Builders Vision Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation takes requests only by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it a proposal unless it has first been invited to do so.
- Where an invitation has been given, a request of $25,000 to $500,000 is typical for most of its grants, and the median grant is $150,000, so a modest request in that range fits its usual giving.
- In the filing, 75% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups the foundation had also funded before, so it appears to lean on existing relationships and a new applicant should expect a competitive route.
- The filing states no geographic focus, so the foundation's Chicago base should not be read as a limit on who may approach it.
- No submission steps are stated, so the first task is to find a credible route to an invitation rather than to prepare a formal application.
Overview
Builders Vision 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 (buildersvision.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across its grants, the Foundation supports community foundations and pooled funds, community-based organisations, environmental and climate groups, food-system and agricultural organisations, universities and research institutions, and arts organisations. The stated purposes include general operating support and regranting as well as food resilience, sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency, ocean conservation and aquaculture, research and education, and community projects. A Builders Vision page reports the Foundation’s grants to Chicago-based organisations; the records also show grants across many US states and outside the country. The evidence describes a broad grant portfolio rather than a single exclusive field.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, New York, California, Arkansas, District of Columbia, the United States, Mexico, Switzerland, Poland, Bahamas and United Kingdom.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted. No submission steps are stated.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 75% 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 1,050 grants to organisations were $150,000 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: 16%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 15%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to organisations Builders Vision Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Mexico, Switzerland, Poland, Bahamas).
- 26% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 390 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Chicago Community Foundation · to support a program focused on reducing, mitigating and preventing street violence$4,000,0002024 tax year
- ForeFront · to support a food resilience program in Chicago$3,000,0002024 tax year
- CREO Family Office Syndicate · to support growth and sustainability planning$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Rewiring America · to support the decarbonization of low-income homes in Indiana$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Walton Family Foundation · to support its grantmaking program focused on advancing sustainability efforts in the Midwest$1,862,5002024 tax year
- Maine Community Foundation · to support its funding of research on blue carbon in Maine$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Little Village Environmental Justice Organization · to support organizations working in support of environmental and climate efforts in Chicago$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Proofing Station · to provide general operating support$1,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Karishma Desouza — Treasurer (From 7/01/24)
- Lisa Forbes — Director, Secretary
- Bruce Mcnamer — Director, President
- Lukas Walton — Director, CEO, Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $104,642,867 | $87,986,780 | $1,125,892,470 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $110,762,871 | $81,706,966 | $1,724,234,826 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $117,928,006 | $96,630,143 | $1,901,331,073 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Builders Vision Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Builders Vision Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL