Jon Denzer Bear Hug Foundation
Official website for Jon’s Bear Hug Foundation describing its mission to support young adults (scholarships, apprenticeship assistance, and an epilepsy safety net). The site lists recent 2024–2026 activity, program pages, and contact details. It matches the EIN (84-4506345) used in foundation directories.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An individual young adult or a small training/apprenticeship applicant seeking a modest scholarship or epilepsy-related emergency support, typically requesting under $5,000 and able to apply via the foundation’s online form and meet the semester deadline.
Good Fit
- • Request is for a vocational, trades, healthcare, apprenticeship, or CDL training scholarship
- • Applicant is a young adult on a non-college vocational path (high-school graduate or on a path to graduate)
- • Request is for a modest amount (commonly $200–$5,000)
- • Ability to apply through the online form and meet the four-week pre-semester deadline
- • Need for individual medical or epilepsy-related safety-net assistance
- • Demonstrable connection to Illinois improves fit, though out-of-state applicants have been funded
Geography
The majority of dollars (about 75%) went to Illinois recipients, but grants in the latest year reached recipients in nine states; the footprint is regional with occasional out-of-state awards.
Recipient Variety
In the latest observed year the foundation funded 64 distinct recipients (64 grants), mostly individual scholarships and apprenticeship awards, and portfolio turnover was high with many new recipients, indicating broad recipient variety for its size.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of openness includes a public online application, posted instructions and a named contact, and behavioral evidence shows 100% new recipients in 2024, so unfamiliar applicants appear likely to be able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
