Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In filing year 2025, it reported 15 grants totaling $209,500, all to recipients in Illinois.
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc at a glance
In short: Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc gave $210K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Illinois. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $209,500
- +23.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,967
- -1.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,283,634
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 130 N Garland Court Unit 2506, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 346-3072
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Field Museum ($25K). Together the top 10 received $165K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The listed 2025 recipients are in Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 145% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $130K (2020) to $210K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $210K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Field Museum Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $25,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $25,000 |
| Chicago Opera Theater Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $20,000 |
| Grant Park Music Festival Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $20,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $20,000 |
| Merit School of Music Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $12,500 |
| Forward Momentum Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $12,500 |
| Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $10,000 |
| Cedille Records Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $10,000 |
| Harris Theater for Music and Dance Chicago, IL | Unrestricted General | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,283,634 | $374,635 | $250,654 | $209,500 | 15 | $223,390 | $349,231 | $154,498 |
| 2024 | $2,157,792 | $256,736 | $213,070 | $170,000 | 12 | $183,642 | $232,516 | $148,504 |
| 2023 | $2,107,575 | $178,447 | $194,634 | $161,000 | 14 | $173,055 | $155,919 | $132,236 |
| 2022 | $2,132,992 | $112,320 | $193,790 | $155,000 | 12 | $167,243 | $90,403 | $135,732 |
| 2021 | $2,211,859 | $276,915 | $205,679 | $165,000 | 13 | $166,165 | $239,673 | $153,104 |
| 2020 | $2,143,739 | $161,678 | $161,820 | $130,000 | 11 | — | $130,425 | $131,821 |
| 2019 | $2,144,529 | $100,774 | $222,106 | $190,000 | 20 | — | $70,412 | $132,974 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc reported a distributable amount of $154K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for Chicago arts and cultural organizations, including opera companies, music organizations, a museum, and dance organizations. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Lyric Opera of Chicago says it provides cultural service to Chicago and the nation and advances opera; the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association says it enriches, inspires, and transforms lives through music, community engagement, and education; and Merit School of Music says it helps young people access high-quality music education, including through need-based aid and scholarships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $209,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $25,000 each to the Field Museum and Lyric Opera of Chicago; $20,000 each to Chicago Opera Theater, Grant Park Music Festival, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and $12,500 each to Merit School of Music and Forward Momentum. Other listed grants included $10,000 each to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Cedille Records, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Joffrey Ballet, and Third Coast Percussions. The listed purposes for these grants were “UNRESTRICTED GENERAL.” Classical Music Chicago also reported receiving $5,000 in 2025; it describes its work as presenting free classical music performances and music education in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan Bass Noel as president and Bank of America NA as agent for fiduciary.
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc is led by Susan Bass Noel, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Bass Noel
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bank Of America NA
Agent for Fiduciary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$28K (2023) → $33K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Chris Noel (2019–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Jay P. Tarshis (2019–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $33K, to Bank of America NA (Agent for Fiduciary).
Frequently asked questions about Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc
How much does Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc give each year?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc gave $210K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $170K across 12 grants.
What is Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's typical grant size?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,967, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc give grants?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (14 grants).
Does Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's largest grantees?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Field Museum ($25,000), Lyric Opera of Chicago ($25,000) and Chicago Opera Theater ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $223K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $154K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for Chicago arts and cultural organizations, including opera companies, music organizations, a museum, and dance organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's EIN?
Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3487098. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 23, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-isabelle-bass-fdn-inc-morg_f79b706625b442cc867d8865ab3df064
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363487098_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert \& Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-isabelle-bass-fdn-inc-morg_f79b706625b442cc867d8865ab3df064},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Robert & Isabelle Bass Fdn Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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