Ranch Spur Charitable Trust makes a small number of sizable grants (roughly $100k–$200k) across a mix of local Chicago-area education and youth services, conservation, heritage preservation, and select public policy or international development causes. Its giving tilts toward supporting K–12 schools and youth-serving organizations in Chicago while also making discrete, substantial gifts to niche national and international organizations in conservation and policy.
Concentrated portfolio of few, large grants (mostly ~$100k+ each); combination of repeat/local Chicago-focused education and youth funding alongside one-off major gifts to specialized national/international nonprofits.
Ranch Spur Charitable Trust shows a clear preference for unrestricted gifts to a small set of organizations it returns to over time. One of the largest recent awards went to Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, which received $200,000 in 2024, and the trust also made a $110,000 unrestricted grant to Providence St Mel School that same year. Those gifts sit alongside other six-figure awards to organizations in education, conservation, public policy, and international development. The trust’s pattern points to a mix of local Chicago-area support and more selective national or cross-border giving. On the local side, its recent grants include Illinois-based recipients such as Garfield Heritage Society, The Conservation Foundation, and Northern Illinois Food Bank. Outside that core, it has backed groups such as Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Business Executives for National Security, and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund. The organization’s recent grant list suggests a funder that favors general operating or flexible support rather than narrowly restricted project funding, while still concentrating much of its activity in a relatively compact set of grantees.
Education and youth services make up a major part of the trust’s recent giving. In 2024, it gave $200,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, and it also granted $110,000 to Providence St Mel School and $101,511 to Sofia American Schools Inc. Earlier grants include $55,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Elgin and $30,000 to Providence St Mel School. The trust also supports conservation and habitat work. It gave $104,700 in 2025 to Delta Waterfowl Foundation, following earlier grants of $94,000 and $34,000 to the same organization. Environmental philanthropy also appears through $74,561 to The Conservation Foundation in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024. A third theme is preservation and civic or policy-oriented work. Recent examples include $103,680 to Garfield Heritage Society and $100,000 to Illinois Policy Institute. Internationally, the trust backed Trust for Social Achievement and Zaedno V Chas with $25,000 each in 2023.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the trust’s largest awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $28,750. The recent-grants list shows a different upper tier as well, with multiple gifts in the $50,000 to $200,000 range. Giving is repeat-oriented. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Garfield Heritage Society, Illinois Policy Institute, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Providence St Mel School, Assist Inc, Business Executives for National Security, and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund. The grants shown are all unrestricted, indicating flexible support rather than tightly designated project funding.
$2.6M
$6.5M
$731K
$795K
Most grants fall between $5K and $29K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$29K
About 62% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Ranch Spur Charitable Trust.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 109 | $2.5M | 90.8% |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 5 | $98K |
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 FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Notable grantees: Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Providence St. Mel School, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Garfield Heritage Society, Business Executives for National Security
Grantmaking is centered in Illinois, which accounts for 62% of grants in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. Chicago is the clearest hub, with grants to Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Providence St Mel School, and Illinois Policy Institute. Other Illinois recipients include Garfield Heritage Society in Lafox, Northern Illinois Food Bank in Carol Stream, The Conservation Foundation in Naperville, and Wayne Historic Preservation Society in Wayne. Outside Illinois, the trust gives to recipients in New York, North Dakota, Washington, DC, Connecticut, Georgia, and Minnesota. The country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, but there are also grants to recipients in Bulgaria.
Recent grants show support for youth services and education, conservation, heritage preservation, policy work, and international development. Examples include Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Providence St Mel School, Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Garfield Heritage Society, Illinois Policy Institute, and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund.
The recent grants listed for Ranch Spur Charitable Trust are all marked unrestricted. That points to flexible support rather than tightly designated project funding.
Yes. Multiple grantees appear across more than one year, including Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Garfield Heritage Society, Illinois Policy Institute, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Providence St Mel School, Assist Inc, Business Executives for National Security, and Next Generation Bulgaria Fund.
