Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation
The Paul A & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax-deductible. The foundation has been tax-exempt since October 1987.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.3M
-6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-16.4% YoY
Grant Count
29
+16.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Civic & Social Organizations
- Medical research, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular health
The foundation's giving reflects the personal philanthropic interests of Joan and Paul Rubschlager, who are motivated by their experiences as cancer survivors and their commitment to advancing medical research. Their passion extends to supporting research in Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), and cardiovascular medicine.
Grantmaking
The foundation also made nine additional grants in the 2024 fiscal year.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,337,822
- Total Revenue: $679,273
- Total Expenses: $1,304,720
- Net Income: -$625,447
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $644,953
As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2023:
- Investment income and dividends: $15,383
The foundation operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,337,822 | $9,963,269 | $10,855,349 |
| Revenue | $679,273 | $666,266 | $894,538 |
| Expenses | $1,304,720 | $1,558,346 | $2,259,626 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,287,000 | $1,539,500 | $2,245,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $661,553 | $647,420 | $879,912 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,088,835 | $1,077,413 | $1,127,020 |
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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lookingglass Theater Company ($500,000), American Heart Association ($125,000), Alzheimer's Association ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION MERRIFIELD, VA | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | CIVIL & SOCIAL | $125,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CHICAGO, IL | CIVIL & SOCIAL | $25,000 |
| ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $10,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH BOARD CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | CIVIL & SOCIAL | $50,000 |
| CARE GIFT CENTER MERRIFIELD, VA | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $5,000 |
| CHILDREN'S DYSLEXIA CENTER LAGRANGE, IL | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $15,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HEART FOUNDATION NORTHBROOK, IL | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $12,000 |
| EASTER SEALS OF MET CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | CIVIC & SOCIAL | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders/Donors: Joan and Paul Rubschlager
Joan and Paul Rubschlager are longtime philanthropic partners in Chicago. Both are cancer survivors whose commitment to medical research has been shaped by witnessing medical breakthroughs throughout their lifetimes. Paul's father died from ALS, which has influenced the couple's support for neurodegenerative disease research.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL A RUBSCHLAGER | TRUSTEE (PART-TIME) | — | — |
| JOAN S RUBSCHLAGER | TRUSTEE (PART-TIME) | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**American Heart Association Recognition (2023):**
Joan and Paul Rubschlager were named Chicago Centennial Award honorees by the American Heart Association in 2024, recognizing their exemplary commitment to advancing the organization's mission. As volunteers, they have:
Joan and Paul Rubschlager named \u201CChicago Centennial Award\u201D honorees\Dedicated hundreds of hours through roles on local boards and committees
Supported the placement of CPR kiosks at O'Hare International Airport and Rush University Medical Center, which have been visited by more than 30,000 individuals
Funded grants supporting early-career investigators in heart and brain health research
Made a $2 million donation to fund the Joan and Paul Rubschlager Precision Promise Fund
**Research Facilities Named in Honor:**
Joan and Paul Rubschlager Tribology Laboratory at Rush University's Orthopedic Surgery Research department
Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building at Rush University
Celebrating Excellence: Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building Wins LCI DesignJoan and Paul Rubschlager Professorship at Les Turner ALS Foundation
Introducing the Joan & Paul Rubschlager Professorship -Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Civic & Social Organizations • Medical research, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular health The foundation's giving reflects the personal philanthropic interests of Joan and Paul Rubschlager, who are motivated by their experiences as cancer survivors and their commitment to advancing medical research. Their passion extends to supporting research in Alzheime…
How do I apply for a grant from Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation?
**Grant Activity (Fiscal Year Ending October 2024):** • Total giving: $1,287,000 • Number of grants: 14 • Typical award range: $5,000–$2,000,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Alzheimer's Association: $75,000 • Les Turner ALS Foundation: $50,000 • Make-A-Wish Illinois: $50,000 The foundation also made nine additional grants in the 2024 fiscal year. **Notable Historical Grants:** • $1 million to Alzheimer's Association (2012) to support the Association's global research program, making the Rubsch…
Where does Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • Virginia • Wisconsin
What size grants does Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation award?
In 2024, Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation's EIN?
Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3487448. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paul a & Joan S Rubschlager 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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