The Bill Bass Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2005, it operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
-2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$836K
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
59
-3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-4.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bill Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $943K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and Creative Fields
- Community Health
- Historic Preservation
- Journalism
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $12,630,119
- Total Revenues: $2,480,029
- Total Expenses: $1,232,595
- Investment Income and Dividends: $362,562
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,313,490
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,313,490 | $12,630,119 | $11,592,565 |
| Revenue | $926,272 | $2,480,029 | $1,503,591 |
| Expenses | $1,178,265 | $1,232,595 | $1,040,852 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $942,750 | $1,013,401 | $811,923 |
| Net Investment Income | $725,505 | $1,970,859 | $1,265,223 |
| Distributable Amount | $942,540 | $858,322 | $886,426 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($118,000), Lurie Childrens Foundation ($50,000), Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $25,000 |
| INVEST FOR KIDS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $118,000 |
| LURIE CHILDRENS FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $50,000 |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUNDS | $20,000 |
| RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION HIGHLAND PARK, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| RICHARD SCHOENSTADT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION SCARSDALE, NY | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUNDS | $10,000 |
| AM SHALOM SYNAGOGUE GLENCOE, IL | GENERAL FUNDS | $18,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Marc Schwartz serves as a key contact for the foundation and is listed as co-trustee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELINDA JACOBSON | CO-TRUSTEE - PART TIME | — | $90,000 |
| MARC SCHWARTZ | CO-TRUSTEE - PART TIME | — | $90,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 333 W Wacker Drive, Suite 1700 #3550 Chicago, IL 60606-1247
Telephone: 312-540-4992
EIN: 61-6314816
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bill Bass Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Creative Fields • Community Health • Historic Preservation • Journalism
How do I apply for a grant from The Bill Bass Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $118,000 • In 2023, the foundation made 65 grants totaling approximately $786,000 • Recent notable grants include: • Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago: $105,000 (2023) • Lurie Children's Surgical Foundation: $50,000 (2023) • University of Illinois Foundation: $50,000 (2023) **Total Giving:** • 2024: $831,000 in grants awarded
Where does The Bill Bass Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and South Carolina.
What size grants does The Bill Bass Foundation award?
In 2024, The Bill Bass Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $836K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bill Bass Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bill Bass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $943K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bill Bass Foundation's EIN?
The Bill Bass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-6314816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bill Bass 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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