Private foundation · EIN 23-7028857 · Chicago, Illinois

The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation

Should you approach them?

Don't send a cold proposal. The foundation reports that it only gives to preselected organizations; an introduction through a current grantee or board member is the realistic route.

From the 2025 Form 990-PF: 97 grants paid, $2.7M total, median $15K. 100% of grants stayed in Illinois.

Accepts applications
No
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2025
97
$2.7M
Median grant
$15K
Stays in IL
100%
of grants
Deadline
—
Assets
$15M

Grants paid in 2025

Top 60 of 97 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northwestern Feinberg School of MedicineChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$225K
West Coast Sports Medicine FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$205K
Lookingglass Theatre CompanyChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$115K
Collaboraction TheatreChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$105K
Dovetail ProjectChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$100K
Echoes of HopeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$100K
Friends of ElnetChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$100K
Iola's LyceumChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$100K
Imagine Englewood IfChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$75K
Timeline TheatreChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$60K
CommunityhealthChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Connections for the HomelessChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Girls 4 ScienceChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Heritage RetreatsChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
IgniteChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Jewish United FundChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
King's Care FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Northwestern UniversityChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
People's Music SchoolChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
Window to the World CommunicationsChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$50K
City of HopeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$35K
Chicago Torture Justice Memorials FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$30K
Greater Englewood Chamber FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$30K
Uptown People's Law CenterChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$30K
Illinois Prison ProjectChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$29K
Ladies of VirtueChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$28K
Better Government AssociationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
BoulevardChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness & ResearchChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Challah & SoulChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Chicago Hopes for KidsChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Chicago Public MediaChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Chicago Torture Justice CenterChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Covenant HouseChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Folded Map Project NfpChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Historical Preservation Society Black Panther Party IllinoisChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Injustice WatchChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Invisible InstituteChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Lurie Cancer Center Melissa Simon DiscretionaryChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
National Public Housing MuseumChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Near South Planning BoardChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Night MinistryChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Nourishing HopeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Reader Institute for Community JournalismChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Resident Association of Greater EnglewoodChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Restore Justice FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Safe Place for YouthChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$25K
Justinian Society of Lawyers Childrens Endowment FundChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$20K
Albany Park Theater ProjectChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$15K
Erikson InstituteChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$15K
Malnati Brain Tumor InstituteChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$15K
Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLUChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$15K
SpertusChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$15K
Block Club ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$10K
Cje SeniorlifeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$10K
Csnk2a1 FoundationChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$10K
Bard College Bard Prison InitiativeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$6,000
Cara CollectiveChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$5,000
Center for Investigative Reporting - Mother JonesChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$5,000
Chicago Help InitiativeChicago, ILGeneral unrestricted, exempt purpose of organization$5,000

About this foundation

The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Chicago, Illinois, tax-exempt since 1969. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.

All filings on ProPublica

Does The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation accept grant applications?

No. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation checked that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Look for an introduction through a current grantee.

How much does The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2025 it paid $2.7M across 97 grants, a median of $15K.

Where does The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation give?

Illinois (97 grants), per its latest filing.

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