The Bellows Family Foundation concentrates its giving on Orthodox Jewish religious life and education, primarily supporting yeshivas, day schools, kollel programs and synagogue-related institutions in Chicago and Israel. It also funds youth and family services (camps, youth programs), Israel-focused organizations, and a smaller set of Jewish social-service and health-support groups. Grants include both large, multi-year commitments to core institutions and numerous smaller gifts to local and international Jewish causes.
Concentrated, repeat funding: a mix of several large, multi-grant commitments to core Jewish educational and religious institutions alongside many smaller, targeted grants to community services and Israel partners; geographically focused on Chicago with notable international (Israel) support.
Bellows Family Foundation’s recent giving centers on Orthodox Jewish religious life and education, with a strong concentration in Chicago and a wider circle of Jewish institutions in New York and Israel-linked networks. The largest recent grants show that pattern clearly: Project Extreme received $160,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2025 for general operating support, while Hebrew Theological College received $150,500 in 2025. Many of the foundation’s larger commitments go to schools, yeshivas, kollels, camps, and synagogue-adjacent organizations rather than short-term projects. That includes support for Yeshivat Ashreinu, American Friends of Matan Inc, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, and Yeshiva University. The foundation also backs Jewish communal infrastructure and family-oriented services, with grants to organizations such as Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Chai Lifeline, Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe, and Chicago Mikvah Association. Across the recent grants list, general operating support is the dominant funding mode, suggesting a focus on sustaining core institutions rather than funding isolated program lines. The pattern is consistent across multiple years and across both Chicago-based and out-of-state Jewish organizations.
Orthodox Jewish education is the clearest theme in the recent record. Bellows Family Foundation gave $150,500 to Hebrew Theological College in Skokie for general operating support, $109,500 to Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Skokie for general operating support, and $93,750 to Arie Crown Hebrew Day School in Skokie for general operating support. It also supported Yeshiva University in New York City with $100,000 for general operating support. Kollel and advanced Torah study appear as another strand: Yeshiva Kollel Torah Mitzion received $87,560 in Skokie. Youth and camp programming also show up, including $50,000 to Camp Moshava of Wild Rose in Skokie. Beyond education, the foundation backs communal and family-support organizations such as Chai Lifeline in Lincolnwood and the Chicago Mikvah Association in Chicago, both as general operating support.
The foundation’s typical grant size sits at $12,500 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list is dominated by general operating support, and several recipients appear in multiple years, including Project Extreme, Hebrew Theological College, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, American Friends of Matan Inc, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and Kehilat Chovevei Tzion. That repeat pattern points to ongoing support for a core set of institutions rather than one-time project funding. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its giving is regional, with most grants landing in Illinois.
$1.1M
$5.7M
$4.9M
$1.1M
Most grants fall between $13K and $60K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$60K
JOAN BELLOWS
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Notable grantees: Project Extreme, Hebrew Theological College, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, One Israel Fund
Grants land overwhelmingly in the United States, and Illinois is the main state of giving. Chicago and Skokie account for many recipient organizations, including Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago Mikvah Association, Hebrew Theological College, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, Yeshiva Kollel Torah Mitzion, and Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School. Outside Illinois, the foundation also funds New York City, Lawrence, Teaneck, Pomona, Cedarhurst, and New York. The recipient-country distribution in the recent grants list is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation mainly supports Orthodox Jewish religious life and education. Recent grants include yeshivas, day schools, kollel and Torah study programs, camps, synagogue-related organizations, and Jewish social-service groups. Chicago institutions appear often, alongside Jewish organizations in New York and other U.S. locations.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $12,500 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range above and below that band, including six-figure support for several institutions.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Project Extreme, Hebrew Theological College, Ida Crown Jewish Academy, American Friends of Matan Inc, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and Kehilat Chovevei Tzion. That suggests ongoing support for a set of core grantees.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 69% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Chicago and Skokie are especially prominent recipient cities in the recent grants list.
