Sunshine Charitable Foundation
The Sunshine Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Libertyville, Illinois. Founded by David G. Bunning and Denise A. Bunning, the foundation serves as the philanthropic vehicle for the Bunning family's charitable interests. With assets exceeding $118 million and annual giving of approximately $7.3 million, it operates as a significant philanthropic organization focused on education, medical research, and environmental conservation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$114.9M
-3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-84.9% YoY
Grant Count
63
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-84.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sunshine Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is shaped by the Bunnings' personal experience raising two sons with multiple life-threatening food allergies. Primary funding priorities include:
- Food Allergy and Eosinophilic Esophagitis Research: Major support for research institutions studying allergic diseases
- Education: Support for educational institutions and programs
- Environmental Conservation: Selective support for wildlife and environmental research projects
Grantmaking
The foundation made 66 grants in 2023, with total giving of $7,272,365. Grant amounts vary by program area, with typical awards ranging from $900 to $2,666,667.
Invitation Only
**: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. It does not maintain a public website.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national focus across the United States, with particular emphasis on Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Grant recipients are located in cities including Chicago, New York, Boston, and across states including Wisconsin, Georgia, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $118,841,914
- Total Annual Giving: $7,272,365
- Total Revenues: $45,616,502
- Total Expenses: $8,903,997
- Investment Income and Dividends: $484,789
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $114,898,886 | $118,841,914 | $82,080,626 |
| Revenue | $24,054 | $45,616,502 | $7,956,699 |
| Expenses | $4,010,945 | $8,903,997 | $7,769,619 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,118,476 | $7,286,125 | $6,868,132 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $44,395,159 | $7,004,818 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,410,273 | $4,645,705 | $6,373,066 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Massachusetts General Hospital ($250,000), Ducks Unlimited Inc ($228,000), Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Foundation ($120,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ames Education Foundation Ames, IA | General Support Grant | $10,000 |
| APFED Atlanta, GA | General Support Grant | $10,000 |
| Bold Foundation Inc Denver, CO | General Support Grant | $3,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Door County Inc Sturgeon Bay, WI | General Support Grant | $10,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lake County North Chicago, IL | General Support Grant | $5,000 |
| Camp Blue Spruce Portland, OR | General Support Grant | $1,500 |
| Celiac Disease Foundation Woodland Hills, CA | General Support Grant | $1,000 |
| Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation Lake Forest, IL | General Support Grant | $1,000 |
| Community Partners For Affordable Housing Libertyville, IL | General Support Grant | $1,000 |
| CURED NFP Buffalo Grove, IL | General Support Grant | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David G. Bunning: President and Director
- Denise A. Bunning: Trustee
- Michael Hughes: Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Address: 111 Lake Street, Libertyville, IL 60048-1811
Phone: 847-615-9560
EIN: 20-1919538
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sunshine Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is shaped by the Bunnings' personal experience raising two sons with multiple life-threatening food allergies. Primary funding priorities include: • **Food Allergy and Eosinophilic Esophagitis Research**: Major support for research institutions studying allergic diseases • **Education**: Support for educational institutions and programs • **Environmental Conservation**: Selective support for wildlife and environmental research projects
How do I apply for a grant from Sunshine Charitable Foundation?
The foundation made 66 grants in 2023, with total giving of $7,272,365. Grant amounts vary by program area, with typical awards ranging from $900 to $2,666,667. **Application Process**: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. It does not maintain a public website. **Recent Grant Recipients** include: • Northwestern University: $1,000,000 (Cfaar Endowed Research and Fellowship Fund) • National Wrestling Coaches Association: $300,000 (Gene…
Where does Sunshine Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national focus across the United States, with particular emphasis on Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Grant recipients are located in cities including Chicago, New York, Boston, and across states including Wisconsin, Georgia, and California.
What size grants does Sunshine Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Sunshine Charitable Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sunshine Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sunshine Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sunshine Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Sunshine Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1919538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sunshine Charitable 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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