strategy.