Forest Park Foundation
Forest Park Foundation is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Peoria Heights, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $3.3M.
Forest Park Foundation at a glance
In short: Forest Park Foundation gave $3.3M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $3.3M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,315,606
- +940.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,315,606
- +3022.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,315,606
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Forest Park Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park ($3.3M).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Forest Park Foundation gives
- Giving grew 125825% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2021) to $3.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park Hanna City, IL | Endowment, Capitalprojects and Maintenance at Park | $3,315,606 |
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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 | — | $87,968 | $3,401,376 | $3,315,606 | 1 | $3,338,454 | — | $140,363 |
| 2023 | $2,344,980 | $168,469 | $507,830 | $318,560 | 3 | $401,309 | $61,948 | $139,502 |
| 2022 | $2,574,683 | $838,889 | $1,982,478 | $1,790,199 | 2 | $1,884,581 | $741,021 | $187,418 |
| 2021 | $3,339,648 | $276,758 | $186,904 | $2,633 | 1 | — | $184,068 | $188,724 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Forest Park Foundation reported a distributable amount of $140K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Forest Park Foundation is led by Ladd Rutherford, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ladd Rutherford
President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Rutherford
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anne Fox
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jan Rutherford
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rex Linder
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Quine
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patti Bash
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Tomlin
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$50K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Suzanne Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Soldwedel Tomlin
Assistant Secretary
Director → Assistant Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $25K, to James Tomlin (VP/Treasurer).
Frequently asked questions about Forest Park Foundation
How much does Forest Park Foundation give each year?
Forest Park Foundation gave $3.3M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $319K across 3 grants.
What is Forest Park Foundation?
Forest Park Foundation is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Peoria Heights, IL.
Where does Forest Park Foundation operate?
Forest Park Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois.
How much is Forest Park Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Forest Park Foundation reported a distributable amount of $140K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Forest Park Foundation's EIN?
Forest Park Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-0650006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Forest Park Foundation funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Forest Park Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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