The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing describes contributions to charitable organizations; grants that year went to organizations working in areas including health care, education, food assistance, arts and culture, and Jewish community and anti-hate efforts.
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation gave $327K across 74 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $327,100
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 74
- +29.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,420
- -4.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,125
- Total assets
- $4,849,685
- +36.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Ruttenbergkagan 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: 1101 W Monroe St Ste 200, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 751-2777
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish United Fund of Metro Chicago ($70K). Together the top 10 received $176K.
Grant Size Distribution
212 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 212 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 14% to New York, and 2% each to California, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 74 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation gives
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2021) to $327K (2025). In 2025 it made 74 grants totaling $327K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Metro Chicago Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $69,500 |
| Anti-Defamation League New York, NY | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $20,000 |
| Access Community Health Network Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $15,000 |
| WTTW Jewish Heritage Programming Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $12,000 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces New York, NY | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $10,000 |
| Youth for a Better Future Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $10,000 |
| Chicago Cred Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $10,000 |
| Chicago's Womens Health Center Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $10,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $10,000 |
| Temple Shalom Chicago, IL | Charitable Purpose of Recipient | $9,350 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ruttenbergkagan 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 | $4,849,685 | $1,675,707 | $370,155 | $327,100 | 74 | $327,100 | $311,883 | $400,680 |
| 2024 | $3,544,133 | $378,096 | $323,752 | $264,163 | 57 | $264,163 | $349,942 | $320,060 |
| 2023 | $3,486,866 | $102,578 | $299,549 | $276,035 | 42 | $276,035 | $102,578 | $264,440 |
| 2022 | $3,683,837 | $79,212 | $215,906 | $182,900 | 26 | $182,900 | $43,253 | $278,959 |
| 2021 | $3,820,531 | $541,013 | $181,701 | $155,000 | 13 | $155,421 | $541,013 | $291,300 |
| 2020 | $3,461,219 | $347,647 | $181,654 | $165,500 | 13 | — | $197,647 | $248,670 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $401K 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
The filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Access Community Health Network says it provides patient-centered health services in communities, and Youth for a Better Future says it works to improve young people’s education and development. The Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger, while the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus says it uses performing arts to entertain, enlighten, inspire change, and build community. The Anti-Defamation League describes its work as fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 74 grants totaling $327,100. Grants ranged from $100 to $69,500, with a median of $2,125. Among the largest awards were $69,500 to Jewish United Fund of Metro Chicago, $20,000 to the Anti-Defamation League, $15,000 to Access Community Health Network, and $12,000 to WTTW Jewish Heritage Programming. Other grants of $10,000 went to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Youth for a Better Future, Chicago CRED, Chicago’s Women’s Health Center, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David W. Ruttenberg as president/director; Jonathon McCulloch as secretary/director; Heather Lee Baumann as treasurer/director; and Jacob C. Ruttenberg, Geoffrey W. Ruttenberg, Alisa R. Kagan, and Pamela I. Kaji as directors.
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation is led by David W. Ruttenberg, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David W. Ruttenberg
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jonathon McCulloch
Secretary & Director
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pamela I. Kaji
Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2023
Treasurer & Director → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alisa R. Kagan
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Geoffrey W. Ruttenberg
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jacob C. Ruttenberg
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Heather Lee Baumann
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ruttenbergkagan Foundation
How much does The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation give each year?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation gave $327K across 74 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $264K across 57 grants.
What is The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,125, and its average grant was $4,420, across 74 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation give grants?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (41 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Who are The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish United Fund of Metro Chicago ($69,500), Anti-Defamation League ($20,000) and Access Community Health Network ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $327K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $401K (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 Ruttenbergkagan Foundation fund?
The filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ruttenbergkagan 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 Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's EIN?
The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4264024. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Ruttenbergkagan 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
The Bluhm Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Bluhm Family Foundation’s grants have supported organizations working in healthcare, arts and culture, education, community service, and Jewish causes, with the largest shares going to Illinois and Washington, DC. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $4.5 million, with a median of $25,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.4M
Grants
59
Total Given
$13.0M
The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation’s 2025 grants supported organizations working in education, arts and culture, media, public learning, and neuroscience, with 94% of grant dollars going to Illinois recipients. Grants ranged from $50 to $75,000, with a median of $1,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
79
Total Given
$506K
The Pritzker Pucker Family
Chicago, IL
The Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation funds safety, wellness, economic opportunity, and cultural vitality, with a focus on Chicago—especially Garfield Park and Englewood—and select grants elsewhere. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1.55 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and considers proposals from preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$60.0M
Grants
96
Total Given
$10.0M
Kovler Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The foundation supports medical care and research, children’s welfare, education, general welfare, and cultural and civic activities, with recent grants concentrated in Illinois and California. Its typical award is $1,000–$5,000, though amounts vary widely. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations and recommends a short written proposal and determination letter.
Assets
$34.6M
Grants
191
Total Given
$5.6M
Jarvis Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The foundation supports a varied mix of universities, health and research, Jewish community and Israel-related organizations, museums, education, and volunteer-focused groups. In 2025, it made 144 grants totaling $4.7 million, ranging from $100 to $1 million, with a median of $3,600; the largest shares went to organizations in Illinois, Louisiana, New York, and California. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$100.5M
Grants
144
Total Given
$4.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ruttenbergkagan-foundation-morg_bf8cb30eb37d488eb7d2c9ea979ed8c9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364264024_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ruttenbergkagan Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ruttenbergkagan-foundation-morg_bf8cb30eb37d488eb7d2c9ea979ed8c9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Ruttenbergkagan 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 Ruttenbergkagan Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?