Helen V Brach Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Helen V Brach Foundation, based in Chicago, Illinois, funds a wide range of charitable work including schools and universities, disability services, food banks, religious bodies, cultural institutions, housing and immigration services, and animal-care and conservation projects, with purposes spanning scholarships, academic enrichment, food relief, support for people with disabilities, housing development and animal welfare, so many types of registered charity could fit if their work matches one of these purposes.
- A modest request is realistic: about eight in ten of its 1,665 grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $25,000, with a median grant of $10,000, though the largest grant recorded was $250,000.
- Applications are only accepted via a form available on request, with a submission deadline of 31 December for consideration in the year ending 31 March, so plan well ahead of that date.
- The pattern of giving looks relationship-led rather than wide open to newcomers, since 93% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, so first-time applicants should expect this to be a competitive field.
- Only organisations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) should apply, as the foundation states it does not fund organisations lacking this status.
Overview
Helen V Brach 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 (en.wikipedia.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation was endowed to promote animal welfare. Its grantmaking, however, reaches a wide range of charitable organisations: schools and universities, disability services, food banks, religious bodies, cultural institutions, housing and immigration services, and animal-care and conservation work. Grant purposes include scholarships, academic enrichment, food relief, support for people with disabilities, housing development and animal welfare. Applicants must be organisations exempt under Section 501(c)(3), and the application form is available upon request, with an annual submission deadline for consideration.
Themes
- Animal welfare
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois.
What They Don't Fund
- Organisations that are not exempt under Sect 501c3
How to apply
The application form is available upon request.
Deadlines: Submissions are due by December 31 for consideration in the year ending March 31.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% 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 1,665 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants must be exempt under Section 501(c)(3).
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Helen V Brach Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 553 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Loyola University Chicago · For the LU-CHOICE teacher program, the Arrupe Hardship Fund, Nursing student visits to Pine Ridge, and the School of Law$100,0002024 tax year
- Big Shoulders Fund · To provide scholarships, leadership development for school leaders and educators and academic enrichment programs$100,0002024 tax year
- Lincoln Park Zoo · To provide an admission-free wildlife experience while advancing the highest quality animal care, education, science and conservation$75,0002024 tax year
- Misericordia · To support variety of programs and services for residents with moderate to profound intellectual and developmental disabilities$75,0002024 tax year
- Dominican University · For the Brach Hardship Fund the St. Catherine of Siena Center and the Caritas Veritas Symposium$50,0002024 tax year
- Red Cloud Indian School · To support K-12th grade Spiritual Formation Program for Lakota students for 2024-2025 school year$50,0002024 tax year
- Catholic Theological Union · To support the Brach Scholars-Leaders in Ministry program for exceptional students pursuing graduate degree in theology$50,0002024 tax year
- Catholic Charities Chicago · For general operating support in Fiscal Year 2025$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John J Sheridan — Director
- Virginia Groark Hale — Member
- Stephanie Simon — Member
- Joseph J Griseta — Associate Director
- Mark T Simon — Member
- R Matthew Simon — Member
- Cherryl T Thomas — Directoor
- Charles A Vorhees — Director
- R Matthew Simon — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,259,937 | $6,876,250 | $142,589,070 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,084,792 | $6,516,942 | $159,226,572 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,670,064 | $5,926,523 | $163,000,621 | 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 Helen V Brach Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 372-4471
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Helen V Brach Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 372-4471
- Chicago, IL