The Marvin a & Ben Brustin

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 26-0044873

The Marvin A & Ben Brustin is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it made grants to organizations working in areas including the arts, housing, animal welfare, humanitarian aid, education, and religious and community services.

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin at a glance

In short: The Marvin a & Ben Brustin gave $23K across 68 grants in 2024 (avg $331.515), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$22,543
Grants made (2024)
68
Average grant
$332
Median grant
$50
Total assets
$974,068
Primary geography
Illinois (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to The Marvin a & Ben Brustin

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: 60 W Randolph Street 333, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 263-1250

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Marvin a & Ben Brustin funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

America Nepal Medical Foundation (Anmf): $3KAmerica Nepal MedicalFoundation (Anmf)$3KChicago Theatre Group Inc (DBA Goodman Theatre): $3KChicago Theatre Group Inc (DBAGoodman Theatre)$3KMount Washington Valley Housing Coalition: $3KMount Washington ValleyHousing Coalition$3KSunshine Backpack Food Bank: $3KSunshine Backpack Food Bank$3KConway Area Humane Society: $2KConway Area Humane Society$2KEngage Nepal (The Soarway Foundation): $2KEngage Nepal (The SoarwayFoundation)$2KNepali American Center NFP: $1KNepali American Center NFP$1KAlpha Epsilon Pi Foundation Inc: $1KAlpha Epsilon Pi FoundationInc$1KHelp Heroes of Ukraine Inc NFP: $1KHelp Heroes of Ukraine Inc NFP$1KChicago Sinai Congregation Foundation: $731Chicago Sinai CongregationFoundation$731

The largest 2024 recipient was America Nepal Medical Foundation (Anmf) ($3K). Together the top 10 received $18K.

Grant Size Distribution

68 grants across all recorded years

68<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 34% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 20% to New Hampshire, 14% to Florida, 11% to Maine, and 7% to Virginia. The listed grants also included recipients in Indiana, among other states.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoWashingtonNew YorkConwaySan FranciscoArlingtonCambridgeCarol StreamChicago RidgeDenverFryeburgHaymarketIndianapolisKanabLos AngelesMattesonMerrifieldMichigan CityMontgomeryMorristown

How The Marvin a & Ben Brustin gives

  • In 2024 it paid out 40% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K68 grants2024

In 2024 it made 68 grants totaling $23K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
America Nepal Medical Foundation (Anmf) St Augustine, FLGeneral Support$3,100
Chicago Theatre Group Inc (DBA Goodman Theatre) Chicago, ILGeneral Support$2,500
Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition Conway, NHGeneral Support$2,500
Sunshine Backpack Food Bank Fryeburg, MEGeneral Support$2,500
Conway Area Humane Society Conway, NHGeneral Support$2,000
Engage Nepal (The Soarway Foundation) Haymarket, VAGeneral Support$1,500
Nepali American Center NFP Mount Prospect, ILGeneral Support$1,150
Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation Inc Indianapolis, INGeneral Support$1,000
Help Heroes of Ukraine Inc NFP Carol Stream, ILGeneral Support$1,000
Chicago Sinai Congregation Foundation Chicago, ILGeneral Support$731
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$974,068$15,975$29,858$22,54368$22,543$8,930$55,851

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marvin a & Ben Brustin reported a distributable amount of $56K 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 show support for a range of charitable organizations, with all listed grants designated for general support. Examples include Chicago Theatre Group, which operates Goodman Theatre, and organizations supporting housing, food assistance, animal welfare, humanitarian aid, and religious and educational activities.

The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Conway Area Humane Society says it works to prevent animal abuse and foster the human-animal bond through shelter operations and education; Help Heroes of Ukraine says its work includes sustainable development, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid; and Nepal Youth Foundation says it supports impoverished Nepali children with freedom, health, shelter, and education.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 68 grants totaling $22,543. Grants ranged from $20 to $3,100, with a median of $50. All listed grants were for general support. The largest grants included $3,100 to America Nepal Medical Foundation; $2,500 each to Chicago Theatre Group (DBA Goodman Theatre), Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition, and Sunshine Backpack Food Bank; and $2,000 to Conway Area Humane Society. Other notable grants included $1,500 to Engage Nepal, $1,150 to Nepali American Center, $1,000 each to Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation and Help Heroes of Ukraine, $731 to Chicago Sinai Congregation Foundation, and $680 to Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Marvin A Brustin as president, and Cathleen Clark Brustin, Stacy Brustin Gutman, Nick Brustin, and Josh Brustin as directors.

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin is led by Marvin A. Brustin, President on the 2024 filing; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Marvin A. Brustin

    President

    New on the 2024 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cathleen Clark Brustin

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Josh Brustin

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nick Brustin

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stacy Brustin Gutman

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 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 Marvin a & Ben Brustin

How much does The Marvin a & Ben Brustin give each year?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin gave $23K across 68 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

What is The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's typical grant size?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's median grant in 2024 was $50, and its average grant was $332, across 68 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Marvin a & Ben Brustin give grants?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's top state is Illinois, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Hampshire (20%) and Florida (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (18 grants), Washington, DC (11 grants), New York, NY (9 grants) and Conway, NH (2 grants).

Does The Marvin a & Ben Brustin give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (68 of 68) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's largest grantees?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's largest 2024 grantees include America Nepal Medical Foundation (Anmf) ($3,100), Chicago Theatre Group Inc (DBA Goodman Theatre) ($2,500) and Mount Washington Valley Housing Coalition ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Marvin a & Ben Brustin?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin reported $974K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Marvin a & Ben Brustin fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations, with all listed grants designated for general support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Marvin a & Ben Brustin?

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 Marvin a & Ben Brustin's EIN?

The Marvin a & Ben Brustin's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0044873. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2024.

Does The Marvin a & Ben Brustin 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Marvin a & Ben Brustin'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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