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Real Clear Foundation

Northbrook, Illinois  ·  EIN 522128875  ·  Private foundation

Based in Northbrook, Illinois, Real Clear Foundation has awarded $12.6M across 13 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2025. Its largest grant on record went to Real Clear Holdings LLC. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$4.7M
Annual giving (FY2025)
$6.4M
Total assets
13
Grants tracked
2025
Most recent grant

What Real Clear Foundation funds

Real Clear Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on education.

Education

Grant history

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

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Real Clear Holdings LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Northbrook, IL$3.7M2025
Real Clear Holdings LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Northbrook, IL$3.1M2023
Real Clear Holdings LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Northbrook, IL$1.8M2024
Palladium Pictures LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Chevy Chase, MD$1.4M2024
Palladium Pictures LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Chevy Chase, MD$1.0M2025
Palladium Pictures LLC
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Chevy Chase, MD$575K2023
Donors Trust Inc
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Alexandria, VA$450K2024
Donors Trust Inc
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Alexandria, VA$350K2023
Twenty-first Century Journalism & News Foundation
GRANT TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Washington, DC$100K2022
Real Clear Media Fund
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Northbrook, IL$53K2025
Real Clear Media Fund
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Northbrook, IL$40K2024
Real Clear Media Fund
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Washington, DC$25K2023
Twenty-first Century Journalism & News Foundation
TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM WITH THE INTEREST OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
Washington, DC$25K2023

Real Clear Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2022$100K
2023$4.1M
2024$3.7M
2025$4.7M

How to apply for funding from Real Clear Foundation

Real Clear 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 Real Clear Foundation

Does Real Clear Foundation accept grant applications?
Real Clear 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 Real Clear Foundation fund?
Real Clear Foundation's grants focus on education. Recent recipients include Real Clear Holdings LLC, Real Clear Holdings LLC, Real Clear Holdings LLC. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does Real Clear Foundation give in grants?
Real Clear Foundation reported $4.7M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2025). Across all years in our data it has awarded $12.6M over 13 grants.
Where is Real Clear Foundation located?
Real Clear Foundation is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 522128875.
How can I find foundations similar to Real Clear Foundation?
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Foundations similar to Real Clear Foundation

Other Illinois grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

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