The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation
The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 and based in Chicago, Illinois. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
-5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$535K
-17.2% YoY
Grant Count
83
-15.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $195K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports diverse projects across multiple funding areas, including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, arts, creative writing, historic buildings, and journalism. The foundation does not maintain a specified website or formally published subject areas of focus, but its grant history reflects support for varied initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded approximately $534,800 to $646,000 in total giving in recent years. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $75,000. The foundation has demonstrated openness to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus includes Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin, though it has supported projects in various locations across the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $2.99 million (as of 2023)
Total Giving: $534,800 to $646,000 (recent years)
Revenue: $248,884 (2023)
Expenses: $683,201 (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,818,402 | $2,991,016 | $3,388,266 |
| Revenue | $393,099 | $248,884 | $614,150 |
| Expenses | $568,658 | $683,201 | $500,818 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $542,329 | $648,575 | $471,075 |
| Net Investment Income | $272,737 | $226,418 | $588,179 |
| Distributable Amount | $194,943 | $131,159 | $164,857 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Art Institute of Chicago ($66,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago ($56,000), Erikson Institute ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 626 LANDMARK FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ADL MIDWEST CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LOUVRE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,700 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN WRITERS MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ANSHE EMET SYNAGOGUE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $29,650 |
| ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $66,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by trustees Norman Bobins and Virginia Bobins, both of whom serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORMAN BOBINS | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| VIRGINIA BOBINS | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 209 E Lake Shore Dr # 10e, Chicago, IL 60611-1307
Telephone: 877-829-5500
EIN: 26-1569990
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation fund?
The foundation supports diverse projects across multiple funding areas, including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, arts, creative writing, historic buildings, and journalism. The foundation does not maintain a specified website or formally published subject areas of focus, but its grant history reflects support for varied initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation?
The foundation awarded approximately $534,800 to $646,000 in total giving in recent years. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $75,000. The foundation has demonstrated openness to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding. The foundation has supported projects in major cities across the United States, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as initiatives in multiple states including California, Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin.
Where does The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus includes Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin, though it has supported projects in various locations across the United States.
What size grants does The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation award?
In 2024, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation awarded 83 grants totaling $535K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $195K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation's EIN?
The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1569990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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