Dillon Foundation
The Dillon Foundation is a private foundation based in Sterling, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in areas including community improvement, arts and culture, education, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Illinois recipients.
Dillon Foundation at a glance
In short: Dillon Foundation gave $3.6M across 134 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Illinois. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,580,339
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 134
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,719
- +16.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $79,325,707
- +8.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (6 of 134, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dillon Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says to submit a letter stating the purpose of the grant and include a copy of the exemption letter. It lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Peter Dillon
Mailing address: PO Box 537, Sterling, IL 61081
Phone: (815) 626-9000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dillon Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sterling Park District ($868K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
699 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 642 grants of 699 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. New York, North Carolina, Colorado, and Minnesota each accounted for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 134 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dillon Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 134 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 96% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2022) to $3.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 134 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Park District Sterling, IL | To Support Community Improvement | $867,500 |
| Sterling Riverfront Foundation Sterling, IL | To Support Community Improvement/Dev | $382,500 |
| Woodlawn Arts Academy Sterling, IL | To Support Arts, Culture, Humanities | $230,347 |
| Sterling Park District - Museum Sterling, IL | To Support Arts, Culture, Humanities | $196,472 |
| United Way of Whiteside County Sterling, IL | To Support Human Service Activities | $192,750 |
| Community Unit School District 5 Sterling, IL | In Support of Education/Instruction | $159,259 |
| Sterling Public Library Sterling, IL | To Support Arts, Culture, Humanities | $153,000 |
| Greater Sterling Development Corp Sterling, IL | To Support Community Improvement | $144,566 |
| Whiteside Area Career Center Sterling, IL | To Support Education/Instruction | $84,000 |
| Sauk Valley Community College Dixon, IL | To Support Education/Instruction | $78,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Dillon Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,325,707 | $6,517,882 | $4,313,836 | $3,580,339 | 134 | $3,658,919 | $5,914,410 | $3,647,274 |
| 2024 | $73,299,822 | $4,429,596 | $4,018,642 | $3,392,896 | 148 | $3,467,735 | $3,916,924 | $3,506,660 |
| 2023 | $63,304,571 | $2,902,926 | $3,458,507 | $2,907,295 | 136 | $2,970,938 | $2,444,357 | $3,190,264 |
| 2022 | $61,156,138 | $2,730,180 | $3,310,232 | $2,691,383 | 141 | $2,762,968 | $2,221,323 | $3,171,758 |
| 2021 | $71,579,252 | $6,893,513 | $3,730,156 | $3,054,422 | 140 | — | $6,378,813 | $3,253,625 |
| 2020 | $58,588,884 | $1,184,605 | $3,735,027 | $3,114,552 | 139 | — | $1,170,208 | $2,946,094 |
| 2019 | $63,472,583 | $3,057,705 | $4,019,089 | $3,226,297 | 141 | — | $2,379,130 | $3,072,064 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dillon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for community improvement, arts and culture, education and instruction, and human services. Grantees’ own missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it has supported: Woodlawn Arts Academy says it provides artistic opportunities to the Sauk Valley community, while Sterling Schools Foundation says it funds educational projects for Sterling’s schools. United Way of Whiteside County describes its mission as uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 134 grants totaling $3,580,339. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $867,500, with a median of $6,000. Its largest grants included $867,500 to Sterling Park District for community improvement, $382,500 to Sterling Riverfront Foundation for community improvement and development, and $230,347 to Woodlawn Arts Academy for arts, culture, and humanities.
Other notable 2025 grants included $196,472 to Sterling Park District Museum, $192,750 to United Way of Whiteside County, $159,259 to Community Unit School District 5, and $153,000 to Sterling Public Library. The grantee organizations describe their work in their own terms: Sterling Park District Museum says it provides residents with a museum of historical items of value to the community and surrounding area; Rock River Hospice and Home says it provides care and support to people experiencing serious illness, death, and grief; and Timber Lake Playhouse says it presents theater works to entertain and inspire the regional community.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter W. Dillon as president; Patrick W. Dillon as vice president; Gale D. Inglee as assistant treasurer; James Boesen as assistant secretary; John Van Osdol as treasurer; Christine Trizulny, Michael Dillon, Brooke Miller, and John Gvoz djak as directors; and Timothy Lexvold as secretary.
Dillon Foundation is led by Peter W. Dillon, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter W. Dillon
President
On filings since 2019
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Trizulny
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Gvozdjak
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Dillon
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd Inglee
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Miller
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Molly McGee
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen Wilkinson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gale D. Inglee
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Boesen
Assistant Secretary
Secretary → Assistant Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Van Osdol
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick W. Dillon
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Lexvold
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Jennifer Wehrstein (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Mark Inglee (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Kenneth Inglee (2023) — Director
- Former: Suzi Dillon (2023) — Director
- Former: Deborah Haglund (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Douglas Inglee (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Margo Dillon (2019–2021) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Dillon Foundation
How much does Dillon Foundation give each year?
Dillon Foundation gave $3.6M across 134 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 148 grants.
What is Dillon Foundation's typical grant size?
Dillon Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,000, and its average grant was $26,719, across 134 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dillon Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Dillon Foundation give grants?
Dillon Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sterling, IL (46 grants), Rock Falls, IL (17 grants), Rockford, IL (6 grants) and Dixon, IL (4 grants).
Does Dillon Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of Dillon Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 134) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "To Support Arts, Culture, Humanities" (20 grants), "To Support Education/Instruction" (18 grants) and "In Support of Human Service" (14 grants).
Who are Dillon Foundation's largest grantees?
Dillon Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sterling Park District ($867,500), Sterling Riverfront Foundation ($382,500) and Woodlawn Arts Academy ($230,347), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dillon Foundation?
Dillon Foundation reported $79.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dillon Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for community improvement, arts and culture, education and instruction, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dillon Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to submit a letter stating the purpose of the grant and include a copy of the exemption letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dillon Foundation's EIN?
Dillon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6059349. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dillon Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dillon Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dillon-foundation-morg_08526a76f6a247038994cdb866d32a1c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366059349_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dillon Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dillon-foundation-morg_08526a76f6a247038994cdb866d32a1c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Dillon 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.
Dillon Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?