The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. In 2025, it reported 20 grants totaling $55,000, all to recipients in Illinois; listed grants included support for Chicago-area cultural, educational, health, and community organizations.
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation gave $55K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $55,000
- +17.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,750
- +11.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $240,226
- -7.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (11 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 979 Sheridan Road, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 446-5110
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($10K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 96 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 20 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2019) to $55K (2025). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $55K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $10,000 |
| AIDS Foundation of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Northwestern University - the Block Museum Leadership Circle Evanston, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | General Support | $4,500 |
| Ravinia Festival Association Highland Park, IL | General Support | $3,500 |
| North Shore Senior Center Chicago, IL | General Support | $3,000 |
| Roosevelt University Chicago, IL | General Support | $3,000 |
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $3,000 |
| Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, IL | General Support | $2,500 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Lucille & Joseph Block 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $240,226 | $42,446 | $61,556 | $55,000 | 20 | $56,426 | $37,639 | $30,965 |
| 2024 | $259,336 | $58,815 | $54,871 | $47,000 | 19 | $48,326 | $52,039 | $32,374 |
| 2023 | $255,392 | $70,842 | $52,824 | $47,000 | 19 | $48,265 | $66,283 | $27,996 |
| 2022 | $237,374 | $19,443 | $53,177 | $47,000 | 19 | $48,000 | $14,956 | $30,484 |
| 2021 | $271,108 | $43,760 | $51,892 | $47,000 | 19 | $47,635 | $39,503 | $32,641 |
| 2020 | $279,240 | $4,025 | $51,381 | $47,000 | 19 | — | $6,420 | $27,831 |
| 2019 | $326,584 | $32,416 | $52,262 | $46,500 | 19 | — | $27,214 | $26,739 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants went to organizations whose own stated missions include supporting health and equity, music and opera, education, older adults, and public learning. For example, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago describes its mission as advancing equity and justice for people living with or vulnerable to HIV and related chronic disease. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association says it enriches, inspires, and transforms lives through music, community engagement, and education. The North Shore Senior Center says it works to foster older adults’ independence and well-being and promote their participation in community life.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $55,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards included $10,000 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and $5,000 each to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Northwestern University’s Block Museum Leadership Circle. Other listed grants included $4,500 to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, $3,500 to Ravinia Festival Association, and $3,000 each to North Shore Senior Center and Roosevelt University. The listed 2025 grants were for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Susan Rubnitz is listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation is led by Susan B. Rubnitz, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan B. Rubnitz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation
How much does The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation give each year?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation gave $55K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $47K across 19 grants.
What is The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,750, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation give grants?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (17 grants).
Does The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($10,000), AIDS Foundation of Chicago ($5,000) and Northwestern University - the Block Museum Leadership Circle ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation reported $240K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $56K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose own stated missions include supporting health and equity, music and opera, education, older adults, and public learning. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's EIN?
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4243294. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Lucille & Joseph Block 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
Melvoin Foundation
Cambridge, MA
The Melvoin Foundation funds educational, religious, and charitable organizations, with recent grants spanning a range of causes. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median of $2,500; funding was concentrated in Massachusetts and California. It accepts unsolicited requests by letter, with no standard application form or submission deadline.
Assets
$2.7M
Grants
55
Total Given
$205K
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Modestus Bauer Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Modestus Bauer Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including health, food access, education, and arts groups, with most of its giving going to Illinois. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $101,600, with a median of $5,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.8M
Grants
136
Total Given
$1.0M
David B Rothschild Mem Foundation
Northbrook, IL
Assets
$30K
Grants
15
Total Given
$10K
Benjamin J Rosenthal Foundation
Deerfield, IL
The Benjamin J Rosenthal Foundation’s grants support a range of charitable work, including food access, crisis response, Jewish community services, conservation, arts, and parks, with most funding going to Illinois organizations. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
67
Total Given
$230K
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lucille-and-joseph-block-foundation-morg_4e5c6760f2964965aeeba7be43bbce9a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364243294_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lucille \& Joseph Block Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lucille-and-joseph-block-foundation-morg_4e5c6760f2964965aeeba7be43bbce9a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Lucille & Joseph Block 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.
The Lucille & Joseph Block Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?