The Chicago Bar Foundation
Chicago, Illinois · EIN 366109584 · Private foundation
The Chicago Bar Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $2.1M in grants paid and $2.5M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 228 individual grants from this funder — $34.2M awarded across 2018–2025 — including its support for economic development. Below is its full funding profile.
What The Chicago Bar Foundation funds
The Chicago Bar Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on economic development, higher education, housing & homelessness, k-12 education, legal aid.
Populations it has supported include homeless population.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Chicago Bar Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpls GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT, & PROJECT SUPPORT | Chicago, IL | $2.2M | 2025 |
| Carpls GENERAL OPERATING AND PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT PROJECT/GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.9M | 2024 |
| Legal Aid Chicago GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT, & PROJECT SUPPORT | Chicago, IL | $1.5M | 2025 |
| Carpls GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.5M | 2022 |
| Carpls GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.4M | 2023 |
| Center for Conflict Resolution GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT, & PROJECT SUPPORT | Chicago, IL | $1.3M | 2025 |
| Center for Conflict Resolution GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.1M | 2023 |
| Center for Conflict Resolution PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT PROJECT/GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.1M | 2024 |
| Law Center for Better Housing GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.1M | 2025 |
| Legal Aid Chicago GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $1.1M | 2023 |
| Legal Aid Chicago GOVERNMENT PROJECT/GRANT | Chicago, IL | $965K | 2024 |
| Center for Conflict Resolution GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $951K | 2022 |
| Law Center for Better Housing GOVERNMENT PROJECTS/GRANTS | Chicago, IL | $820K | 2024 |
| Legal Aid Chicago GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, PROJECT SUPPORT & GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT | Chicago, IL | $782K | 2022 |
| Chicago Volunteer Legal Services GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, GOVERNMENT/PROJECT GRANT, & PROJECT SUPPORT | Chicago, IL | $770K | 2025 |
The Chicago Bar Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Chicago Bar Foundation
The Chicago Bar 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. You can review the foundation directly at chicagobarfoundation.org.
Is The Chicago Bar Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Chicago Bar Foundation
- Does The Chicago Bar Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Chicago Bar 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 Chicago Bar Foundation fund?
- The Chicago Bar Foundation's grants focus on economic development. Recent recipients include Carpls, Carpls, Legal Aid Chicago. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Chicago Bar Foundation give in grants?
- The Chicago Bar Foundation reported $2.1M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2019). Across all years in our data it has awarded $34.2M over 228 grants.
- Where is The Chicago Bar Foundation located?
- The Chicago Bar Foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 366109584.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Chicago Bar Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Chicago Bar 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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