The Bluhm Family Foundation
The Bluhm Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it made 59 grants totaling $12,954,050 to organizations including a hospital foundation, cultural institutions, educational organizations, and community and advocacy groups.
The Bluhm Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Bluhm Family Foundation gave $13.0M across 59 grants in 2024 (avg $220K), mostly in Illinois. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,954,050
- +1.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 59
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $219,560
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $13,376,613
- +39.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (26 of 59, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (52% 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 The Bluhm Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 900 N Michigan Ave 1600, Chicago, IL 60611-6539
Phone: (312) 915-2893
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Bluhm Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($4.5M). Together the top 10 received $11.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
315 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 210 grants of 315 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 33% to recipients in Washington, DC. Recipients in New York received 7%, those in Pennsylvania 6%, and those in Connecticut 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Bluhm Family Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 59 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $351K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $5.1M (2020) to $14.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 59 grants totaling $13.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $4,500,000 |
| Milken Institute Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $4,000,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $700,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $609,960 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre CO Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $275,000 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| The Chicago Community Trust Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $200,000 |
| Chicago Cares Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Bluhm Family 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 | $13,376,613 | $24,166,969 | $13,206,647 | $12,954,050 | 59 | $13,141,762 | $9,534,995 | $619,733 |
| 2023 | $9,626,769 | $14,929,839 | $12,963,276 | $12,773,283 | 58 | $12,783,468 | $4,896,478 | $435,713 |
| 2022 | $10,721,114 | $7,702,704 | $12,447,165 | $11,977,033 | 64 | $11,988,488 | $5,396,072 | $763,018 |
| 2021 | $16,299,004 | $22,359,987 | $14,192,828 | $13,973,598 | 81 | $13,978,743 | $10,381,740 | $932,392 |
| 2020 | $17,849,920 | $104,878 | $5,317,964 | $5,100,101 | 53 | — | $146,296 | $1,078,377 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bluhm Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $620K 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 is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations whose work spans areas such as healthcare, arts and culture, education, community service, and Jewish causes. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, the Whitney Museum of American Art says it presents and collects art of the United States and fosters creativity, community, and the exchange of ideas. Chicago Cares says it mobilizes volunteers to build a stronger, more unified Chicago. OneGoal says it provides underserved students with resources and support to earn a postsecondary degree. The Anti-Defamation League describes its mission as fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate and securing justice and fair treatment for all.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 59 grants totaling $12,954,050. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $4,500,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grants included $4,500,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, $4,000,000 to Milken Institute, and $700,000 to the University of Pennsylvania. Other notable grants included $609,960 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, $500,000 to the Whitney Museum of American Art, and $275,000 to Steppenwolf Theatre Co. The listed grants state their purpose as furthering the recipient organization’s exempt purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Neil G. Bluhm, Andrew G. Bluhm, Leslie N. Bluhm, and Meredith A. Bluhm-Wolf as trustees.
The Bluhm Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Andrew G. Bluhm
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie N. Bluhm
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meredith A. Bluhm-Wolf
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neil G. Bluhm
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 The Bluhm Family Foundation
How much does The Bluhm Family Foundation give each year?
The Bluhm Family Foundation gave $13.0M across 59 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12.8M across 58 grants.
What is The Bluhm Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Bluhm Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $219,560, across 59 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Bluhm Family Foundation that year got $52K on average.
Where does The Bluhm Family Foundation give grants?
The Bluhm Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (33%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (30 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Washington, DC (5 grants).
Who are The Bluhm Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Bluhm Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($4,500,000), Milken Institute ($4,000,000) and University of Pennsylvania ($700,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Bluhm Family Foundation?
The Bluhm Family Foundation reported $13.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $620K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Bluhm Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations whose work spans areas such as healthcare, arts and culture, education, community service, and Jewish causes. These are descriptions of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Bluhm Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Bluhm Family Foundation's EIN?
The Bluhm Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1572776. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Bluhm Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Bluhm Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bluhm Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Bluhm Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-bluhm-family-foundation-morg_4ea4205593644a2ca068d76189c09848
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261572776_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Bluhm Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-bluhm-family-foundation-morg_4ea4205593644a2ca068d76189c09848},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 The Bluhm Family 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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