Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth
Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $19.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $402K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.6M
-14.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+1275.0% YoY
Grant Count
13
+62.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
+746.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth
Based on IRS filings
Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $19.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $402K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,552,863 | $22,735,726 | $20,485,815 |
| Revenue | $174,459 | $1,139,841 | $22,099,318 |
| Expenses | $1,316,612 | $494,701 | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,197,915 | $158,709 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $401,636 | $803,849 | $17,129 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,266,251 | $1,171,259 | $74,584 |
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
21 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Harvard College ($120,000), Harvard Medical School ($120,000), Art Institute of Chicago ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD BANK CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| HARVARD COLLEGE BOSTON, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $120,000 |
| HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $120,000 |
| LINCOLN PARK ZOO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| WOUNDED WARRIORS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| SHEDD AQUARIUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| GUEST HOUSE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE ELMAN | TRUSTEE | 30 | $190,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth?
Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds $19.6M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth?
As of 2024, Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth holds $19.6M in total assets with $174K in annual revenue. It awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M in 2024.
Where does Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth operate?
Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth has awarded grants in Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth award?
In 2024, Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth awarded 13 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $85K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth's EIN?
Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2435825. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter Lee Barker and Betty Ruth's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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