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Grant funders / Illinois / Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Wilmette, Illinois  ·  EIN 364170236  ·  Private foundation

Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund is a Illinois-based grantmaker. In its latest 990-PF filing it reported $2.7M in annual giving against $64.1M in assets. This page documents the 613 grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund — who they fund, what they prioritize, and what to know before reaching out.

$2.7M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$64.1M
Total assets
613
Grants tracked
2025
Most recent grant

What Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund funds

Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund's giving carries a documented focus on education.

Education

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Univ of Illinois Urbana
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$537K2024
University of Illinois
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$512K2020
Univ of Illinois Urbana
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$474K2025
University of Illinois
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$423K2018
Univ of Illinois Urbana
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$402K2023
Univ of Illinois
EDUCATION
Champaign, IL$343K2022
University of Michigan
EDUCATION
Ann Arbor, MI$320K2025
University of Michigan
EDUCATION
Ann Arbor, MI$280K2024
University of Illinois
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$267K2020
Univ of Illinois Chicago
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$235K2024
University of Michigan
EDUCATION
Ann Arbor, MI$186K2023
Depaul Univ
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$175K2024
Depaul Univ
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$173K2023
Depaul Univ
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$170K2025
University of Illinois
EDUCATION
Chicago, IL$170K2018

Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2018$2.0M
2020$2.7M
2022$2.8M
2023$3.0M
2024$3.2M
2025$3.0M

How to apply for funding from Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund'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 wentcherfoundation.org.

Is Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund the right funder for your nonprofit?

This page shows what Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.

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Frequently asked questions about Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Does Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund accept grant applications?
Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund'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 Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund fund?
Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund's grants focus on education. Recent recipients include Univ of Illinois Urbana, University of Illinois, Univ of Illinois Urbana. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund give in grants?
Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund reported $2.7M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $16.6M over 613 grants.
Where is Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund located?
Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund is based in Wilmette, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 364170236.
How can I find foundations similar to Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

Find more funders like Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Foundations similar to Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund

Other Illinois grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

About this profile. This page is built from Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund'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 Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.