The Bluhm Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and supports preselected charitable organisations, so a cold application is not a route in and you should not send a request unless you have been invited.
- Its stated aim is a more vibrant and equitable Chicago, and it names healthcare, education, safety and justice, service, direct community support, and arts and culture as areas of its giving, so your work fits best if it sits in one of those areas; no geographic focus is stated.
- About 8 in 10 of its 181 grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $250,000, and half were $25,000 or less, so a request near $25,000 sits at the middle of its giving, though its largest grant was about $7,050,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- The filing shows that 84% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had already funded, so an existing relationship matters more here than the proposal itself.
Overview
The Bluhm 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 (78chicago.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation says it seeks to build a more vibrant and equitable Chicago by investing in promising solutions that help all Chicagoans live healthy, safe, and abundant lives. It identifies healthcare, education, safety and justice, service, direct community support, and arts and culture as areas of substantial and leadership giving by the foundation and family. Its recorded grants have gone to a varied group of organisations, including hospitals and medical foundations, universities and schools, museums and theatres, and youth and community-service organisations. It supports preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Themes
- Healthcare
- Education
- Safety and justice
- Service
- Direct community support
- Arts and culture
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% 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 181 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 44% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations The Bluhm Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 14% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Northwestern Memorial Foundation · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$4,500,0002024 tax year
- Milken Institute · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$4,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Pennsylvania · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$700,0002024 tax year
- Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$609,9602024 tax year
- Whitney Museum of American Art · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$500,0002024 tax year
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$275,0002024 tax year
- Anti-Defamation League · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$250,0002024 tax year
- Chicago Community Trust · To further the exempt purpose of the organization$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Leslie N Bluhm — Trustee
- Andrew G Bluhm — Trustee
- Neil G Bluhm — Trustee
- Meredith A Bluhm-Wolf — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,447,165 | $11,977,033 | $12,337,044 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $12,963,276 | $12,773,283 | $8,549,357 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,206,647 | $12,954,050 | $15,141,209 | 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 The Bluhm 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 The Bluhm Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL