Foundation for Individual Liberty
The Foundation for Individual Liberty is a private foundation located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1994 as UM Holdings Foundation, it is a New Jersey private nongovernmental nonprofit organization that supports individual rights, limited government, and free markets.
Foundation for Individual Liberty at a glance
In short: Foundation for Individual Liberty gave $349K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), top state Pennsylvania. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $348,950
- +2.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +21.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,172
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,449,455
- +2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (8 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (41% 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 Foundation for Individual Liberty
- 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: 502 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (856) 354-2200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foundation for Individual Liberty funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Objectivist Center Ltd DBA the Atlas Society ($50K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 136 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports, to a lesser extent, groups that benefit the Delaware Valley community. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (41%), Washington, DC (33%), Virginia (16%), Illinois (6%), and California (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Foundation for Individual Liberty open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 23 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 $340K (2023) to $498K (2020). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $349K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Objectivist Center Ltd DBA the Atlas Society Washington, DC | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| The Barnes Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| Museum of the American Revolution Philadelphia, PA | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $50,000 |
| The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty Washington, DC | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| Freedomworks Foundation Washington, DC | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| Independent Centerelection CFO Alexandria, VA | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| Founding Forward Philadelphia, VA | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $15,000 |
| Cato Institute Washington, DC | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Inc Philadelphia, PA | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
| The Heartland Institute Arlington Heights, IL | Assistance for Charitable Purposes | $10,000 |
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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 | $8,449,455 | $413,028 | $403,966 | $348,950 | 23 | $374,969 | $354,796 | $413,668 |
| 2023 | $8,281,023 | $-484,997 | $397,840 | $340,271 | 19 | $391,339 | $413,767 | $393,440 |
| 2022 | $7,977,127 | $-515,060 | $513,219 | $428,000 | 27 | $497,183 | $210,876 | $423,606 |
| 2021 | $9,503,435 | $-337,449 | $488,702 | $439,000 | 33 | $476,590 | $1,100,045 | $447,484 |
| 2020 | $8,365,297 | $-1,717,556 | $525,698 | $497,800 | 34 | — | $436,750 | $371,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation for Individual Liberty reported a distributable amount of $414K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to support individual rights—including the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness—limited government, and free markets. It describes its aim as supporting a society built on capitalism, with government serving to protect individual rights and defend American freedom.
Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions address these themes. For example, the Cato Institute says it works to keep the ideas and moral case for liberty alive and move public policy toward individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. FreedomWorks Foundation describes its mission as educating and empowering Americans with the principles of individual liberty, small government, and free markets. The Institute for Justice says it uses strategic litigation, training, communication, activism, and research to advance individual liberties.
The foundation also supported cultural and historical organizations. The Barnes Foundation describes its mission as promoting education and appreciation of fine arts and horticulture and maintaining an art gallery. The Museum of the American Revolution says it shares stories about the people and events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants totaling $348,950. Grants ranged from $900 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants were $50,000 each to the Atlas Society, the Barnes Foundation, and the Museum of the American Revolution. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, FreedomWorks Foundation, and Independent CenterElection CFO; and $10,000 each to the Cato Institute, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Heartland Institute, Institute for Justice, and Reason Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists these officers and trustees: John Aglialoro, Co-Chairman/Trustee; Joan Carter, Co-Chairman/Secretary/Trustee; Arthur W. Hicks Jr., President/Treasurer/Trustee; James Carll, Assistant Secretary/Trustee; Liesel Henderson, Trustee; Mark Henderson, Trustee; Jordan Mersky, Trustee; and Justin Aglialoro, Trustee.
Foundation for Individual Liberty is led by Arthur W. Hicks Jr., President, Treasurer & Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Arthur W. Hicks Jr.
President, Treasurer & Trustee
V. President, Treasurer & Trustee → President, Treasurer & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Carter
Co-Chairman, Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Aglialoro
Co-Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Carll
Assistant Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Mersky
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Aglialoro
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liesel Henderson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Henderson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Foundation for Individual Liberty
How much does Foundation for Individual Liberty give each year?
Foundation for Individual Liberty gave $349K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $340K across 19 grants.
What is Foundation for Individual Liberty's typical grant size?
Foundation for Individual Liberty's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,172, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Foundation for Individual Liberty that year got $8K on average.
Where does Foundation for Individual Liberty give grants?
Foundation for Individual Liberty's top state is Pennsylvania, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (33%) and Virginia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (6 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and Arlington Heights, IL (2 grants).
Who are Foundation for Individual Liberty's largest grantees?
Foundation for Individual Liberty's largest 2024 grantees include The Objectivist Center Ltd DBA the Atlas Society ($50,000), The Barnes Foundation ($50,000) and Museum of the American Revolution ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for Individual Liberty?
Foundation for Individual Liberty reported $8.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $375K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $414K (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 Foundation for Individual Liberty fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support individual rights—including the rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness—limited government, and free markets. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Individual Liberty?
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 Foundation for Individual Liberty's EIN?
Foundation for Individual Liberty's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1599160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Foundation for Individual Liberty 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Individual Liberty's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Foundation for Individual Liberty funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-individual-liberty-morg_9f674f0a89aa4670b48275c8efbd8d0d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521599160_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foundation for Individual Liberty funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-individual-liberty-morg_9f674f0a89aa4670b48275c8efbd8d0d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Foundation for Individual Liberty'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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