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Grant funders / Illinois / Bears Care

Bears Care

Lake Forest, Illinois  ·  EIN 203902715  ·  Private foundation

Bears Care is a Illinois-based grantmaker. In its latest 990-PF filing it reported $1.0M in annual giving against $1.0M in assets. This page documents the 74 grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for Bears Care — who they fund, what they prioritize, and what to know before reaching out.

$1.0M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$1.0M
Total assets
74
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What Bears Care funds

Bears Care's giving carries a documented focus on health care, higher education, k-12 education, mental health, sports & recreation, and related causes.

Health CareHigher EducationK-12 EducationMental HealthSports & RecreationSubstance Use & Recovery

Populations it has supported include black communities, families, hispanic communities, veterans, women girls.

black communitiesfamilieshispanic communitiesveteranswomen girls

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Bears Care, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Other (see Attachment)$768K2019
Other (see Attachment)$741K2023
Other (see Attachment)$695K2022
Other (see Attachment)$636K2017
Youth and Family (see Attachment)$560K2023
Rush University Medical Center
TO SUPPORT THE ROAD HOME PROGRAM: THE NATIONAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT RUSH
Chicago, IL$520K2024
Youth and Family (see Attachment)$478K2022
Education (see Attachment)$476K2022
Education (see Attachment)$460K2023
Education (see Attachment)$441K2019
Youth and Family (see Attachment)$440K2019
Youth and Family (see Attachment)$440K2020
Education (see Attachment)$432K2017
Athletics (see Attachment)$416K2022
Education (see Attachment)$373K2020

Bears Care giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2017$1.8M
2019$2.1M
2020$1.0M
2022$2.3M
2023$2.3M
2024$2.6M

How to apply for funding from Bears Care

Bears Care's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at chicagobears.com/community/bearscare.asp.

Is Bears Care the right funder for your nonprofit?

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Frequently asked questions about Bears Care

Does Bears Care accept grant applications?
Bears Care's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does Bears Care fund?
Bears Care's grants focus on health care. Recent recipients include Other (see Attachment), Other (see Attachment), Other (see Attachment). Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Bears Care give in grants?
Bears Care reported $1.0M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $12.1M over 74 grants.
Where is Bears Care located?
Bears Care is based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 203902715.
How can I find foundations similar to Bears Care?
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Foundations similar to Bears Care

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About this profile. This page is built from Bears Care's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with Bears Care. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.