The Bill Bass Foundation
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 61-6314816 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$836K
Organizations funded59
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$19.9M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $15,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
23% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | General funds | $118,000 |
| Lurie Childrens Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $50,000 |
| Shirley Ryan Ability Lab | Chicago, IL | General funds | $50,000 |
| University of Illinois Foundation | Urbana, IL | General funds | $50,000 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation | New York, NY | General funds | $46,000 |
| Malnati Brain Tumor Institute | Chicago, IL | General funds | $35,000 |
| Special Childrens Charities | Chicago, IL | General funds | $28,000 |
| Chicago Police Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $25,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | General funds | $25,000 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Behesda, MD | General funds | $25,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Healthcare Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $25,000 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society | New York, NY | General funds | $20,000 |
| The Nora Project | Highland Park, IL | General funds | $20,000 |
| Am Shalom Synagogue | Glencoe, IL | General funds | $18,000 |
| Harold E Eisenberg Foundation | Northfield, IL | General funds | $15,000 |
| First Tee of Chicago Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $11,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Association | Highland Park, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| St Ignatius College Prep | Chicago, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Teach for America | New York, NY | General funds | $10,000 |
| National Campaign to Stop Violence | Washington, DC | General funds | $10,000 |
| The Helping Hand Network | Northbrook, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Congregation Bjbe | Deerfield, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Simon Wiesenthal Center | Los Angeles, CA | General funds | $10,000 |
| American Cancer Society | Atlanta, GA | General funds | $10,000 |
| Crohn's Colitis Foundation | New York, NY | General funds | $10,000 |
| Female Strong | Chicago, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Northwestern Law | Chicago, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation | Parkland, FL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Imerman Angels | Chicago, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| Pickles Group | Winnetka, IL | General funds | $10,000 |
| We the Best Foundation | Lake Success, NY | General funds | $10,000 |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center | Skokie, IL | General funds | $7,500 |
| Highland Park Community Foundation | Highland Park, IL | General funds | $7,500 |
| Champaign Urbana Ballet | Champaign, IL | General funds | $7,500 |
| The Michael Hulett Charity | Vernon Hills, IL | General funds | $6,000 |
| Invest for Kids Inc | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Richard Schoenstadt Memorial Foundation | Scarsdale, NY | General funds | $5,000 |
| Glasa | Lake Forest, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Center for Enriched Living | Riverswoods, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Les Turner Als Foundation | Skokie, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Marklund | Geneva, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Tap Cancer Out | Fort Mill, SC | General funds | $5,000 |
| Women Employed | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Council for Jewish Elderly | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Evans Scholar Foundation | Glenview, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Friends of Oscar Mayer School | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Second Sense | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| The Breakthrough Board | Chicago, IL | General funds | $5,000 |
| Old Town School of Folk Music | Chicago, IL | General funds | $2,500 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces | New York, NY | General funds | $2,500 |
| National Italian American Sports | Chicago, IL | General funds | $2,500 |
| Goodman Theatre Company | Chicago, IL | General funds | $2,500 |
| The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (Mmrf) | Norwalk, CT | General funds | $2,500 |
| Northmoor Education Foundation | Chicago, IL | General funds | $2,500 |
| Rebecca a Copreland Fund | Highland Park, IL | General funds | $2,500 |
| Guest House | Chicago, IL | General funds | $2,000 |
| The 100 Thousand Foundation | Deerfield, IL | General funds | $2,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $836,000 | 59 |
| 2023 | $903,000 | 61 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 17, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513219349101771
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 61-6314816
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.