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Illinois · Private foundation

Helen V Brach Foundation

Its FY2026 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$5.9M
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
553
Grants FY2025
389
Organizations funded FY2024
22%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$10,000
Largest grant, FY2025
$100,000
Organizations funded a year
366 to 389
FY2021 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
28
Total assets, FY2025
$129M
Applications
Takes unsolicited applications
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 22% of the organizations Helen V Brach Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 12% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $787k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’22’23’24
Human ServicesEducationHealthArts & CultureInternationalAnimalsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2025still arriving382$5.9M12%
FY2024389$6.5M22%
FY2023388$6.9M19%
FY2022381$6.5M22%
FY2021366$4.5Mn/a
98% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2021 to 2025.

Education$8.5MHealth$3.1MReligion$3.0MHuman Services$2.7MHousing & Shelter$1.9MFood & Nutrition$1.9MAnimals$1.8MArts & Culture$1.2MOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
NH
MT
ND
MN
IL
WI
NY
MA
NV
SD
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CA
CO
KY
WV
VA
MD
AZ
NM
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
HI
LA
MS
AL
GA
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2021 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Big Shoulders Fund$1,028,49250%
Loyola University of Chicago$429,50040%
Red Cloud Indian School$377,0005n/a
Lincoln Park Zoological Society$325,00050%
Greater Chicago Food Depository$321,50050%
Northern Illinois Food Bank$319,50050%
Dominican University$289,00050%
Depaul University$260,00050%
Chicago Zoological Society$247,50050%
Jesuit Refugee Service USA$238,0005n/a
Show all 377 grantees
All grantees of Helen V Brach Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Big Shoulders Fund$1,028,49250%
Loyola University of Chicago$429,50040%
Red Cloud Indian School$377,0005n/a
Lincoln Park Zoological Society$325,00050%
Greater Chicago Food Depository$321,50050%
Northern Illinois Food Bank$319,50050%
Dominican University$289,00050%
Depaul University$260,00050%
Chicago Zoological Society$247,50050%
Jesuit Refugee Service USA$238,0005n/a
Music and Dance Theater Chicago Inc$220,00051%
Bethlehem University Foundation Inc$204,0004n/a
Mercy Housing Lakefront$200,00050%
Maryville Academy$193,25050%
Midtown-Metro Achievement Centers$178,20051%
Leo High School$157,9005n/a
The Chicago Academy of Sciences$147,50050%
Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc$144,00040%
Josephinum Academy$142,1005n/a
Depaul College Prep Foundation$142,00041%
Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep$140,45050%
Loyola Academy$134,5005n/a
Wings Program Inc$133,60050%
Providence St Mel School$132,50050%
Saint Xavier University$128,50050%
Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago$127,00050%
OhioGuidestone$125,00050%
Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants$118,50044%
American Jesuits International Inc$117,00024%
Nourishing Hope$115,50050%
National Anti-Vivisection Society$115,00051%
Unlocking Communities Inc$111,50047%
Chicago Jesuit Academy$107,5003n/a
International Crane Foundation Inc$106,50050%
St Mary of the Lake Seminary$106,5005n/a
Immigration Project Inc$105,00051%
Housing Forward$102,00050%
Performing Animal Welfare Society$100,00050%
The Juvenile Justice Initiative Attn Elizabeth Clarke$100,000534%
PACTT Learning Center$100,00050%
Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness$99,00051%
The Night Ministry$97,00050%
La Rabida Children's Hospital$95,00050%
Northwestern University$93,50050%
South Suburban Pads$92,00040%
Pegasus Farm$87,50051%
Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House Inc$87,50051%
De Lasalle Institute$87,0005n/a
Calumet College of St Joseph$87,00040%
Milestone Inc$86,50050%
Inspiration Corporation$86,00051%
Aspiritech Nfp$85,50050%
Equestrian Connection NFP$85,00052%
Hope Ignites Chicago$85,00042%