Yes. Recent grants also go to recipients in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. Examples include organizations in Lawrence, New York City, Teaneck, Pomona, Cedarhurst, and Covington.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEBREW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE | SKOKIE, IL | $150,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PROJECT EXTREME | LAWRENCE, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YESHIVAT ASHREINU | TEANECK, NJ | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMIT CHILDREN INC | SKOKIE, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YESHIVA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ARIE CROWN HEBREW DAY SCHOOL | SKOKIE, IL | $93,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HILLEL TORAH NORTH SUBURBAN DAY SCHOOL | SKOKIE, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MANHATTAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE SYNAGOGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMP MOSHAVA OF WILD ROSE INC | SKOKIE, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF YAD SARAH INC | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $23,750 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $18,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ONE ISRAEL FUND LTD | CEDARHURST, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO CHESED FUND | LINCOLNWOOD, IL | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ARK | NORTHBROOK, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF NATAL-ISRAEL TRAUMA CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MIDRASH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BIMAD ALON MOREH INC | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| OHR TORAH STONE INSTITUTIONS OF ISRAEL | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LIBENU | SKOKIE, IL | $9,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TOMCHEI SHABBOS-YAD YESHAYA INC | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH INC | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHAI LIFELINE | LINCOLNWOOD, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HATZALAH OF THE ROCKAWAYS & NASSAU COUNTY INC | FAR ROCKAWAY, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOULU DBA UPWARD COMMUNITY | CHICAGO, IL | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HATZALAH CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PROJECT EXTREME | LAWRENCE, NY | $160,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MATAN INC | POMONA, NY | $115,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IDA CROWN JEWISH ACADEMY | SKOKIE, IL | $109,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YESHIVA KOLLEL TORAH MITZION INC | SKOKIE, IL | $87,560 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $86,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HEBREW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE | SKOKIE, IL | $81,360 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ONE ISRAEL FUND LTD | CEDARHURST, NY | $59,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF REFUGEES OF EASTERN EUROPE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHAI LIFELINE | LINCOLNWOOD, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO MIKVAH ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $42,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOULU DBA UPWARD COMMUNITY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KEHILAT CHOVEVEI TZION | SKOKIE, IL | $16,675 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMIT CHILDREN INC | SKOKIE, IL | $15,036 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JFMC -JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $11,250 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO CENTER FOR TORAH & CHESED INC | LINCOLNWOOD, IL | $10,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMP MOSHAVA OF WILD ROSE INC | SKOKIE, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BIMAD ALON MOREH INC | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| Project Extreme | Lawrence, NY | $90,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| American Friends of Matan Inc | Levittown, PA | $60,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Ida Crown Jewish Academy | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Upward Community | Covington, LA | $26,750 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Kehilat Chovevei Tzion | New York, NY | $23,508 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Hebrew Theological College | Skokie, IL | $20,512 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $19,800 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
| Camp Moshava of Wild Rose Inc | Skokie, IL | $15,500 | 2023 | General Operating Support |
HEBREW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
$150,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PROJECT EXTREME
$150,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YESHIVAT ASHREINU
$125,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ARIE CROWN HEBREW DAY SCHOOL
$93,750GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HILLEL TORAH NORTH SUBURBAN DAY SCHOOL
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MANHATTAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE SYNAGOGUE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHICAGO CHESED FUND
$12,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MIDRASH FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BIMAD ALON MOREH INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TOMCHEI SHABBOS-YAD YESHAYA INC
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HATZALAH OF THE ROCKAWAYS & NASSAU COUNTY INC
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PROJECT EXTREME
$160,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IDA CROWN JEWISH ACADEMY
$109,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HEBREW THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
$81,360GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF REFUGEES OF EASTERN EUROPE
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHICAGO MIKVAH ASSOCIATION
$42,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KEHILAT CHOVEVEI TZION
$16,675GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CHICAGO CENTER FOR TORAH & CHESED INC
$10,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BIMAD ALON MOREH INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Project Extreme
$90,000General Operating Support
Ida Crown Jewish Academy
$35,000General Operating Support
Upward Community
$26,750General Operating Support
Kehilat Chovevei Tzion
$23,508General Operating Support
Hebrew Theological College
$20,512General Operating Support