Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation
The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1969. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation functions as a social impact investor dedicated to supporting community-based organizations that improve the lives of under-resourced populations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.6M
-8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
-3.7% YoY
Grant Count
113
-11.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
+9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $827K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to effective community and cultural investments through its philanthropy. The organization prioritizes funding direct service providers and community-based organizations working on the ground in their communities. Key focus areas include:
- Youth services and youth development
- Community development and revitalization
- Health equity and cancer disparities
- Arts and cultural organizations
- Organizations serving under-resourced populations
The foundation has made a strategic decision to fund organizations providing direct service to people in their communities, recognizing that people living and working in these communities understand their needs best.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker, having made 127 grants in the most recent reporting year. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in Chicago and Los Angeles, with particular emphasis on Chicago's communities. Recent strategic investments have focused on Chicago's Greater Englewood community.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,568,393
- Total Revenues: $1,860,954
- Total Expenses: $3,448,828
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $18,200,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $3,445,733
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,568,393 | $18,156,267 | $22,905,881 |
| Revenue | $1,860,954 | $-1,173,822 | $-2,414,997 |
| Expenses | $3,448,828 | $3,575,792 | $4,360,377 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,327,905 | $3,453,485 | $3,542,064 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,669,606 | $655,263 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $827,264 | $944,234 | $1,173,527 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Connections for the Homeless ($450,000), Feinberg School of Medicine Batlle Discretionary ($225,000), Better Government Association ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $15,000 |
| ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| AUDITORY NEUROSCIENCE LABORATORY NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $8,000 |
| BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| BOULEVARD CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| BRONZEVILLE TRAIL TASK FORCE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| CANINE LYMPHOMA EDUCATION AWARENESS & RESEARCH CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
| CARA COLLECTIVE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED, EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Janice Feinberg - President of the Feinberg Foundation
- Rhonda Feinberg - Trustee and breast cancer survivor
- Joseph Feinberg - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANICE FEINBERG | PRESIDENT, ASST SEC, TREAS | 30 | — |
| JOSEPH FEINBERG | VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| RHONDA FEINBERG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been actively engaged in strategic philanthropic initiatives:
**Health Equity Work**: Made a significant gift to Northwestern University's Center for Health Equity Transformation to address cancer disparities affecting Black women in Chicago, inspired by connections made through the television series *The Chi*.
**Community Development**: Focusing investments in Chicago's Greater Englewood community as part of strategic community revitalization efforts.
**Arts Education**: Recognized as a committed supporter of The People's Music School, championing youth music education in under-resourced communities.
**Black History Month**: Provided a $300,000 donation to The Dovetail Project to kick off Black History Month programming.
The Dovetail Project Kicks Off Black History Month With $300,000 DonationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to effective community and cultural investments through its philanthropy. The organization prioritizes funding direct service providers and community-based organizations working on the ground in their communities. Key focus areas include: • Youth services and youth development • Community development and revitalization • Health equity and cancer disparities • Arts and cultural organizations • Organizations serving under-resourced populations The foundation has made a…
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker, having made 127 grants in the most recent reporting year. Recent grants include: • Connections for the Homeless: $450,000 • Young Chicago Authors: $100,000 • Better Government Association: $100,000 • The Dovetail Project: $300,000 • Timeline Theatre (among other grantees) Total giving in 2023 was $3,445,733, with total grants made in 2024 reaching approximately $1.8 million across 127 grants.
Where does Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations in Chicago and Los Angeles, with particular emphasis on Chicago's communities. Recent strategic investments have focused on Chicago's Greater Englewood community.
What size grants does Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation award?
In 2024, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation awarded 113 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $827K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation's EIN?
Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7028857. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Joseph & Bessie Feinberg 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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