The Bruce Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education, directing all recorded grants to Hillsdale College. Its giving appears targeted and institutional — supporting a single college through multiple sizeable awards rather than a diversified portfolio. This indicates a focused interest in sustaining or advancing the programs and mission of that specific institution.
Bruce Foundation’s recorded giving is built around a single institutional relationship: Hillsdale College. The largest recent award in the data is $500,000 in 2025 to that college, following $380,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2023. That three-year pattern points to sustained support rather than occasional programmatic giving, and it is the clearest marker of how the foundation operates. Beyond that core commitment, the foundation has also funded a small set of Illinois-based organizations in fields such as housing, health, social services, and education. Recent examples include $100,000 to Beverly Farm in Godfrey, Illinois, and $70,000 to Chicago Furniture Bank in Chicago. Those awards show that while the foundation’s center of gravity is higher education, its broader portfolio extends to local institutions serving people with disabilities, basic-needs providers, and community organizations. The foundation’s overall scale is substantial, with annual grants of $3.734 million and assets of $23.44 million on the latest filing year on file.
Higher education is the clearest cause area in Bruce Foundation’s record, anchored by repeated support for Hillsdale College. In 2025 it gave the college $500,000, and earlier awards of $380,000 in 2024 and $150,000 in 2023 show continuity over time. Outside that central relationship, the foundation’s giving touches several distinct service areas. For housing and basic-needs support, it granted $40,000 to Renaissance Social Services for ending homelessness and $40,000 to Nourishing Hope in Chicago. In health-related work, it made a $50,000 grant to Ability Lab and a $40,000 grant to Cambridge Reproductive Health Map Project for telemedicine care. The foundation also supported environmental and civic work, including $50,000 to Grand Canyon Trust for safeguarding the Grand Canyon and $35,000 to Environmental Voter Project.
Bruce Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $12,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $22,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants record shows a clear repeat-funding pattern rather than one-off awards: Hillsdale College appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several other recipients recur across multiple years as well. The foundation is not a donor-advised fund or program-related investment vehicle; it is a private foundation filing a standard grantmaking pattern. Its giving is also concentrated in Illinois, which receives the largest share of grants by count.
$2.1M
$22M
$846K
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $12K and $23K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$23K
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Highly concentrated: all funds to one grantee (Hillsdale College) via two large grants; repeat support rather than broad or small-dollar giving.
Notable grantees: Hillsdale College
Bruce Foundation gives nationally, but its grants are concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 38% of grants by recipient location and is also the top state by count. Chicago appears repeatedly in the recent-grants list, with awards to Chicago Furniture Bank, Ability Lab, Girl Scouts of Chicago, Fcacc, Revive Center, Renaissance Social Services, and Nourishing Hope. Outside Illinois, recent grants also went to Hillsdale, Michigan; Juno Beach, Florida; Tempe, Arizona; and Boston, Massachusetts. All recorded grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients.
The strongest pattern in the data is higher education, centered on Hillsdale College. That college received $500,000 in 2025, $380,000 in 2024, and $150,000 in 2023, making it the foundation’s clearest ongoing relationship.
The grant-size distribution is relatively compact: the 25th percentile is $12,000, the median is $15,000, and the 75th percentile is $22,500. Recent awards include a few much larger institutional grants, but most of the portfolio sits in that lower range.
Yes. The recent-grants record shows repeated support for Hillsdale College across 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other organizations also appear in multiple years, indicating a pattern of recurring relationships rather than isolated awards.
