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Big Shoulders Fund

EIN: 36-3490557 • Chicago, IL
Total Assets
$152.1M
Foundation endowment scale
Annual Giving
$24.3M
Annual capital distribution
Typical Grant
$160,894
Most grants: $55K – $446K
Application Status
Accepts New Applicants
Rolling review

About Big Shoulders Fund Grantmaking

Big Shoulders Fund is an institutional grantmaking foundation headquartered in Chicago, IL (EIN: 36-3490557). According to verified IRS Form 990-PF filings, the foundation maintains $152.1M in total assets and distributed $24.3M across 305 grants. Its typical award size is $160,894, with the middle 50% of awards falling between $55K and $446K. Its primary funding focus includes Education & Literacy (95%), Religion Related (5%), with the highest concentration of grants awarded in IL (92%) and IN (8%).

Top Funded Causes% Capital
Education & Literacy95%
$421K deployed18 awards
Religion Related5%
$24K deployed2 awards
Top Recipient States% Dollars
IL State Recipients92%
$58.9M funded267 grants
IN State Recipients8%
$5.3M funded38 grants
Grant Size DistributionAward Scale
Major Grants ($100K+)54%
165 large institutional grants
Mid-Sized ($25K–$100K)19%
59 standard program grants
Micro & Small (<$25K)27%
81 grassroots micro-awards
Application Guidelines & DeadlinesPublic Filing Data
Application Policy
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
Submission Deadlines

Rolling review

Geographic Focus & Restrictions

IL statewide and regional focus

Program Officer & Direct Contacts

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Recent Grant AwardsShowing 5 of 305 verified awards
Recipient OrganizationLocationTax YearAward AmountGrant Purpose
St Sabina AcademyChicago, IL2024$1,369,348Ae, cp, op
St Ethelreda SchoolChicago, IL2024$1,223,850Ae, cp, lpd, op
St Francis De Sales High SchoolChicago, IL2024$1,061,550Ae, cp, op, pp, ddg
St Angela SchoolChicago, IL2024$917,202Ae, op, ddg
Epiphany SchoolChicago, IL2024$895,883Ae, lpd, op, pp, ddg
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Frequently Asked Questions about Big Shoulders Fund

Does Big Shoulders Fund accept unsolicited grant proposals?

Yes, Big Shoulders Fund accepts unsolicited grant proposals. Submission review cycle: Rolling review.

What is the typical grant size from Big Shoulders Fund?

The median grant size from Big Shoulders Fund is $160,894, with the middle 50% of awards ranging between $55K and $446K.

What causes does Big Shoulders Fund fund?

Over recent Form 990-PF filings, Big Shoulders Fund's primary funding areas have been Education & Literacy, Religion Related.

How do I contact Big Shoulders Fund about a grant?

Big Shoulders Fund is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Verified NPO Grant subscribers can access direct program officer telephone extensions, verified work email addresses, and detailed submission guidelines.