Bill Nygren Foundation
The Bill Nygren Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations in Michigan, Illinois, and California, including community, child development, violence prevention, and other organizations.
Bill Nygren Foundation at a glance
In short: Bill Nygren Foundation gave $1.3M across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $41K), mostly in Michigan. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,340,750
- +11.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- -13.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $40,629
- +28.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $10,921,565
- -5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (5 of 33, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Bill Nygren Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 111 S Wacker Dr Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606-4319
Phone: (312) 646-3600
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bill Nygren Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Berrien Community Foundation ($205K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 161 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Michigan received 65% of grant dollars, Illinois 33%, and California 2%. Connecticut is listed at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bill Nygren Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 33 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $897K (2020) to $1.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Berrien Community Foundation St Joseph, MI | Unrestricted | $205,000 |
| Strides for Peace Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $135,000 |
| Tri-County Council for Child Development Inc Paw Paw, MI | Unrestricted | $135,000 |
| Benton Harbor Community Development Corp Benton Harbor, MI | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| SW Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation St Joseph, MI | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| United Way of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Emerge Innovation Hub Benton Harbor, MI | Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Friends of Berrien County Trails New Buffalo, MI | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Harbor County Mission Sawyer, MI | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,921,565 | $1,678,938 | $1,393,391 | $1,340,750 | 33 | $1,366,676 | $625,877 | $1,464,943 |
| 2023 | $11,549,073 | $1,692,387 | $1,247,803 | $1,205,450 | 38 | $1,225,203 | $781,923 | $1,182,467 |
| 2022 | $11,642,503 | $1,271,123 | $1,119,125 | $1,103,820 | 31 | $1,103,820 | $399,578 | $1,083,094 |
| 2021 | $11,490,505 | $1,648,739 | $1,117,351 | $1,100,000 | 29 | $1,100,000 | $775,148 | $1,133,776 |
| 2020 | $10,959,117 | $908,794 | $911,763 | $896,670 | 30 | — | $40,982 | $763,390 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bill Nygren Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grantees describe a range of community-focused work: Berrien Community Foundation says it connects people who care with causes and organizations that strengthen communities; Tri-County Council for Child Development says it works toward a future where children, families, and communities thrive; and Strides for Peace says it aims to increase the collective impact of organizations working to end gun violence and build a stronger Chicago.
Other 2024 grantees describe work in housing and neighborhood revitalization, support for entrepreneurs in underresourced communities, and construction and maintenance of trails. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $1,340,750 through 33 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $205,000, with a median of $17,500. The largest grants included $205,000 to Berrien Community Foundation, $135,000 each to Strides for Peace and Tri-County Council for Child Development, and $100,000 each to Benton Harbor Community Development Corp, SW Michigan Regional Chamber Foundation, and United Way of Chicago. The listed grants were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William C. Nygren as president, director, and treasurer; Thomas Win Murray, Mark Nygren, and Michelle Ochoa as directors.
Bill Nygren Foundation is led by William C. Nygren, President, Director & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William C. Nygren
President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Win Murray
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Nygren
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Ochoa
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kevin Grant (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Bill Nygren Foundation
How much does Bill Nygren Foundation give each year?
Bill Nygren Foundation gave $1.3M across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 38 grants.
What is Bill Nygren Foundation's typical grant size?
Bill Nygren Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $40,629, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bill Nygren Foundation that year got $43K on average.
Where does Bill Nygren Foundation give grants?
Bill Nygren Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (13 grants), Benton Harbor, MI (8 grants) and St Joseph, MI (3 grants).
Does Bill Nygren Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Bill Nygren Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bill Nygren Foundation's largest grantees?
Bill Nygren Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Berrien Community Foundation ($205,000), Strides for Peace ($135,000) and Tri-County Council for Child Development Inc ($135,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Bill Nygren Foundation?
Bill Nygren Foundation reported $10.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Bill Nygren Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bill Nygren Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bill Nygren Foundation's EIN?
Bill Nygren Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3987600. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Bill Nygren Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bill Nygren Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bill-nygren-foundation-morg_d6740325e555412fa268f9c7f6b1bb72
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363987600_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bill Nygren Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bill-nygren-foundation-morg_d6740325e555412fa268f9c7f6b1bb72},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Bill Nygren Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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