Robert Galvin Foundation
The Robert Galvin Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including energy, humanitarian, conservation, research, engineering, and cultural organizations.
Robert Galvin Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert Galvin Foundation gave $3.8M across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $141K), mostly in Illinois. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,819,150
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- -12.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $141,450
- +4.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $57,660,305
- +13.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Robert Galvin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing lists Christopher B Galvin as the contact, says application forms and materials are not applicable, and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Christopher B Galvin
Mailing address: 101 Gulfstream Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480
Phone: (312) 376-0100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert Galvin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Institute of Technology ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $3.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
153 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 153 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in Illinois received 53% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Washington, DC (11%), California (8%), Virginia (8%), and New York (7%). The grants also included organizations in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert Galvin Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 27 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $139K; repeat grants $142K. How we count
Medians: $138K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2020) to $4.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Technology Chicago, IL | Public Charity | $1,275,000 |
| Rare Arlington, VA | Public Charity | $300,000 |
| International Rescue Committee New York, NY | Public Charity | $275,000 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Washington, DC | Public Charity | $250,000 |
| Development Chicago, IL | Public Charity | $250,000 |
| Kidspace Museum Pasadena, CA | Public Charity | $200,000 |
| Santa Fe Institute Santa Fe, NM | Public Charity | $150,000 |
| Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Miami, FL | Public Charity | $100,000 |
| Institute for Achievement of Human Potential Wyndmoor, PA | Public Charity | $100,000 |
| Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Dundee Township, IL | Public Charity | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robert Galvin Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,660,305 | $12,915,591 | $5,620,421 | $3,819,150 | 27 | $3,819,150 | $11,114,320 | $3,797,643 |
| 2023 | $50,613,445 | $5,868,843 | $5,608,204 | $4,187,100 | 31 | $4,187,100 | $4,447,696 | $3,891,719 |
| 2022 | $51,147,984 | $3,512,255 | $5,798,426 | $3,930,000 | 32 | $4,058,665 | $1,772,494 | $4,120,625 |
| 2021 | $54,037,901 | $8,048,512 | $5,213,388 | $3,822,615 | 32 | $3,826,644 | $6,664,914 | $4,056,577 |
| 2020 | $49,555,543 | $4,973,623 | $4,748,199 | $3,569,500 | 31 | — | $3,798,009 | $3,827,977 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Galvin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M for 2024 — 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 grants include support for organizations working in different fields. For example, the International Rescue Committee says it helps people affected by conflict and disaster; the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation organization says it works to guarantee Americans quality places to hunt and fish; and the National Academy of Engineering Fund says it supports engineering programs, education, research, and recognition of engineering achievements.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $3,819,150. Grants ranged from $2,150 to $1,275,000, with a median of $100,000. In 2023, it made 31 grants totaling $4,187,100. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 27 grants totaling $3.8 million.
Notable 2024 grants included $1,275,000 to INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY in Chicago, $300,000 to RARE, $275,000 to the International Rescue Committee, $250,000 to Theodore Roosevelt Conservation, and $200,000 to Kidspace Museum. The 2024 filing lists each grant’s purpose as “PUBLIC CHARITY.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher B Galvin as president, Michael P Galvin as vice president, and Mary G Galvin as treasurer and secretary.
Robert Galvin Foundation is led by Christopher B. Galvin, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher B. Galvin
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary G. Galvin
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael P. Galvin
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Robert Galvin Foundation
How much does Robert Galvin Foundation give each year?
Robert Galvin Foundation gave $3.8M across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.2M across 31 grants.
What is Robert Galvin Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert Galvin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $141,450, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Galvin Foundation that year got $139K on average.
Where does Robert Galvin Foundation give grants?
Robert Galvin Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does Robert Galvin Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Robert Galvin Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Charity" (27 grants).
Who are Robert Galvin Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert Galvin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Institute of Technology ($1,275,000), Rare ($300,000) and International Rescue Committee ($275,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert Galvin Foundation?
Robert Galvin Foundation reported $57.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Robert Galvin Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in different fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert Galvin Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert Galvin Foundation's EIN?
Robert Galvin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6065560. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Robert Galvin Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert Galvin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert Galvin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-galvin-foundation-morg_32b44bb94f504b808d05edd71332a37d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366065560_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert Galvin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-galvin-foundation-morg_32b44bb94f504b808d05edd71332a37d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Galvin Foundation'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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