Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation
The Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2025, it reported 20 grants totaling $128,000 to charitable organizations; its filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation at a glance
In short: Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation gave $128K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Connecticut. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $128,000
- +11.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,400
- +11.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,750
- Total assets
- $2,413,614
- +0.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (1 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (66% 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 Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation
- 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: 10 S Dearborn Il1-0111, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (800) 496-2583
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sharon Fire Dept ($37K). Together the top 10 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 95 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 34% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 20 grantees (5%) 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 $5K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 $112K (2023) to $130K (2022). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $128K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sharon Fire Dept Sharon, CT | General | $37,000 |
| Sharon Day Care Center Sharon, CT | General | $15,000 |
| The New York Botanical Garden Bronx, NY | General | $10,000 |
| Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn, NY | General | $10,000 |
| National Audubon Society Inc Sharon, CT | General | $6,000 |
| Equus Effect Sharon, CT | General | $6,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Greater New York New York, NY | General | $6,000 |
| Project Sage Inc Lakeville, CT | General | $5,000 |
| Chore Service Inc Lakeville, CT | General | $5,000 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Brooklyn, NY | General | $5,000 |
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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 | $2,413,614 | $224,462 | $204,852 | $128,000 | 20 | $162,018 | $184,026 | $160,210 |
| 2024 | $2,393,666 | $192,150 | $189,370 | $115,000 | 20 | $140,333 | $145,664 | $158,193 |
| 2023 | $2,396,885 | $167,253 | $179,183 | $112,000 | 19 | $142,429 | $118,415 | $139,817 |
| 2022 | $2,408,364 | $95,180 | $208,267 | $130,000 | 18 | $164,181 | $53,365 | $146,896 |
| 2021 | $2,521,137 | $204,992 | $191,633 | $118,000 | 18 | $150,523 | $166,269 | $162,220 |
| 2020 | $2,506,934 | $198,995 | $173,712 | $115,000 | 18 | — | $168,983 | $144,290 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation reported a distributable amount of $160K 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 grantees include organizations working in areas such as health, violence prevention, services for seniors and people with disabilities, and wildlife conservation. For example, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York describes its work as providing sexual and reproductive health services and advancing equity; Project SAGE describes its mission as working to end interpersonal and relationship violence; and CHORE Service describes providing in-home, non-medical assistance to seniors and people with disabilities. The Wildlife Conservation Society says it works to save wildlife and wild places through science, conservation, education, and public engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $128,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $37,000, with a median grant of $4,750. Notable grants included $37,000 to Sharon Fire Dept, $15,000 to Sharon Day Care Center, $10,000 each to The New York Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and $6,000 each to National Audubon Society, Equus Effect, and Planned Parenthood of Greater New York. Project SAGE and CHORE Service each received $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Fuhr, Kathleen D Fuhr, and Barbara D Jonas as co-trustees.
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathleen D. Fuhr
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $13K (2025)
Jennifer Fuhr
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$9K (2021) → $13K (2025)
Barbara D. Jonas
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: JP Morgan Chase Bank N A (2020) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $13K, to Jennifer Fuhr (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation
How much does Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation give each year?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation gave $128K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $115K across 20 grants.
What is Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's typical grant size?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,750, and its average grant was $6,400, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation give grants?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sharon, CT (7 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants) and Lakeville, CT (2 grants).
Does Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten 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 Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's largest grantees?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sharon Fire Dept ($37,000), Sharon Day Care Center ($15,000) and The New York Botanical Garden ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $162K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $160K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations working in areas such as health, violence prevention, services for seniors and people with disabilities, and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation?
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 Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's EIN?
Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2269154. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-phyllis-ann-borten-foundation-morg_ed3496b46ca54e77b806a1691da77d8f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_272269154_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-phyllis-ann-borten-foundation-morg_ed3496b46ca54e77b806a1691da77d8f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Walter and Phyllis Ann Borten 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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