Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated themes are ball parks, swimming pools, libraries and city development, so a request tied to community facilities or local public services is the clearest fit.
- Half of its grants to organisations are about $41,000 or less, so a modest request fits well, although its largest grant reached about $760,000.
- Repeat funding is strong: 95% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first approach should be careful and clearly tied to its themes.
- The filing requires an informal written or verbal request first, and it gives no deadlines, so no set date to plan around is published there.
- Its filings show grants mainly in Illinois, but no geographic focus is stated, so ask whether your area is covered before you write.
Overview
Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, The Bank of Herrin, in Herrin, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (bankofherrin.bank), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Bank of Herrin describes the Foundation as funding charities throughout the region, spanning ball parks, swimming pools, libraries and city development. Its filings show grants to public bodies, colleges and charitable organisations. Projects include baseball facilities, fire department bays, an animal-control facility, community spaces associated with police, library equipment and wheelchair facilities for veterans. Other grants provide general support and equipment. Together, this record shows a mix of community infrastructure, local public services, recreational facilities and support for charitable organisations.
Themes
- Ball parks
- Swimming pools
- Libraries
- City development
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois.
How to apply
The filing says an informal written or verbal request is required.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 25 grants to organisations were about $41,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 48% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- John A. Logan College · Baseball player development center$757,6432025 tax year
- John A. Logan College · Historical village church$50,0002025 tax year
- Veterans Honor Flight · Building for wheelchairs$40,8542025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Clay Goodwin — Advisor
- Carl Goodwin — Advisor
- Barbara Jacobs — Advisor
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $912,208 | $797,955 | $17,457,532 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,368,295 | $803,861 | $19,036,032 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,275,598 | $807,643 | $19,703,355 | Filing for 2025 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 Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (618) 942-6666
- Herrin, IL (office of its trustee, The Bank of Herrin)
Applying to Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (618) 942-6666
- Herrin, IL (office of its trustee, The Bank of Herrin)