The Boler Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy in a handful of large gifts that support higher education, science/public education, and health care — largely in the Chicago area but with at least one targeted environmental gift in Florida. The foundation makes multi‑grant commitments to a small set of core institutions (notably University of Notre Dame, Museum of Science & Industry, and Rush University Medical Center), indicating long‑term partnerships rather than wide, one‑off giving.
The Boler Family Foundation gives in concentrated, high-dollar commitments to a small set of institutions, with repeated $1,000,000 grants appearing across multiple years for the Museum of Science and Industries, the University of Notre Dame, and Rush University Medical Center. That pattern suggests long-running relationships rather than dispersed one-time awards. The foundation’s recent record also includes targeted support for community and conservation work, including Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in Florida and Horizons For Youth in Chicago. Its grantmaking reaches national nonprofits, but the mix of recipients shows a strong preference for established organizations that can absorb large unrestricted or purpose-driven awards. Chicago-area health and education institutions appear often, alongside higher education and public science engagement. The foundation also supports place-based work tied to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, adding a geographic and environmental dimension to an otherwise institution-focused portfolio. Across the recent grants list, the common thread is scale: large gifts, repeated over time, to a limited group of grantees.
Higher education is a consistent part of the portfolio. The foundation gave $1,000,000 in 2025 to the University of Notre Dame to support the university, continuing a repeated pattern of support in prior years. Science and public education are another visible theme: Museum of Science and Industries received $1,000,000 in 2024 and again in 2025 for general support. Health care funding is also prominent, with Rush University Medical Center receiving $1,000,000 in 2025 to support the medical center. Beyond those institutional grants, the foundation has supported first-generation college students through Horizons For Youth, which received $300,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is $18,125 at the 25th percentile, $125,000 at the median, and $756,250 at the 75th percentile, showing a portfolio split between small community grants and very large institutional awards. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including University of Notre Dame, Rush University Medical Center, Horizons For Youth, and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. That repeat pattern points to ongoing support rather than isolated gifts. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants include general support and purpose-specific awards, with no application process described in the data.
$4.3M
$56.5M
$9.1M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $18K and $756K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$18K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$756K
About 29% of grants go to recipients in FL.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of repeat grantees; multi‑year or multiple awards to core institutions rather than many small or geographically diffuse grants.
Notable grantees: University of Notre Dame, Museum of Science & Industry (Chicago), Rush University Medical Center, Northwest Community Hospital Foundation, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
Giving is national, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Illinois receives 29% of grants, reflecting a strong concentration in the Chicago region and nearby suburbs such as Chicago, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, and Hinsdale. Florida is the top state by grant count, with repeated support in Tampa and Sanibel, plus Fort Myers. Outside those states, recent grants also reached Notre Dame, Indiana; Washington, DC; and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Florida pattern includes both institutional and place-based environmental funding.
Its recent grants show repeated support for higher education, hospital and medical center funding, public science education, and community-based conservation. Large awards went to institutions such as the University of Notre Dame, Rush University Medical Center, and the Museum of Science and Industries, alongside place-based support on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years in the recent grants list. The University of Notre Dame, Rush University Medical Center, Horizons For Youth, and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation each received grants in more than one year, including annual support in some cases.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is wide: p25 is $18,125, median grant size is $125,000, and p75 is $756,250. Recent awards also include multiple $1,000,000 grants, showing that the top end of giving is much larger than the median.
Florida is the top state by grant count, while Illinois receives 29% of grants. Recent Florida recipients include organizations in Tampa, Sanibel, and Fort Myers; Illinois recipients are concentrated in Chicago and nearby suburbs such as Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, and Hinsdale.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals and not making program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,000,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME |
| Museum of Science and Industries | TAMPA, FL | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| John Carroll University | University Heights, OH | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Rush University Medical Center | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER |
| Alexian Brothers HEALTH SYSTEM | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $775,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation | SANIBEL, FL | $600,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED |
| Horizons For Youth | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| Yampa Valley Autism Program | Steamboat Springs, CO | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Kiwanis Club of Sanibel | SANIBEL, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS |
| CROW Taste of the Islands | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| University of Notre Dame | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME |
| Museum of Science and Industries | TAMPA, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Rush University Medical Center | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER |
| Alexian Brothers HEALTH SYSTEM | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $775,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Horizons For Youth | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation | SANIBEL, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED |
| Kiwanis Club of Sanibel | SANIBEL, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT |
| CROW Taste of the Islands | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS |
| Museum of Science and Industries | TAMPA, FL | $1,000,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| University of Notre Dame | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME |
| Rush University Medical Center | CHICAGO, IL | $700,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER |
| Horizons For Youth | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation | SANIBEL, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED |
| Bailey Shell Museum | SANIBEL, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast | Fort Myers, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Kiwanis Club of Sanibel | SANIBEL, FL | $7,500 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT |
| FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS |
| CROW Taste of the Islands | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| University of Notre Dame | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME |
| Museum of Science and Industries | TAMPA, FL | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Northwest Community Hospital Foundation | ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Rush University Medical Center | CHICAGO, IL | $700,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER |
| Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation | SANIBEL, FL | $600,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED |
| Horizons For Youth | CHICAGO, IL | $300,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS |
| Urban Autism Solutions | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| American Red Cross | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Charitable Foundation of the Islands | Sanibel, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| The Community House | Hinsdale, IL | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Bailey Shell Museum | SANIBEL, FL | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Kiwanis Club of Sanibel | SANIBEL, FL | $7,500 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT |
| CROW Taste of the Islands | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA | SANIBEL, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS |
University of Notre Dame
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Alexian Brothers HEALTH SYSTEM
$775,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED
Kiwanis Club of Sanibel
$7,500TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS
FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA
$5,000TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS
CROW Taste of the Islands
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
University of Notre Dame
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Museum of Science and Industries
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Alexian Brothers HEALTH SYSTEM
$775,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED
Kiwanis Club of Sanibel
$7,500TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT
CROW Taste of the Islands
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA
$5,000TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS
University of Notre Dame
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED
Bailey Shell Museum
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Center for Independent Living Gulf Coast
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Kiwanis Club of Sanibel
$7,500TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT
FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA
$5,000TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS
CROW Taste of the Islands
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
University of Notre Dame
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL HABITATS AND AQUATIC RESOURCES ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA AND THE SURROUNDING WATERSHED
Urban Autism Solutions
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
American Red Cross
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Bailey Shell Museum
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
Kiwanis Club of Sanibel
$7,500TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND CRUSH IT FORE THE KIDS GOLF TOURNAMENT
CROW Taste of the Islands
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FISH OF SANIBEL CAPITVA
$5,000TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE ON SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS THROUGH FOOD PROGRAMS, ISLAND BASED WORKSHOPS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HELPING HANDS