Builders Vision Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Builders Vision Foundation is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2024 it gave $96.8 million in 390 grants; the typical grant was $150,000 and the largest $4.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$96.8 million
- Number of grants390
- Typical grant$150,000
- Largest grant$4.0 million
- Assets$1.9 billion
- New grantees43%
Giving in 2024 was up from $81.7 million the year before.
43% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $81.7 million | 344 | $1.7 billion |
| 2024 | $96.8 million | 390 | $1.9 billion |
How to apply
Builders Vision Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What Builders Vision Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 35 states, the most to Illinois. It also paid $1.6 million in 10 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 151 | $32.3 million |
| California | 47 | $9.6 million |
| District of Columbia | 23 | $8.5 million |
| New York | 14 | $6.1 million |
| Minnesota | 18 | $5.5 million |
| Michigan | 16 | $4.3 million |
| Maine | 12 | $3.6 million |
| Virginia | 9 | $2.6 million |
| Arkansas | 3 | $2.4 million |
| Colorado | 5 | $2.2 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Community Foundation | to support a program focused on reducing, mitigating and preventing street violence | $4.0 million |
| CREO Family Office Syndicate | to support growth and sustainability planning | $3.0 million |
| ForeFront | to support a food resilience program in Chicago | $3.0 million |
| Rewiring America Inc | to support the decarbonization of low-income homes in Indiana | $2.0 million |
| Walton Family Foundation | to support its grantmaking program focused on advancing sustainability efforts in the Midwest | $1.9 million |
| Best Friends Animal Society | to support the operating costs of a pet resource center and shelter in Bentonville, Arkansas | $1.0 million |
| Common Market Philadelphia Inc | to support its work in the Great Lakes region | $1.0 million |
| Elevate | To provide general operating support | $1.0 million |
| Everyday People for Change Inc | to support an entrepreneurship project | $1.0 million |
| Little Village Environmental Justice Organization | to support organizations working in support of environmental and climate efforts in Chicago | $1.0 million |
| Little Village Environmental Justice Organization | To provide general operating support | $1.0 million |
| Maine Community Foundation Inc | to support its funding of research on blue carbon in Maine | $1.0 million |
| Meridian Institute | to support a research and education project focused on building a national soil data repository | $1.0 million |
| Mission Edge San Diego | to support clean energy development on Midwest tribal lands | $1.0 million |
| Proofing Station | to provide general operating support | $1.0 million |
| The Minneapolis Foundation | to support an environmental grantmaking coalition | $1.0 million |
| Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) | to support educational opportunities for beginning farmers and food production and procurement partners | $905,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Inc | to support seaweed and shellfish aquaculture programming in Maine | $900,000 |
| EcoWorks | to support educational programs related to building electrification and efficiency in Michigan | $864,000 |
| Florida Atlantic University Foundation Inc | to support community-based queen conch aquaculture development on Grand Bahama | $862,446 |
| The Minneapolis Foundation | to support long-term regional movement infrastructure building | $750,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | to support its work to increase regenerative farming in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin | $750,000 |
| ForeFront | to support a food assistance project in North Lawndale | $700,000 |
| President and Fellows of Harvard College | to support a state-based technical assistance program on food as medicine | $668,203 |
| American Heart Association Inc | to support research and education on healthy food and nutrition | $615,938 |
| Minneapolis St Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership | to support its work on sustainable protein supply chains in the Midwest | $600,000 |
| People for Community Recovery | To provide general operating support | $600,000 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | to support a fellowship program involving climate resilience and sustainability | $600,000 |
| Healthy Hoosiers Foundation Inc | to support educational efforts focused on food and medicine in Indiana | $583,881 |
| Public Media Institute | to support an artist-run spaces program in the Midwest | $560,000 |
| 548 Foundation Inc | to support implementation of a clean jobs workforce training program | $500,000 |
| Big NFP | to increase capacity-building and programmatic support for an energy program focused on accessibility and affordability | $500,000 |
| Common Market Philadelphia Inc | to support expansion of its programming to the Great Lakes region | $500,000 |
| Island Institute | to support innovation in the lobster and aquaculture industry in Maine and increase environmental resilience | $500,000 |
| Meridian Institute | to support a research project focused on evaluating soil inventory | $500,000 |
| Milken Institute | to support a strategic framework for collaboration on food as medicine initiatives | $500,000 |
| No Kid Hungry by Share Our Strength | to support a program to decrease food insecurity for children in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Human Services | $500,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | to support a grantmaking project focused on supporting coal-impacted communities and workers in the Midwest | $500,000 |
| The Minneapolis Foundation | to support a coalition seeking to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and other climate impacts | $500,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | to support increased programmatic capacity for blue carbon ecosystem restoration projects in Maine and new projects for innovations in fisheries | $500,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Lukas Walton
- Robert Smith
- Bruce McNamer
- Lisa Forbes
- Karishma Desouza
Questions people ask
Does Builders Vision Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Builders Vision Foundation give?
$96.8 million in tax year 2024, across 390 grants, with a typical grant of $150,000.
Who runs Builders Vision Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Lukas Walton (Director, Ceo, Chair), Robert Smith (Treasurer (Until 6/30/24)), Bruce McNamer (Director, President) and Lisa Forbes (Director, Secretary) among 5 officers and trustees.
What does Builders Vision Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation, education and food and hunger.