St Bernard Hospital$85,00050%
Greater Chicago Legal Clinic$85,00051%
Flying Horse Farms$85,00051%
Chicago Shakespeare Theater$85,00040%
Fraternite Notre Dame Inc$84,7505n/a
One Family Illinois$81,50050%
Southside Center of Hope$81,50055%
Sarah's Circle$80,00050%
St Augustine College$80,00040%
The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired$80,00050%
The Lake County Haven$80,00051%
Animal Legal Defense Fund Inc$80,00040%
Literacy Works$80,00056%
Commonweal Foundation$79,50051%
Tuscarawas County Humane Society$78,35054%
Care for Real$77,00050%
Misericordia Foundation$75,50020%
Kino Border Initiative Inc$75,00032%
Trinity High School$75,0005n/a
Old Irving Park Community Clinic$75,00052%
Onward Neighborhood House$73,00050%
Taller de Jose$72,25053%
Poder$72,25051%
San Miguel Febres Cordero School Inc$71,50042%
Safe Families for Children Alliance$70,50050%
Canine Therapy Corps Inc$70,00054%
Child's Voice School$70,00051%
The Experimental Station$70,00050%
Ucan$70,00050%
Corazon A Corazon$69,00056%
Franciscan Outreach$68,00050%
Juvenile Protective Association$67,50050%
Pathways Foundation$67,50032%
Aid for Women Inc$67,00051%
Public Interest Law Initiative$67,00051%
Curt's Cafe$66,25042%
Holy Family Ministries$65,50050%
SkyArt NFP$65,00051%
Childrens Oncology Services Inc$65,00051%
Food Group Minnesota Inc The$65,00050%
Uptown People's Law Center$65,00051%
Margarets Village$65,00051%
Ignatian Spirituality Project$62,4505n/a
Chicago Bible Society$62,00057%
The Anti-Cruelty Society$60,00020%
The Resurrection Project$60,00050%
Second Sense$60,00052%
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation$60,00050%
Trustees of the College of the Holy Cross$60,00020%
Viator House of Hospitality$59,50042%
Lumen Christi Institute$59,50050%
Paws Chicago$57,50050%
Willows Academy$57,50050%
Aquinas Literacy Center$56,7505n/a
Barbara Olson Center of Hope$56,50051%
Roseland Training Center$56,2505n/a
Solidarity Bridge Inc$55,50051%
Little Sisters of the Poor Chicago St Mary's Home$55,45050%
Northside Catholic Academy$55,0003n/a
Bishop Noll Institute$55,0005n/a
Main Stay Therapeutic Farm Inc$55,00051%
Northridge Preparatory School Inc$55,00040%
Center for Disability & Elder Law Inc$55,00041%
Sisterhouse$55,00053%
Hephzibah Children's Association$55,00050%
Opportunity Knocks Incorporated$55,00051%
The Boulevard of Chicago Inc$55,00050%
Have Dreams$55,00051%
Reading Between the Lines Nfp$55,000413%
Partners for Progress Nfp$55,00051%
St Gertrude Church$53,0003n/a
Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Dba Cure Sma$52,90040%
Lyric Opera of Chicago$51,50050%
Chicago School of Violin Making Inc$51,50053%
Police Chaplains Ministry Fund$50,50053%
United Way of Tuscarawas County Inc$50,00052%
Chicago Public Library Foundation$50,00050%
Urban Initiatives Inc$50,00050%
Tuscarawas County Univ Foundation$50,00051%
Chicago Youth Centers$50,00050%
Tuesdays Child$50,00054%
Leukemia Research Foundation$50,00050%
St Joseph Services Inc$50,00051%
Fabretto Children's Foundation Inc$50,00051%
The Leonine Forum Inc$47,50052%
Institute on Religious Life Inc$47,00053%
The Chicago Debate Commission$45,00051%
Books and Breakfast$45,00041%
Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project$45,00041%
The Shane Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship Inc$45,00046%
St Leonard's Ministries$45,00050%
Foundation for Children in Need$44,00022%
Americans United for Life Inc$43,50050%
Mothers Trust Foundation$42,50051%
The 100 Club of Illinois$41,00031%
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest$40,75020%
Casa Esperanza Project$40,50058%
Bethany House of Hospitality$40,50042%
Madonna Mission$40,45052%
Hungry World Farm$40,00054%
Growing Home Inc$40,00040%
Pads to Hope Dba-Journeys the Road Home$40,00040%
Tourniquet Inc$40,00053%
Parenting for Non Violence$40,000410%
Catalyst Schools$40,00050%
National Braille Press Inc$40,00050%
Lewis University$40,00020%
St Marys Parish$40,0002n/a
Share our Spare$40,00040%
Marquette University$40,00020%
Bread for the World Institute$39,00020%
Woodlawn Foundation$38,30050%
James B Moran Center for Youth Advocacy$37,50021%
Benedictine Sisters of Chicago$35,5003n/a
Lincoln Park Village Inc$35,00051%
