The Ruby K Worner Charitable Trust primarily funds arts and cultural institutions, with sizable repeat grants to regional museums and performing arts organizations. Alongside culture, the foundation makes targeted gifts to scientific research, higher education, and occasional international poverty/microfinance efforts. Their giving signals a preference for institution-building support to established organizations rather than many small community grants.
Ruby K Worner Charitable Trust’s recent giving is anchored by arts and cultural institutions, with the Peoria Riverfront Museum receiving $51,395 in 2025 for the Da Vinci the Genius Series and $50,000 in 2024 for the same series. The trust also returned to the Peoria Symphony Orchestra with $50,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, showing a pattern of support for established performing arts organizations. Beyond Peoria, the trust has made large cultural grants to the New Orleans Museum of Art, including $50,000 in 2025 and $41,400 in 2023 for general support. Its portfolio also includes repeat support for the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, as well as gifts to institutions tied to science, education, and social service work. The trust’s filings show a national footprint, but the grant list is dominated by institution-level awards rather than many small local awards. The overall picture is of a funder that backs museums, orchestras, and related educational programming, while also making selective grants to research, student support, and community-based organizations.
Arts and museum programming are central to the trust’s giving. It awarded $51,395 in 2025 to Peoria Riverfront Museum for the Da Vinci the Genius Series, following a $50,000 grant in 2024 for the same program. The same theme appears in its support for New Orleans Museum of Art, which received $50,000 in 2025 and $41,400 in 2023 for general support. Music is another clear theme. The Peoria Symphony Orchestra received $50,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024 for general purpose support. The trust also backed science-adjacent education and research, including $20,000 to Sigma Xi the Scientific Research Honor Society Inc for grants-in-aid of research and $10,000 to Bradley University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry for UV & VL spectrophotometers. Social-service grants appear as a smaller slice, such as $10,000 to Counseling & Family Services of Peoria Illinois Inc for after school/summer programming and $10,000 to Christian Center for obesity prevention.
Typical awards cluster in the low five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,400, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. That distribution fits a trust that makes a mix of operating and project grants, with several repeat awards to the same organizations across multiple years. The grant list also shows a family-trust style pattern of institution support rather than a one-time, transaction-oriented approach. Program-related investments are not part of the structure, and the trust funds individuals as well as organizations.
$139K
$2.7M
$212K
$178K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 2% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants that are often repeated to the same cultural institutions; funding is institution-focused (general support or program series) rather than broad, small-dollar dispersal.
Notable grantees: Peoria Riverfront Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Grameen Foundation, Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Honor Society)
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 100% of grants going to U.S. organizations in the data. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and many awards land in Peoria, including the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Community Foundation of Central Illinois, and Bradley University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Outside Illinois, notable recipient locations include New Orleans, Washington, DC, Durham, and Miami. The trust’s HQ is in Pittsburgh, but its giving is centered elsewhere.
Its recent grants are concentrated in arts and cultural institutions, especially museums and orchestras. The trust also supports scientific research, higher education, and selected social service organizations, with awards that often look like general support or project support.
The grant-size profile is centered on modest institutional awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,400, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. Recent grants also include larger amounts such as $51,395 and $50,000.
Illinois is the top state by grant count. Peoria appears repeatedly in the recipient list, including museums, performing arts groups, a community foundation, and university science support.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once across different years, including Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, New Orleans Museum of Art, Community Foundation of Central Illinois, Adult & Teen Challenge Central Illinois Men's Center, and Grameen Foundation.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The recent list also shows scholarship support for youth through Sun Foundation for Advancement of Environmental Science and the Arts.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM | PEORIA, IL | $54,175 | 2026 | DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES |
| NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAMEEN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUN FDN FOR THE ADVANCEMENT IN THE ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCES & ARTS | WASHBURN, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM | PEORIA, IL | $51,395 | 2025 | DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES |
| NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | PEORIA, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE CENTRAL ILLINOIS MEN'S CENTER | PEKIN, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRADLEY UNIVERSITY DEPT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY | PEORIA, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | UV & VL SPECTROPHOTOMETERS |
| BEST BUDDIES INC | MT PLEASANT, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189 | MASON CITY, IL | $4,000 | 2025 | ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD |
| PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM | PEORIA, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES |
| GRAMEEN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $31,346 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIGMA XI THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HONOR SOCIETY INC | DURHAM, NC | $20,000 | 2024 | GRANTS IN-AID OF RESEARCH |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | PEORIA, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | PEORIA, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Arts | Washburn, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Adult & Teen Challenge Central Illinois Men's Center | PEKIN, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189 | MASON CITY, IL | $4,000 | 2024 | ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD |
| PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | PEORIA, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| New Orleans Museum of Art | New Orleans, LA | $41,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEORIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | PEORIA, IL | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE | NAPERVILLE, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SIGMA XI SOUTHERN IL CHAPTER | CARBONDALE, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAMEEN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $19,330 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAMEEN FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $19,330 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM | PEORIA, IL | $15,500 | 2023 | DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | PEORIA, IL | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | PEORIA, IL | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUN FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND THE ARTS | WASHBURN, IL | $12,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUTH |
| Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Arts | Washburn, IL | $10,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COUNSELING & FAMILY SERVICES OF PEORIA ILLINOIS INC | PEORIA, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER |
| CHRISTIAN CENTER | PEORIA, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | OBESITY PREVENTION FOR |
| BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL | MIAMI, FL | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LIFELINE - PILOT CLUB | DEFUNIAK SPGS, FL | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS DISTRIC COUNCIL | PEORIA, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | REHAB & RECOVERY PROGRAMS |
| HEAVENS VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | PEORIA, IL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $4,000 | 2023 | PEORIA PROGRAMMING |
| CENTER FOR PREVENTION OF ABUSE | PEORIA, IL | $3,500 | 2023 | KEEPING MY BODY SAFE |
| ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189 | MASON CITY, IL | $3,000 | 2023 | ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD |
| ILLINOIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $2,000 | 2023 | SHARE THE MUSIC PROGRAM |
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
$54,175DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUN FDN FOR THE ADVANCEMENT IN THE ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCES & ARTS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
$51,395DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ADULT & TEEN CHALLENGE CENTRAL ILLINOIS MEN'S CENTER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY DEPT OF CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
$10,000UV & VL SPECTROPHOTOMETERS
BEST BUDDIES INC
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189
$4,000ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
$50,000DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES
SIGMA XI THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH HONOR SOCIETY INC
$20,000GRANTS IN-AID OF RESEARCH
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Arts
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Adult & Teen Challenge Central Illinois Men's Center
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189
$4,000ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD
New Orleans Museum of Art
$41,400GENERAL SUPPORT
SIGMA XI SOUTHERN IL CHAPTER
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM
$15,500DA VINCI THE GENIUS SERIES
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUN FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND THE ARTS
$12,000SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUTH
Sun Foundation for Advancement in the Environmental Sciences and Arts
$10,400GENERAL SUPPORT
COUNSELING & FAMILY SERVICES OF PEORIA ILLINOIS INC
$10,000AFTER SCHOOL/SUMMER
CHRISTIAN CENTER
$10,000OBESITY PREVENTION FOR
LIFELINE - PILOT CLUB
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ILLINOIS DISTRIC COUNCIL
$5,000REHAB & RECOVERY PROGRAMS
HEAVENS VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GIRLS ON THE RUN OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$4,000PEORIA PROGRAMMING
ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD 189
$3,000ILLINI CENTRAL CUSD
ILLINOIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
$2,000SHARE THE MUSIC PROGRAM