S & E Bramsen Foundation
The S & E Bramsen Foundation is a private foundation located in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1964. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent grantmaking foundation with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$43K
-96.1% YoY
Grant Count
17
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-96.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, S & E Bramsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to sell securities to increase cash flow for charitable contributions. The organization functions as a private grantmaking foundation supporting various charitable causes.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 22 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in Illinois, with a focus on Chicago-area organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total assets: $1,746,305
- Total revenues: $45,516
- Total expenses: $66,709
- Total giving: $1,089,000 (2023)
Historical Data (2023):
- Total assets: $1,767,498
- Investment income and dividends: $45,649
The foundation's revenue declined significantly in 2024, with total grants and contributions dropping from $1,200,000 in 2023 to $0 in 2024. Primary revenue comes from investment income and dividends.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,746,305 | $1,767,498 | $1,684,460 |
| Revenue | $45,516 | $2,390,774 | $228,171 |
| Expenses | $66,709 | $1,106,068 | $1,764,978 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $43,000 | $1,089,000 | $1,750,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $45,516 | $1,173,706 | $39,630 |
| Distributable Amount | $71,844 | $62,437 | $176,694 |
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
101 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Barrington Area Community Foundation ($5,000), Citizens for Conservation ($5,000), Equine Land Conservation Resource ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BARRINGTON AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BARRINGTON, IL | MAJOR GIFTS CAMPAIGN | $5,000 |
| BARRINGTON AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY BARRINGTON, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $250 |
| CITIZENS FOR CONSERVATION BARRINGTON, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| EQUINE LAND CONSERVATION RESOURCE LEXINGTON, KY | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| GARFIELD FARM MUSEUM LA FOX, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $2,000 |
| GOLDWATER INSTITUTE PHOENIX, AZ | OPERATING NEEDS | $1,000 |
| HOOVED ANIMAL RESCUE & PROTECTION SOCIETY BARRINGTON, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $1,000 |
| ILLINOIS PRAIRIE PATH WHEATON, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $250 |
| LAND TRUST ALLIANCE WASHINGTON, DC | OPERATING NEEDS | $1,000 |
| MUSEUM OF DANISH AMERICA ELK HORN, IA | OPERATING NEEDS | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation has no employees and is managed by trustees. Elizabeth C. Bramsen serves as Secretary of the related Hamill Family Foundation, indicating family involvement in philanthropic activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES E BRAMSEN | PRESIDENT/ TREASURER/DIR. | 0.5 | — |
| MARY MUEHLSTEIN | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| FRANKLIN E BRAMSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SIGRID L GRAY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JULIA E BRAMSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does S & E Bramsen Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to sell securities to increase cash flow for charitable contributions. The organization functions as a private grantmaking foundation supporting various charitable causes.
How do I apply for a grant from S & E Bramsen Foundation?
The foundation made 22 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: • Citizens for Conservation (CFC): $5,000 for operating needs • Equine Land Conservation Resource: $5,000 for operating needs • Openlands: $2,500 for operating needs Grant awards typically support operating needs of recipient organizations.
Where does S & E Bramsen Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in Illinois, with a focus on Chicago-area organizations.
What size grants does S & E Bramsen Foundation award?
In 2024, S & E Bramsen Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $43K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is S & E Bramsen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, S & E Bramsen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is S & E Bramsen Foundation's EIN?
S & E Bramsen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2546470. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in S & E Bramsen 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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