The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership is a private foundation based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Its 2024 filing describes a grantmaking approach limited to preselected charitable organizations; recent grants include support for colleges, religious organizations, a health foundation, a child-focused center, and other nonprofits.
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership at a glance
In short: The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership gave $10.9M across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $1.1M), top state Minnesota. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,853,747
- +11.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- -50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,085,375
- +123.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,071,925
- Total assets
- $9,910,100
- -49.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (36% 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 Buntrock Foundation for Leadership
- 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: One Tower Lane 2242, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 954-4200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Olaf College ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $10.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 16 grants of 61 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (36%), California (23%), Illinois (22%), Arizona (12%), and South Dakota (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $1.3M; repeat grants $1M. How we count
Medians: $1.3M first-time, $976K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. 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 $7.3M (2021) to $10.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $10.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Olaf College Northfield, MN | Operating Needs | $2,500,000 |
| Barbara Sinatra Childrens Center Rancho Mirage, CA | Operating Funds | $1,500,000 |
| Luther Seminary St. Paul, MN | Operating Needs | $1,382,682 |
| Turning Point USA Phoenix, AZ | Operating Needs | $1,250,000 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Chicago, IL | Operating Needs | $1,143,850 |
| Eisenhower Health Foundation Rancho Mirage, CA | Operating Funds | $1,000,000 |
| Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation Bensenville, IL | Operating Needs | $807,215 |
| South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Sioux Falls, SD | Operating Needs | $475,000 |
| Holy Family Ministries Chicago, IL | Operating Needs | $450,000 |
| Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD | Operating Needs | $345,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership?
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 | $9,910,100 | $1,093,756 | $10,932,684 | $10,853,747 | 10 | $10,853,747 | $1,093,756 | $720,278 |
| 2023 | $19,509,656 | $19,877,271 | $9,771,522 | $9,702,007 | 20 | $9,702,007 | $9,753,097 | $748,135 |
| 2022 | $20,063,841 | $10,843,282 | $10,699,767 | $10,654,716 | 22 | $10,654,716 | $8,430 | $816,940 |
| 2021 | $19,777,740 | $8,209,324 | $7,293,507 | $7,274,927 | 5 | $7,274,927 | $4,218,594 | $1,086,882 |
| 2020 | $36,988,105 | $24,361,004 | $7,406,676 | $7,404,111 | 4 | — | $12,221,534 | $549,542 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership reported a distributable amount of $720K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants were commonly described as supporting operating needs or operating funds. Among its grantees, Turning Point USA describes its mission as empowering informed civic and cultural engagement grounded in American exceptionalism; the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra says it aims “to inspire the best in all of us through music”; and Holy Family Ministries says it provides opportunities for children and adults from underserved Chicago neighborhoods to excel academically, grow spiritually, expand life experiences, and become effective leaders.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $10,853,747 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $345,000 to $2,500,000, with a median of $1,071,925. Its largest grants were $2,500,000 to Saint Olaf College for operating needs, $1,500,000 to Barbara Sinatra Childrens Center for operating funds, $1,382,682 to Luther Seminary for operating needs, $1,250,000 to Turning Point USA for operating needs, and $1,143,850 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for operating needs. Other 2024 grants included $1,000,000 to Eisenhower Health Foundation, $807,215 to Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation, $475,000 to South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, $450,000 to Holy Family Ministries, and $345,000 to Augustana University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dean L Buntrock as President/Director, Rosemarie Buntrock as Vice President/Director, and Donovan Langford as Vice President/Director.
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership is led by Dean L Buntrock, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dean L Buntrock
President & Director
President & Chairman → President & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donovan Langford
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosemarie Buntrock
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/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 Buntrock Foundation for Leadership
How much does The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership give each year?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership gave $10.9M across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.7M across 20 grants.
What is The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's typical grant size?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's median grant in 2024 was $1,071,925, and its average grant was $1,085,375, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership that year got $1.3M on average.
Where does The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership give grants?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's top state is Minnesota, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (23%) and Illinois (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rancho Mirage, CA (2 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Sioux Falls, SD (2 grants).
Does The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's largest grantees?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Olaf College ($2,500,000), Barbara Sinatra Childrens Center ($1,500,000) and Luther Seminary ($1,382,682), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $720K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants were commonly described as supporting operating needs or operating funds. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership?
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 Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's EIN?
The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2443983. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-buntrock-foundation-for-leadership-morg_8192bac4844e42d7a3b13cec5ffce282
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_812443983_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Buntrock Foundation for Leadership funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-buntrock-foundation-for-leadership-morg_8192bac4844e42d7a3b13cec5ffce282},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Buntrock Foundation for Leadership'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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