About Fred J Brunner Foundation
The Foundation focuses its grant giving on organizations that help those who are the most vulnerable, especially the young and the elderly. Education, shelter and hunger are guiding premises in choosing recipients. The greater Chicago area has been the primary location of recipients.
Focus Areas
educationshelterhunger reliefyouth serviceselderly servicescommunity services
Who They Fund
K–12 students (middle school, juniors/seniors)Low-income / needs-based studentsSurvivors of domestic violenceIndividuals with disabilities (autism, visually impaired, other learning/physical disabilities)People with respiratory, cardiac, or immune diseases
About Fred J Brunner Foundation
The Fred J Brunner Foundation repeatedly backs organizations serving vulnerable people, with especially visible support for youth, the elderly, and people facing domestic violence, disability, food insecurity, or health challenges. Its recent grants include multiple five-figure awards for unrestricted support and program delivery, alongside targeted funding for shelter, education, and clinical or educational services. In Chicago-area grantmaking, The Salvation Army received repeated support, including $80,000 awards for unrestricted organization support, while Pillars-constance Morris House received recurring $75,000 grants for shelter, care, and outreach to survivors of domestic violence. The foundation also funds specialized service providers such as Center for Independent Futures for electronic curriculum for disabled learners and National Jewish Health for care related to respiratory, cardiac, and immune disease. School and student support appears as another thread, with grants to schools and scholarship-related purposes. The pattern suggests a local funder using a mix of unrestricted grants, operating support, and program-specific awards to meet immediate needs while also supporting longer-term capacity in the greater Chicago area.
What Fred J Brunner Foundation Funds
Education is a core theme in the foundation’s recent giving. It supported Saban Center with $50,000 to develop a STEM education program and gave Josephium Academy $35,000 in unrestricted organization support. The youth-serving side of the portfolio also includes school and student support, such as St Patrick High School’s financial assistance program and Dutchess Day School’s financial aid for the current school year. Shelter and domestic violence services are another clear area of support. Pillars-constance Morris House received $75,000 for shelter, care, and outreach to survivors of domestic violence, while The Salvation Army received unrestricted support in Chicago. Health and disability-related grants appear as well. Aspire was funded for health and wellness education, and Center for Independent Futures received support for electronic curriculum for disabled learners.
How Fred J Brunner Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster tightly around the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. Recent awards also show larger recurring grants, including repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, which points to an ongoing relationship model rather than one-off giving. The foundation is a regular funder and operates annual grant programs, including fall cycles; applicants may reapply annually. It accepts unsolicited requests and uses a mix of unrestricted and project-based support, including scholarships and direct service funding.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.6M
Total Assets
$31.9M
Total Revenue
$1.5M
Total Expenses
$2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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