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Grant funders / Illinois / The Bersted Foundation

The Bersted Foundation

Chicago, Illinois  ·  EIN 366493609  ·  Private foundation

Based in Chicago, Illinois, The Bersted Foundation has awarded $4.4M across 254 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to See Attached. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$985K
Annual giving (FY2020)
$22.9M
Total assets
254
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Bersted Foundation funds

The Bersted Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, domestic violence, education, financial empowerment, food & agriculture, and related causes.

Adult EducationDomestic ViolenceEducationFinancial EmpowermentFood & AgricultureHealth CareHousing & HomelessnessLibraries & LiteracyYouth Development

Populations it has supported include families, youth pop.

familiesyouth pop

Grant history

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

RecipientLocationGrantYear
See Attached
SEE ATTACHED
See Attached, IL$235K2020
Family Shelter Service Inc
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Wheaton, IL$45K2023
The Morton Arboretum
EVOLVING YOUTH SCIENCE
Lisle, IL$35K2023
Suicide Prevention
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Batavia, IL$30K2023
Wayside Cross Ministries
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Aurora, IL$30K2023
Northeast Dupage Family & Youth
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Addison, IL$30K2020
Suicide Prevention
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Batavia, IL$30K2024
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanit
EDUCATIONAL INTERN PROGRAM
Montgomery, IL$30K2022
Dupage Pads Inc
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Wheaton, IL$30K2022
Wayside Cross Ministries
NEW LIFE CORRECTIONS
Aurora, IL$30K2022
Suicide Prevention
GRANT TO SUPPORT THE
Batavia, IL$28K2020
Ascension Illinois Foundation
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Bolingbrook, IL$27K2024
Wayside Cross Ministries
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Aurora, IL$25K2024
Greater Elgin Family Care Center
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Elgin, IL$25K2024
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
Aurora, IL$25K2024

The Bersted Foundation giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:

2020$985K
2022$1.2M
2023$1.1M
2024$1.1M

How to apply for funding from The Bersted Foundation

The Bersted 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 The Bersted Foundation

Does The Bersted Foundation accept grant applications?
The Bersted 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 The Bersted Foundation fund?
The Bersted Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include See Attached, Family Shelter Service Inc, The Morton Arboretum. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Bersted Foundation give in grants?
The Bersted Foundation reported $985K in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $4.4M over 254 grants.
Where is The Bersted Foundation located?
The Bersted Foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 366493609.
How can I find foundations similar to The Bersted Foundation?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Bersted Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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Foundations similar to The Bersted Foundation

Other Illinois grantmakers with overlapping priorities:

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