Bernard Heerey Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Do not send this foundation an unsolicited request, because its filing says it does not accept them and contributes only to organisations it has preselected; the filing gives no further application steps to follow.
- If your work is in spiritual endeavours to improve the Chicago landscape, or in student scholarships, elder assistance or student fellowships, it fits what the foundation describes funding.
- Its typical grants run from $50,000 to $240,000, with a median of $115,000 and half of its 78 grants to organisations at $115,000 or less, so a modest request near the middle of that band is realistic, though its largest grant was about $540,000 and the band is not a ceiling.
- In its most recent filing, 87% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in one of the two filings before it, which suggests that its giving leans towards existing grantees.
- Its filings show grants mainly in Illinois, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern should not be read as a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Bernard Heerey Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (midwestaugustinians.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is described as supporting many spiritual endeavours to improve the Chicago landscape. Its filed grants go to tax-exempt public charities and are chiefly for scholarships to worthy students and assistance to the elderly, with a smaller stream for fellowships to worthy students. The recorded recipients include schools, universities and organisations serving older people, indicating that charitable organisations deliver educational assistance and support for older people. Its grantmaking therefore reaches education and services for older people through organisations, rather than being limited to direct awards to individuals.
Themes
- Spiritual endeavours
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Student scholarships
- Elder assistance
- Student fellowships
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; no further application steps are provided in the filing.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 87% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 78 grants to organisations were $115,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to organisations Bernard Heerey Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 26 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $126k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- CJE SeniorLife · Assistance to the elderly$334,9312024 tax year
- Little Sisters of the Poor · Assistance to the elderly$260,4002024 tax year
- Ida Crown Jewish Academy · Scholarships to worthy students$241,0002024 tax year
- Ark · Assistance to the elderly$240,0002024 tax year
- Ida Crown Jewish Academy · Scholarships to worthy students$212,2002024 tax year
- Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School · Scholarships to worthy students$200,0002024 tax year
- Solomon Schechter Day School · Scholarships to worthy students$177,5002024 tax year
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School · Scholarships to worthy students$176,7002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lillian T Licheniak — Secretary, Treasurer
- Thomas E Baltz — Vice President, Assistant Secretary
- Jordan A Grey — Senior Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
- Martin D Kerpel — Director
- Charles E Dobrusin — Director
- Nathaniel I Grey — Managing Trustee, Director, President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,195,559 | $3,836,250 | $76,352,144 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,321,293 | $3,049,927 | $81,693,333 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,194,940 | $3,692,958 | $87,188,123 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Bernard Heerey Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Bernard Heerey Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL