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Ploughshares Foundation

Chicago, Illinois  ·  EIN 363739577  ·  Private foundation

Ploughshares Foundation is a Illinois-based grantmaker. In its latest 990-PF filing it reported $3.1M in annual giving against $66.9M in assets. This page documents the 1,082 grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for Ploughshares Foundation — who they fund, what they prioritize, and what to know before reaching out.

$3.1M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$66.9M
Total assets
1,082
Grants tracked
2023
Most recent grant

What Ploughshares Foundation funds

Ploughshares Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on civil rights & social justice, criminal justice, education, disaster relief & emergency aid, environment & conservation, and related causes.

Civil Rights & Social JusticeCriminal JusticeEducationDisaster Relief & Emergency AidEnvironment & ConservationFaith-Based (Christian)Faith-Based (Jewish)Faith-Based (Muslim)Food & AgricultureHealth Care

Populations it has supported include children, families, homeless population, immigrants & refugees, low-income communities, women girls.

childrenfamilieshomeless populationimmigrants & refugeeslow-income communitieswomen girlsyouth pop

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Ploughshares Foundation, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Boston Foundation
$50,000 FOR SUCESS BOSTON, SKILL WORKS AND BOSTON OPPORTUNITY AGENDA; $10,000 FOR LATINO EQUITY FUND
Boston, MA$100K2022
Partners in Health
$50,000 FOR WORK IN HAITI
Frederick, MD$100K2022
Doctors Without Borders
$25,000 FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN TURKEY AND SYRIA; $75,000 FOR AID TO GAZA, THE WEST BANK, AND ISRAEL AND FOR WORK ALONG THE US/MEXICO BORDE
Hagerstown, MD$100K2023
Partners in Health
$50,000 FOR WORK IN HAITI, MEXICO AND PERU
Frederick, MD$100K2023
Partners in Health
GENERAL
Boston, MA$100K2020
Lenny Zakim Fund
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND ILLNESS
Boston, MA$100K2020
Doctors Without Borders
MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES AND IDPS INCLUDING $25,000 FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT
Hagerstown, MD$100K2020
Boston Foundation
$50,000 FOR SUCESS BOSTON, SKILL WORKS AND BOSTON OPPORTUNITY AGENDA; $25,000 FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND
Boston, MA$100K2020
Doctors Without Borders
$75,000 FOR MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS FOR REFUGEES AND4 IDPS INCLUDING $25,000 FOR WORK IN REYNOSA, MEXICO AND OTHER CITIES ON THE M
Hagerstown, MD$95K2022
Direct Relief International
$15,000 FOR AUSTRALIAN WILDFIRE RELIEF; $15,000 FOR PUERTO RICO EARTHQUAKE RELIEF; WORK IN YEMEN AND LEBANON AND WHERE MOST NEEDED
Santa Barbara, CA$80K2020
Lenny Zakim Fund
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND ILLNESS
Boston, MA$75K2022
Lenny Zakim Fund
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SOCIAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND ILLNESS
Boston, MA$75K2023
Direct Relief International
$25,000 FOR EARTHQUAKE RELIEF IN TURKEY AND SYRIA; WORK IN YEMEN, LEBANON, HAITI, THE MIDDLE EAST AND WHERE MOST NEEDED
Santa Barbara, CA$70K2023
Save the Children
PROGRAMS IN SYRIA, YEMEN, SOUTH SUDAN, HAITI, PUERTO RICO AND ALONG US BORDER WITH MEXICO
Fairfield, CT$65K2020
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
$5,000 FOR "LOVE RESISTS; $10,000 FOR AID TO ROHINGYA AND $10,000 FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN MIGRANT JUSTICE
Cambridge, MA$60K2020

Ploughshares Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$3.1M
2022$3.4M
2023$3.5M

How to apply for funding from Ploughshares Foundation

Ploughshares Foundation'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.

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Frequently asked questions about Ploughshares Foundation

Does Ploughshares Foundation accept grant applications?
Ploughshares Foundation'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 Ploughshares Foundation fund?
Ploughshares Foundation's grants focus on civil rights & social justice. Recent recipients include Boston Foundation, Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Ploughshares Foundation give in grants?
Ploughshares Foundation reported $3.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $10.0M over 1,082 grants.
Where is Ploughshares Foundation located?
Ploughshares Foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 363739577.
How can I find foundations similar to Ploughshares Foundation?
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Foundations similar to Ploughshares Foundation

Other Illinois grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

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