The John Buck Company Foundation
The John Buck Company Foundation is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2002. Its stated mission is to support Chicago-area organizations whose programs enrich the quality of life for children and families, with a strong emphasis on education.
The John Buck Company Foundation at a glance
In short: The John Buck Company Foundation reported $36K in grants paid in 2024 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). 33% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2024)
- $36,321 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -89.2% vs 2023
- Total assets
- $373,123
- -25.3% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $7,625
- -98.7% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $111,759
- -73.4% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The John Buck Company Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 33 North Lasalle Street Suite 1010, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 993-9800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John Buck Company Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 40 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission refers to organizations in the Chicago area. The listed 2023 grantees are based in Chicago or Bedford Park, Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is The John Buck Company Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 47% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2023). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2020) to $675K (2019). In 2024 it reported $36K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Distinctive Schools Chicago, IL | General Support | $142,147 |
| Highsight Chicago, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Friends of the Children - Chicago Evanston, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Automotive Mentoring Group' Bedford Park, IL | General Support | $25,000 |
| Associated Colleges of Illinois Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy Chicago, IL | General Support | $15,000 |
| A Safe Haven Foundation Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Vocel Viewing Our Children Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Tutoring Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| Chicago Run Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $373,123 | $7,625 | $111,759 | $36,321 | Total only |
| 2023 | $499,501 | $592,454 | $419,421 | $336,647 | 15 |
| 2022 | $302,972 | $528,407 | $366,956 | $320,874 | 11 |
| 2021 | $161,836 | $622,813 | $519,598 | $500,540 | 14 |
| 2020 | $76,269 | $26,216 | $69,899 | $11,500 | Total only |
| 2019 | $131,204 | $778,647 | $759,046 | $675,000 | 33 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support Chicago-area organizations serving children and families, especially through education. Program descriptions on its 2024 filing report grants for community and environment, education, child welfare, and family care.
Examples of grantees’ work include Distinctive Schools of Illinois, whose mission is to manage high-performing charter schools serving children and families in urban communities, and HIGHSIGHT, which provides academic and social support to Chicago high school students. Other 2023 grantees include the Automotive Mentoring Group, which trains and mentors participants in automobile restoration, and Chicago Run, which promotes children’s health and wellness through youth running programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 15 grants totaling $336,647 in 2023, an average of about $22,443 per grant. In 2022, it reported 11 grants totaling $320,874. Its 2024 financial data lists zero grants. Separately, program descriptions on the 2024 filing report 10 community and environment grants, 11 education grants, two child welfare grants, and one family care grant.
Among the 2023 grants listed, Distinctive Schools of Illinois received $142,147; HIGHSIGHT and the Automotive Mentoring Group each received $25,000; Associated Colleges of Illinois received $15,000; and A Safe Haven Foundation, Chicago Run, Vocel Viewing Our Children as, and Gads Hill Center each received $10,000.
The filing says the foundation’s civic involvement committee reviews each request and selects the type of charity and grant amount, which vary based on the application. It also says cash is disbursed based on the number of applicants and grants are monitored through the governance practices of selected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John A. Buck II as director and CEO, Angelo Saccameno as director, and William Press as director. The filing also states that the governing body includes employees of the John Buck Company and identifies John A. Buck II as the company’s chairman and CEO.
The John Buck Company Foundation is led by John A. Buck II, Director & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John A. Buck II
Director & CEO
President & Director → Director & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelo Saccameno
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Press
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Charles Wagener (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Will Press (2023) — Director
- Former: Jeanne Lazar (2019–2022) — Director & COO
- Former: Mike Moravek (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sherri Davis (2019–2022) — Director & Secretary
- Former: Ben Kochalski (2019) — Director
- Former: Betsy Traczek (2019) — Director
- Former: John Silvestri (2019) — Director
- Former: Lisa Sizemore (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 John Buck Company Foundation
How much does The John Buck Company Foundation give each year?
The John Buck Company Foundation reported $36K in grants paid in 2024 on its 2024 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2023 it gave $337K across 15 grants.
How large is The John Buck Company Foundation?
The John Buck Company Foundation reported $373K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8K.
What does The John Buck Company Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support Chicago-area organizations serving children and families, especially through education. Program descriptions on its 2024 filing report grants for community and environment, education, child welfare, and family care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John Buck Company Foundation?
The John Buck Company Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does The John Buck Company Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s stated mission refers to organizations in the Chicago area. The listed 2023 grantees are based in Chicago or Bedford Park, Illinois.
What is The John Buck Company Foundation's EIN?
The John Buck Company Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0569830. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The John Buck Company Foundation funds
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Figures come from The John Buck Company 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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