Illinois is the top recipient state by grant count, and 38% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. Chicago appears frequently in the recent-grants list, alongside other Illinois cities such as Godfrey, Northbrook, Barrington, and Des Plaines.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $400,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS | TEMPE, AZ | $100,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| BEVERLY FARM BEVERLY FARM | GODFREY, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| CHICAGO FURNITURE BANK CHICAGO FURNITURE BANK | CHICAGO, IL | $70,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN MUS OF SO AZ | TUCSON, AZ | $60,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT AFR. AMERICAN CULTURE |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CARE |
| FCACC FCACC | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| ED BRUNE MEM SCHOLARSHIP FUND | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE TENNIS SCHOLARSHIPS |
| REVIVE CENTER REVIVE CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| RENAISSANCE SOCIAL SERVICES | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | END HOMELESSNESS |
| NOURISHING HOPE NOURISHING HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| AS YOU SOW | EL CERRITO, CA | $50,000 | 2026 | PROMOTE CORPORAL ACCOUNTABILITY |
| MARINE LIFE CTR JUNO BEACH MARINE LIFE CTR JUNO BEACH | JUNO BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| GRAND CANYON TRUST | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $50,000 | 2026 | SAFEGUARD THE GRAND CANYON |
| CHINCAHUA HEALTH FOUNDATION | DOUGLASS, AZ | $40,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES |
| MICHAEL J FOZ FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH |
| EASTER SEALS BLAKE FOUNDATION EASTER SEALS BLAKE FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $40,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| CAMBRIDGE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MAP PROJECT | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | TELEMEDICINE CARE |
| 100 MEMBERS DEBATING BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $35,000 | 2026 | ENDOWMENT TO ASSIST MEMBERS |
| ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER PROJECT | BOSTON, MA | $35,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| SUNNYSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUNNYSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT | TUCSON, AZ | $30,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ELYSSA'S MISSION ELYSSA'S MISSION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| MARYVILLE ACADEMY MARYVILLE ACADEMY | DES PLAINES, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| FRIENDS OF PIMA ANIMAL CARE FRIENDS OF PIMA ANIMAL CARE | TUCSON, AZ | $30,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| FLINT CREEK WILDLIFE REHAB FLINT CREEK WILDLIFE REHAB | BARRINGTON, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| KARUNA HORSE RESCUE KARUNA HORSE RESCUE | TUCSON, AZ | $30,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| UNICEF | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE WORLDWIDE AID |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| JUDD GOLDMAN ADAPTIVE SAILING FDN | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED |
| TOUCHED BY AN ANIMAL TOUCHED BY AN ANIMAL | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| NURTURING MINDS INC NURTURING MINDS INC | NEWTONVILLE, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| NEW MOMS | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | HOUSING/PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG MOMS |
| SPL SPORTS INC SPL SPORTS INC | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| EASTER SEALS WISCONSIN RESPITE EASTER SEALS WISCONSIN RESPITE | MIDDLETON, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| NIGHT MINISTRY NIGH MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT | VALLEY VILLAGE, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | RESCUE DOGS |
| ABILITY LAB ABILITY LAB | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | HEALTH |
| CITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND CITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ALRAY FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NATION OF PATRIOTS NATION OF PATRIOTS | HASTINGS, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| BRIGHT HORIZONS BRIGHT HORIZONS | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| HUMANE INDIANA | MUNSTER, IN | $20,000 | 2026 | HUMANE WORLD FOR ANIMALS |
| PROVIDENCE ST MEL PROVIDENCE ST MEL | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF CHICAGO GIRL SCOUTS OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| ONE TAIL AT A TIME ONE TAIL AT A TIME | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
| HAP FOUNDATION | OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | HOSPICE/PALLIATIVE CARE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TUCSON BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF TUCSON | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| GOOD SPORTS GOOD SPORTS | BRAINTREE, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | SOCIAL |
| GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC |
HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS
$100,000CIVIC
BEVERLY FARM BEVERLY FARM
$100,000SOCIAL
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUS OF SO AZ
$60,000SUPPORT AFR. AMERICAN CULTURE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$50,000INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CARE
FCACC FCACC
$50,000CIVIC
ED BRUNE MEM SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$50,000PROVIDE TENNIS SCHOLARSHIPS
REVIVE CENTER REVIVE CENTER
$50,000SOCIAL
MARINE LIFE CTR JUNO BEACH MARINE LIFE CTR JUNO BEACH
$50,000SOCIAL
CHINCAHUA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$40,000PROVIDE MEDICAL SERVICES
MICHAEL J FOZ FOUNDATION
$40,000SUPPORT PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH
CAMBRIDGE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MAP PROJECT
$40,000TELEMEDICINE CARE
100 MEMBERS DEBATING BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
$35,000ENDOWMENT TO ASSIST MEMBERS
ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL VOTER PROJECT
$35,000CIVIC
SUNNYSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUNNYSIDE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
$30,000EDUCATION
ELYSSA'S MISSION ELYSSA'S MISSION
$30,000SOCIAL
MARYVILLE ACADEMY MARYVILLE ACADEMY
$30,000CIVIC
FLINT CREEK WILDLIFE REHAB FLINT CREEK WILDLIFE REHAB
$30,000CIVIC
KARUNA HORSE RESCUE KARUNA HORSE RESCUE
$30,000CIVIC
UNICEF
$25,000PROVIDE WORLDWIDE AID
JUDD GOLDMAN ADAPTIVE SAILING FDN
$25,000PROVIDE TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED
TOUCHED BY AN ANIMAL TOUCHED BY AN ANIMAL
$25,000CIVIC
SPL SPORTS INC SPL SPORTS INC
$20,000CIVIC
EASTER SEALS WISCONSIN RESPITE EASTER SEALS WISCONSIN RESPITE
$20,000SOCIAL
ABILITY LAB ABILITY LAB
$20,000HEALTH
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND CITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$20,000EDUCATION
ALRAY FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATIONAL
NATION OF PATRIOTS NATION OF PATRIOTS
$20,000CIVIC
BRIGHT HORIZONS BRIGHT HORIZONS
$20,000EDUCATION
PROVIDENCE ST MEL PROVIDENCE ST MEL
$20,000EDUCATIONAL
DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION DREAMCATCHER FOUNDATION
$20,000SOCIAL