The Beacon Place NFP$35,00051%
Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House$35,00030%
Math Circles of Chicago$35,00041%
Forefront$33,62430%
East Lake Academy$32,50041%
Notre Dame College Prep$30,0002n/a
The Honor Foundation Inc$30,00030%
Rainbows for All Children Inc$30,00032%
Illinois Equine Humane Center Nfp$30,00037%
The Vital Ground Foundation Inc$30,00030%
Bernie's Book Bank$30,00040%
Erie Family Health Center Inc$30,00030%
Come to Believe Foundation$30,00021%
Gregorian University Foundation Inc$30,0002n/a
Senior Home Sharing$30,00033%
Danny Did Foundation$30,00031%
Tutoring Chicago$30,00031%
Spanish Coalition for Housing$30,00030%
National Aviary in Pittsburgh Inc$30,00030%
Hyde Park Institute$30,00042%
Georgetown University$29,20050%
St Mary Magdalene Parish$28,5002n/a
Pro-Life Champions$27,500511%
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs$27,00020%
St Philip Neri Church$27,0002n/a
Devices 4 the Disabled$26,50021%
Friends of the Homeless$25,50051%
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans$25,00010%
Howard Area Community Center$25,00020%
Cristo Rey Network$25,00030%
Trilogy Inc$25,00020%
Ethics and Public Policy Center Inc$25,00050%
Direct Relief$25,00010%
Steppenwolf Theatre Company$25,00030%
PADS Lake County Inc$25,00030%
Bethlehem Farm Inc$25,00041%
Concordia Place$25,00030%
Trinity Hospital Twin City$25,00050%
Harmony Hope & Healing$25,00045%
International Medical Corps$25,00010%
Cool Ministries$24,50040%
Dennison Railroad Depot Museum Inc$23,50052%
Still Point Theatre Collective$20,50036%
John Howard Association$20,00021%
Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources$20,00022%
Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired$20,00020%
Center of Higher Development Inc$20,000244%
Christian Children's Home of Ohio Inc$20,00020%
Canine Companions for Independence Inc$20,00020%
Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry Inc$20,00020%
The Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation)$20,00022%
Lincoln Park Community Services$20,00020%
Infant Welfare Society of Chicago$20,00020%
Chicago Architecture Biennial Inc$20,00022%
Pro-Life Action League Inc$20,00041%
A Just Harvest$20,00021%
Well of Mercy Inc$20,0002n/a
The Delta Institute$20,00020%
Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund$20,00020%
Holy Cross College Inc$20,00010%
Covenant House Illinois Inc$20,00020%
ARCS Foundation Inc Illinois Chapter$18,80039%
Spay and Stay$17,50036%
Boma Chicago Foundation$16,40044%
Tuscora Park Foundation$15,50042%
Tappan Lake Volunteer Fire Department Inc$15,50052%
Youth Crossroads Inc$15,00020%
Blessings in a Backpack Inc$15,00040%
Catholic Art Institute Inc$15,00034%
Gus Giordano's Jazz Dance Chicago Inc D/B/A Giordano Dance Chicago$15,00021%
Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago$15,0002n/a
Equine Dreams Inc$15,00022%
L'Arche Chicago Inc$15,00020%
Thomas Aquinas College$15,00030%
Family Service & Mental Health Center of Cicero$15,00010%
Phalanx Family Services$15,0001n/a
The Port Ministries$15,00022%
Leadership Greater Chicago$13,50020%
Sharing Notes$12,75025%
Davids Educational Opportunity Fund Inc$12,50053%
Jazz Institute of Chicago$12,50025%
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago$12,0754n/a
Sisters of Charity Bvm$12,0002n/a
Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation$12,00030%
Georgetown Chimes$11,1502n/a
Hospice of Tuscarawas County Inc$11,00020%
Horizons for Youth$11,00021%
National Latino Education Institute$11,00020%
Curry College$10,50030%
The Cara Program$10,50020%
Hooved Animal Humane Society$10,50050%
Angelic Organics Learning Center Inc$10,00021%
Chimp Haven Inc$10,00010%
Orphans of the Storm$10,00010%
Southern Poverty Law Center Inc$10,00030%
Near North Health Service Corporation$10,00010%
The Young Center for Immigrant Childrens Rights$10,00010%
Nazareth Elementary School$10,0001n/a
National Center on Sexual Exploitation$10,00020%
Humble Design Inc$10,0001n/a
Law Center for Better Housing$10,0001n/a
Wayside Cross Ministries$10,0001n/a
Humane Society of Harrison County Inc$10,00031%
Refugeeone$10,00040%
Special Olympics Illinois$10,00010%
Catholic Mobilizing Network$10,00020%
