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.
Key facts about S & E Bramsen Foundation
- EIN
- 36-2546470
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $43,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $2,529
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,746,305
- Primary geography
- Illinois (49% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who S & E Bramsen Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for S & E Bramsen Foundation's 17 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (49%), New Jersey (14%) and Kentucky (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Barrington, IL (4 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 94% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is S & E Bramsen Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 17 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 84% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 60% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with S & E Bramsen Foundation
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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
Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients 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 |
| CITIZENS FOR CONSERVATION Barrington, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| EQUINE LAND CONSERVATION RESOURCE Lexington, KY | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY OF ILLINOIS Chicago, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| US EQUESTRIAN TEAM FOUNDATION Gladstone, NJ | OPERATING NEEDS | $5,000 |
| US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM Washington, DC | OPERATING NEEDS | $3,000 |
| OPENLANDS Chicago, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $2,500 |
| GARFIELD FARM MUSEUM La Fox, IL | OPERATING NEEDS | $2,000 |
| MUSEUM OF DANISH AMERICA Elk Horn, IA | OPERATING NEEDS | $2,000 |
| PARKINSON RESEARCH FOUNDATION Sarasota, FL | 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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.