Follett Educational Foundation
The Follett Educational Foundation is a private non-operating foundation established in 1964 by the four Follett brothers—Dwight, Garth, Bob, and Laddie—to support the children of Follett Corporation employees. Based in McHenry, Illinois, the foundation has evolved from its original mission of employee family scholarships to include broader educational initiatives focused on higher education access and literacy programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$143K
-8.9% YoY
Grant Count
33
-29.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+29.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on making education accessible to deserving students through scholarships and literacy initiatives. Core focus areas include:
- Higher Education Scholarships: College and trade school scholarships for students demonstrating academic achievement and financial need
- Literacy Programs: Building home libraries for underprivileged students, with particular emphasis on Native American communities
- Community Partnerships: Supporting literacy initiatives through established programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on:
- Illinois: McHenry County area (headquarters location and legacy business hub)
- Chicago area: Oak Park River Forest High School and Proviso East High School
- Colorado: Colorado College
- Illinois (expanded): Aurora and Kane County cities for Dolly Parton Imagination Library partnership
- National: Navajo nation communities for Native American literacy initiatives
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
| Fiscal Year (July) | Total Assets | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $3,388,345 | $589,652 |
| 2014 | $3,686,475 | $756,353 |
| 2015 | $3,981,707 | $832,910 |
| 2016 | $4,144,367 | $802,510 |
| 2017 | $4,279,452 | $564,971 |
| 2018 | $4,439,167 | $575,619 |
| 2019 | $4,585,660 | $623,293 |
| 2020 | $4,668,223 | $1,003,461 |
| 2021 | $4,702,904 | $532,479 |
| 2022 | $5,125,877 | $698,926 |
| 2023 | $5,353,078 | $555,257 |
| 2024 | $5,438,077 | $361,302 |
Current Status (2024):
- Total Assets: $5.44 million
- Revenue: $257,960
- Expenses: $172,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Funding Sources
The foundation's endowment has grown through:
- Family donations
- Team member donations
- Golf outing fundraisers
- Corporate match from Follett Corporation (historical)
- Contributions from donors such as the Nancy Waichler family
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
230 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation ($42,000), X Hernandez ($5,000), C Hernadez Mancilla ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| K Aponte Tucson, AZ | Education Grant | $3,250 |
| L Augustine Worcester, MA | Education Grant | $775 |
| C Barcy Chicago, IL | Education Grant | $2,750 |
| A Bargiel Whitewater, WI | Education Grant | $3,000 |
| K Billups Buffalo, NY | Education Grant | $3,750 |
| G Calderone Fairfield, CT | Education Grant | $2,385 |
| D Carlson Mankato, MN | Education Grant | $2,500 |
| D Cobb Jacksonville, FL | Education Grant | $2,000 |
| M Demik Kankakee, IL | Education Grant | $2,323 |
| G Eckl Wellesley, MA | Education Grant | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Britten Follett: President of the Follett Educational Foundation; fifth-generation family member of Follett Corporation
- Keith A. O'Hara: Vice President
- Moira Johnson: Contact for the foundation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britten Follett | Pres/Trustee | 2 | — |
| Keith O'Hara | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Christopher Traut | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kevin Gacek | Treasurer | 8 | — |
| Matthew Follett | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Frank Gentile | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kathy Bussman | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Brendan Thornton | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ramona Burns | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jean Follett Thompson | Selection Committee Chair | 1 | — |
| Monica Bussman | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sam Dempsey | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Omar Granberry | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Benjamin Traut | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Initiatives:**
Established ten annual full-tuition scholarships in partnership with McHenry County College Foundation
Follett Educational Foundation Establishes Full-Tuition Scholarships | McHenryAllocated several hundred thousand dollars to expand the Four Brothers Scholarship Program to new institutions
Launched partnership with Dolly Parton Imagination Library to deliver books to every baby born in Aurora, Illinois and surrounding Kane County communities
Follett Educational Foundation Commits $100,000 to support Dolly Parton's**Organizational Evolution:**
Following the divestment of Follett Corporation businesses, the foundation has shifted focus to new scholarship programs benefiting students at Oak Park High School and Proviso East High School in the Chicago area, while maintaining connections to the foundation's legacy through its literacy initiatives and expanded community partnerships.
Follett Educational Foundation Establishes Full-Tuition Scholarships | McHenryContact Information
- Address: 1340 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry, IL 60050-7047
- Phone: 708-884-3047 or 708-884-3302
- Email: fef@follettcontent.com
- Website: www.folletteducationalfoundation.org
- EIN: 36-6104348
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), granted November 1964
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Follett Educational Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on making education accessible to deserving students through scholarships and literacy initiatives. Core focus areas include: • **Higher Education Scholarships**: College and trade school scholarships for students demonstrating academic achievement and financial need • **Literacy Programs**: Building home libraries for underprivileged students, with particular emphasis on Native American communities • **Community Partnerships**: Supporting literacy initi…
How do I apply for a grant from Follett Educational Foundation?
**Four Brothers Scholarship Program** • Named after the four founding brothers • Distributed across multiple institutions and high schools • Recipients selected based on academic achievement and financial need • Approximately 150 students funded annually **Specific Scholarship Initiatives:** • **Annual Scholarship**: $300,000 distributed to approximately 150 students of Follett associates each year • **Take the First Step Scholarship**: Memorial scholarship for incoming college freshmen (named …
Where does Follett Educational Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on: • **Illinois**: McHenry County area (headquarters location and legacy business hub) • **Chicago area**: Oak Park River Forest High School and Proviso East High School • **Colorado**: Colorado College • **Illinois (expanded)**: Aurora and Kane County cities for Dolly Parton Imagination Library partnership • **National**: Navajo nation communities for Native American literacy initiatives
What size grants does Follett Educational Foundation award?
In 2024, Follett Educational Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $143K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Follett Educational Foundation's EIN?
Follett Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6104348. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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