Chicago Furniture Bank$10,00010%
Historic Pullman Foundation Dba Friends of Pullman$10,00011%
Jefferson County Christian School Inc$10,00011%
Youth Outreach Services Inc$10,00010%
Sinsinawa Dominicans Inc$10,0001n/a
Chicago Hope Academy$10,00010%
Wheelchairs 4 Kids Inc$10,00020%
Chicago Heightening Opportunity and Potential for$10,00011%
Chicago Rehab Network$10,00020%
Revive Center for Housing and Healing$10,00010%
Grace Giving$10,0004n/a
Missionaries of Africa$9,5005n/a
McKinlock Post Foundation$9,500216%
Iskali$9,00011%
Maria Kaupas Center$8,000234%
Illinois Solar Education Association Inc$7,50036%
Eternal Word Television Network Inc$7,50010%
Field Museum of Natural History$7,50020%
Depaul USA Inc$7,50010%
Sit Stay Read Inc$7,50012%
Charity Guild of Catholic Women of Harris County Inc$7,50011%
Marist High School$7,2502n/a
Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois$7,00020%
Center for Working Families Inc$6,50050%
Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry$6,50020%
Illinois Spina Bifida Association$5,00012%
Circle of Friends$5,00014%
Childrens Legal Center$5,00010%
Alberta Bair Theater Corporation$5,00010%
Literacy DuPage$5,00012%
Facing Forward to End Homelessness$5,00010%
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries$5,00010%
Cornerstone Community Outreach$5,0001n/a
Snow City Arts Foundation$5,00010%
St Mary Parish & School$5,0001n/a
Paws and Stripes Inc$5,00010%
Foundation for Culinary Arts$5,00011%
Call to Action$5,00012%
Gap Community Center$5,00011%
Wingspan Project$5,000116%
Urban Cpe Consortium Inc$5,00017%
Imagination Theater Inc$5,00013%
Ryan Banks Academy$5,000113%
Casa Romero Renewal Center Inc$5,00021%
Classical Kids Music Education Nfp$5,0001n/a
Angels Journey Home Animal Rescue$5,00015%
Billings Catholic Schools Foundation$5,00010%
Gulf Coast Housing Partnership Inc$5,00010%
The Church of the Holy Family Inc$5,0001n/a
American Life League Inc$5,00010%
St Ethelreda Church$4,5001n/a
Catherine J Malatesta Foundation$4,00012%
Jesse White Tumbling Team Inc$4,00030%
The National Center for the Laity$3,85053%
St Agnes Parish$3,4502n/a
The Academy at St Joan of Arc$3,00010%
Human Rights Watch Inc$3,00020%
Utica University$3,00010%
Darien Study Center Inc$3,00011%
Deer Path Art League$3,0001n/a
Friends of the Orphans D/B/A Nph-Usa$3,00030%
Waypoint Adventure Inc$2,70020%
Mobile Care Foundation$2,70020%
Enchanted Backpack$2,70020%
Muslim Community Center$2,50010%
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities$2,50010%
Citizens Climate Education Corp$2,50010%
People for Community Recovery$2,50010%
First Baptist Church$2,5001n/a
Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Inc$2,2501n/a
St Sabina Church$2,2501n/a
St Thomas the Apostle Church$2,0001n/a
The Morton Arboretum$2,00020%
Win Win Entertainment Inc$2,00012%
People for a Safer Society$2,000232%
Guitars For Vets Inc$2,00010%
Lawndale Christian Legal Center$2,00020%
Arnold Hall Inc$2,00010%
Autism Speaks Inc$1,80010%
Caritas Inc$1,50030%
Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated$1,50030%
Women's Ordination Conference$1,50030%
United States Catholic Conference$1,5003n/a
The Adler Planetarium$1,00010%
St Labre Indian School$1,0001n/a
The Art Institute of Chicago$1,00010%
USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus Inc$1,0001n/a
Minutes Before Six$1,0001n/a
Advocates for Justice and Education$1,00010%
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse$1,00010%
Futurechurch$1,00010%
Let It Be US$90010%
Navy Seal Foundation Inc$9001n/a
Cast Water Safety Foundation$90020%
Metrosquash Nfp$90010%
New Ways Ministry Inc$50010%
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson$5001n/a
Common Pantry$4501n/a
Youth Guidance$45010%
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc$45010%
Nehemiah Trinity Rising$4001n/a
Ministry Against the Death Penalty$25010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 276 recipients with no EIN on record ($12M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Helen V Brach Foundation supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 4 of its grantees at some point. The chart plots its 200 largest grantees; load-bearing ones sit top left.