The 25th percentile grant is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $28,750. The recent-grants table also shows several larger gifts, including awards of $100,000 or more.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 62% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is a repeated recipient city, with additional Illinois grantees in Lafox, Carol Stream, Naperville, Elgin, and Wayne.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Other Countries | 3 | $25K | 2.5% |
| 4 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3 | $1K | 2.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION | BISMARCK, ND | $104,700 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GARFIELD HERITAGE SOCIETY | LAFOX, IL | $103,680 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NEXT GENERATION BULGARIA FUND | BLOOMINGTON, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | NAPERVILLE, IL | $74,561 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ASSIST INC | SUFFIELD, CT | $59,225 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK | CAROL STREAM, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN | ELGIN, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | DUNDEE, IL | $21,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS | PHILADELPIA, PA | $18,750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GIRLS LEADING OUR WORLD ASSOCIATION | VELIKO TURNOVO | $16,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $12,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $12,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UKRAINE TRUST CHAIN | EVANSTON, IL | $12,027 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SHEPHERD CENTER INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GARFIELD HERITAGE SOCIETY | LAFOX, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SOFIA AMERICAN SCHOOLS INC | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLLEGE OF VETERINARIAN MEDICINE | URBANA, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PROVIDENCE ST MEL SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DRAKE UNIVERSITY | DES MOINES, IA | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ALIVE CENTER NFP | NAPERVILLE, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHILANTROPY ROUNDTABLE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SALUTE INC | PALATINE, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ISLAND ACADEMY INC | ST JOHNS ANTIGUA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FRIENDS OF FISHER HOUSE-ILLINOIS INC | ADDISON, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY | WHEATON, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BULGARIA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WAYNE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY | WAYNE, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WTTW11 PUBLIC TELEVISON | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BULGARIAN CHILD INC | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION | IOWA CITY, IA | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| STREETERVILLE ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE RESIDENTS | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARINE CORPSS TOYS FOR TOTS | DES MOINES, IA | $500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ELGIN MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY | ELGIN, IL | $500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE OLD ROAD FOUNDATION INC | ST JOHNS ANTIGUA WEST IND | $250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION | OXFORD, OH | $250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PROVIDENCE ST MEL SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $110,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SOFIA AMERICAN SCHOOLS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $101,511 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
DELTA WATERFOWL FOUNDATION
$104,700UNRESTRICTED
GARFIELD HERITAGE SOCIETY
$103,680UNRESTRICTED
NEXT GENERATION BULGARIA FUND
$100,000UNRESTRICTED
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE
$100,000UNRESTRICTED
THE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$74,561UNRESTRICTED
ASSIST INC
$59,225UNRESTRICTED
BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
UNRESTRICTED
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$21,000UNRESTRICTED
TUNNEL TO TOWERS
$18,750UNRESTRICTED
GIRLS LEADING OUR WORLD ASSOCIATION
$16,000UNRESTRICTED
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
$12,500UNRESTRICTED
THE MORTON ARBORETUM
$12,500UNRESTRICTED
UKRAINE TRUST CHAIN
$12,027UNRESTRICTED
SHEPHERD CENTER INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
GARFIELD HERITAGE SOCIETY
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
SOFIA AMERICAN SCHOOLS INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
COLLEGE OF VETERINARIAN MEDICINE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
PROVIDENCE ST MEL SCHOOL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
DRAKE UNIVERSITY
$6,000UNRESTRICTED
THE FIELD MUSEUM
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
ALIVE CENTER NFP
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
PHILANTROPY ROUNDTABLE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
SALUTE INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
ISLAND ACADEMY INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
FRIENDS OF FISHER HOUSE-ILLINOIS INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN BULGARIA
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
WAYNE HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
WTTW11 PUBLIC TELEVISON
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
HILLSDALE COLLEGE
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
BULGARIAN CHILD INC
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
STREETERVILLE ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE RESIDENTS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
MARINE CORPSS TOYS FOR TOTS
$500UNRESTRICTED
ELGIN MATH AND SCIENCE ACADEMY
$500UNRESTRICTED
THE OLD ROAD FOUNDATION INC
$250UNRESTRICTED
PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION
$250UNRESTRICTED
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO
$200,000UNRESTRICTED
PROVIDENCE ST MEL SCHOOL
$110,000UNRESTRICTED
SOFIA AMERICAN SCHOOLS INC
$101,511UNRESTRICTED
BUSINESS EXECUTIVES FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
$100,000UNRESTRICTED