Private foundation · EIN 36-4134174 · Oakbrook Terr, Illinois · Philanthropy & grantmaking

Carol Lavin Bernick Family 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 2024 Form 990-PF: 56 grants paid, $451K total, median $2,250. 61% of grants stayed in Illinois.

Accepts applications
No
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2024
56
$451K
Median grant
$2,250
Stays in IL
61%
of grants
Deadline
—
Assets
$8.3M

Grants paid in 2024

56 grants, all shown · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
Illinois Holocaust MuseumSkokie, ILGeneral fund$100K
Brother Rice High SchoolChicago, ILGeneral fund$95K
Navy Seal FoundationVirginia Beach, VAGeneral fund$50K
Oak Park TempleOak Park, ILGeneral fund$26K
Tulane UniversityNew Orleans, LAGeneral fund$20K
Jewish United Fundjewish FederationChicago, ILGeneral fund$15K
Adventhealth Foundation West FloridaAltamonte Springs, FLGeneral fund$10K
Beat the Streets - ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral fund$10K
Dominican UniversityRiver Forest, ILGeneral fund$10K
Opportunity KnocksRiver Forest, ILGeneral fund$10K
Walworth County Food PantryElkhorn, WIGeneral fund$6,000
After School MattersChicago, ILGeneral fund$5,000
Better Government AssociationChicago, ILGeneral fund$5,000
Blue Gavel Scholarship FundNaples, FLGeneral fund$5,000
City Year ChicagoBoston, MAGeneral fund$5,000
Live Like JakePalm Beach Gardens, FLGeneral fund$5,000
Metropolitan Planning CouncilChicago, ILGeneral fund$5,000
Semper Fi Americas FundOceanside, CAGeneral fund$5,000
The Karen Dove Cabral FoundationGlenview, ILGeneral fund$5,000
YWCA Metropolitan ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral fund$5,000
SoulNew Orleans, LAGeneral fund$4,000
Evans Scholars FoundationGlenview, ILGeneral fund$3,500
A Cure for Robert IncLouisville, KYGeneral fund$3,000
Club of HeartsChicago, ILGeneral fund$3,000
Oprf Community FoundationOak Park, ILGeneral fund$3,000
The Historic New Orleans CollectionNew Orleans, LAGeneral fund$3,000
St Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphis, TNGeneral fund$2,500
The Toby Keith FoundationOklahoma City, OKGeneral fund$2,500
Boys & Girls Club of ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral fund$2,000
Scherrer Cares IncBurlington, WIGeneral fund$2,000
Amercian Cancer SocityAtlanta, GAGeneral fund$1,500
Gary D Wright PTO IncHampshire, ILGeneral fund$1,500
Hope & Friendship FoundationLemont, ILGeneral fund$1,500
Troop 1900New Lenox, NYGeneral fund$1,500
Lazarus HouseSt Charles, ILGeneral fund$1,350
A House in AustinChicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Alzheimer's AssociationChicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Austin Coming TogetherChicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Best of Proviso TownshipBroadview, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Beyond HungerOak Park, ILGeneral fund$1,000
D300 Food PantryCarpentersville, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Enchanted BackpackChicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Geneva Area FoundationLake Geneva, WIGeneral fund$1,000
Lake Geneva Country Club FoundationWest Chicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Northwestern HealthcareChicago, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss AssociationSeattle, WAGeneral fund$1,000
St Alphonsus Catholic ChurchLemont, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Standing Tall Charitable FoundationPark Ridge, ILGeneral fund$1,000
The FieldNew York, NYGeneral fund$1,000
W&m Business School FoundationWilliamsburg, VAGeneral fund$1,000
Westchester Food PantryWestchester, ILGeneral fund$1,000
Big Shoulders FundChicago, ILGeneral fund$500
C200 FoundationChicago, ILGeneral fund$500
P E O FoundationDes Moines, IAGeneral fund$500
St Francis de Sales Catholic ChurchLake Zurich, ILGeneral fund$500
Cal Farley's Boys RanchAmarillo, TXGeneral fund$112

By state: Illinois 34 · Virginia 2 · Louisiana 3 · Florida 3 · Wisconsin 3 · Massachusetts 1

About this foundation

Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Oakbrook Terr, Illinois, tax-exempt since 1998. 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 Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation accept grant applications?

No. On its 2024 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 Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2024 it paid $451K across 56 grants, a median of $2,250.

Where does Carol Lavin Bernick Family Foundation give?

Illinois (34 grants), Virginia (2 grants), Louisiana (3 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.

More foundations near Oakbrook Terr that accept applications

All in Illinois
FoundationBased inGrants paidMedian grantAccepts applicationsAssets
Howard G Buffett Foundationsince 1999 Decatur, IL $699M1 grants · 2025 $699MPreselected only $721M
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundationsince 1971 Chicago, IL $356M1,086 grants · 2024 $160KPreselected only $8.7B
Arie and Ida Crown Memorialsince 1962 Chicago, IL $115M897 grants · 2024 $55KYes $2.4B
Builders Initiativesince 2017 Chicago, IL $97M392 grants · 2024 $150KPreselected only $1.7B
Joyce Foundationsince 1949 Chicago, IL $52M470 grants · 2024 $80KYes $1.2B
Pritzker Family Foundationsince 2002 Chicago, IL $54M288 grants · 2024 $75KPreselected only $148M
St George Corporationsince 2021 Burr Ridge, IL $34M5 grants · 2024 $1.0MPreselected only $768M
1111 Foundationsince 2013 Highland Park, IL $28M54 grants · 2024 $50KPreselected only $579M
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