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetBig Shoulders Fund: $1,028,492 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetLoyola University of Chicago: $429,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLincoln Park Zoological Society: $325,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetGreater Chicago Food Depository: $321,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetNorthern Illinois Food Bank: $319,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDominican University: $289,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDepaul University: $260,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Zoological Society: $247,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMusic and Dance Theater Chicago Inc: $220,000 over 5y, 1.4% of budgetMercy Housing Lakefront: $200,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetMaryville Academy: $193,250 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMidtown-Metro Achievement Centers: $178,200 over 5y, 1.5% of budgetThe Chicago Academy of Sciences: $147,500 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetMedecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc: $144,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetDepaul College Prep Foundation: $142,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetCristo Rey St Martin College Prep: $140,450 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetWings Program Inc: $133,600 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetProvidence St Mel School: $132,500 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetSaint Xavier University: $128,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBoys and Girls Clubs of Chicago: $127,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetOhioGuidestone: $125,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetIllinois Community for Displaced Immigrants: $118,500 over 4y, 4.2% of budgetAmerican Jesuits International Inc: $117,000 over 2y, 3.7% of budgetNourishing Hope: $115,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetNational Anti-Vivisection Society: $115,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetUnlocking Communities Inc: $111,500 over 4y, 6.5% of budgetInternational Crane Foundation Inc: $106,500 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetImmigration Project Inc: $105,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetHousing Forward: $102,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetPerforming Animal Welfare Society: $100,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetThe Juvenile Justice Initiative Attn Elizabeth Clarke: $100,000 over 5y, 34% of budgetPACTT Learning Center: $100,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetChicago Coalition to End Homelessness: $99,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetThe Night Ministry: $97,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetLa Rabida Children's Hospital: $95,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetNorthwestern University: $93,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSouth Suburban Pads: $92,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetPegasus Farm: $87,500 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetBellarmine Jesuit Retreat House Inc: $87,500 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetCalumet College of St Joseph: $87,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetMilestone Inc: $86,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetInspiration Corporation: $86,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetAspiritech Nfp: $85,500 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetEquestrian Connection NFP: $85,000 over 5y, 1.7% of budgetHope Ignites Chicago: $85,000 over 4y, 1.6% of budgetSt Bernard Hospital: $85,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetGreater Chicago Legal Clinic: $85,000 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetFlying Horse Farms: $85,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 200.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Polk Bros Foundation IncIL93.2× affinity55 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Polk Bros Foundation Inc · George M Eisenberg Foundation for Charities · WP & HB White Foundation · Dr Scholl Foundation · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · The a Montgomery Ward Foundation · Circle of Service Foundation · Robert R McCormick Foundation · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · The Service Club of Chicago · Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Helen V Brach Foundation with peer funders

About Helen V Brach Foundation

How much does Helen V Brach Foundation give?
Helen V Brach Foundation reported 553 grants totaling $5,926,523 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 366 and 389 organizations a year over FY2021 to FY2024.
What does Helen V Brach Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2021 to FY2025, its largest causes are Education (28%), Health (10%), Religion (10%).
Who are Helen V Brach Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2021 to FY2025: Big Shoulders Fund ($1.0M), Loyola University of Chicago ($430k), Red Cloud Indian School ($377k).
Does Helen V Brach Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 22% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Helen V Brach Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it accepts unsolicited grant applications.
Which funders back the same organizations as Helen V Brach Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include Polk Bros Foundation Inc, George M Eisenberg Foundation for Charities, WP & HB White Foundation.
Where is Helen V Brach Foundation based?
Helen V Brach Foundation is based in IL.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 656 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2026) is on record and reports $6.8M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2025, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

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