Hamill Family Foundation
The Hamill Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation has terminated or is winding down and appears to have stopped grantmaking.
Hamill Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Hamill Family Foundation gave $50.2M across 132 grants in 2024 (avg $380K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,188,807
- +557.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 132
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $380,218
- +562.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (18 of 100, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hamill Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its 2024 filing is marked as a final return, so this policy should not be treated as a current application opportunity.
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Briar Hall Llc 333 West Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 676-0300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hamill Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hamill Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 ($10.9M). Together the top 10 received $44.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
688 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 564 grants of 688 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 1% to Massachusetts, and 1% to Idaho. Shares for Wisconsin and Washington, DC, were each reported as 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 132 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Hamill Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 100 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2.4M; repeat grants $96K. How we count
Medians: $429K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 661% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 408% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $6.6M (2021) to $50.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 132 grants totaling $50.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamill Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(See Attachment D) | $10,862,968 |
| The Corwith Fund - NT 03-18125 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(see Attachment A) | $10,862,941 |
| Carwythen Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(See Attachment E) | $10,862,038 |
| Openlands Chicago, IL | Nature for AllEndowment | $2,400,000 |
| The Corwith Fund - NT 03-03604 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(see Attachment B) | $1,986,052 |
| Hamill Charitable Trust - NT 03-03604 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(See Attachment C) | $1,986,052 |
| Carwythen Charitable Trust - NT 03-03604 Chicago, IL | Transfer of Assets to Successor Private Foundation(See Attachment F) | $1,986,052 |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center Chicago, IL | Conservationof Natural Resourcesand Habitat Protection | $1,050,000 |
| The Conservation Foundation Naperville, IL | Unrestricted | $1,000,000 |
| Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL | Hamill Family FoundationSecond CenturyChallenge | $668,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hamill Family 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $4,650,883 | $50,276,291 | $50,188,807 | 132 | $7,860,160 | $4,179,127 | $1,924,460 |
| 2023 | $43,947,391 | $4,941,411 | $7,746,017 | $7,630,230 | 133 | $7,631,788 | $2,052,862 | $1,978,037 |
| 2022 | $43,025,937 | $2,434,190 | $11,641,820 | $11,296,937 | 128 | $11,302,388 | $1,103,625 | $2,328,013 |
| 2021 | $62,032,956 | $10,974,220 | $6,920,909 | $6,591,096 | 139 | $6,596,160 | $9,811,021 | $2,711,863 |
| 2020 | $55,305,054 | $6,054,241 | $9,518,825 | $9,190,300 | 156 | — | $4,906,875 | $2,443,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hamill Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included $2.4 million to Openlands, whose mission is to protect natural and open spaces in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region, and $1 million to The Conservation Foundation, which says it works to preserve and restore natural areas, protect rivers and watersheds, and promote environmental stewardship. The foundation also gave to the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, which describes its work as preserving and stewarding land and water for people and wildlife, and to the Natural Land Institute, whose mission is to create a lasting legacy of natural land in northern Illinois.
Other 2024 recipients included the Teton Regional Land Trust, which says it conserves working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and scenic open spaces in eastern Idaho; the Field Museum of Natural History, which describes itself as an educational institution focused on relationships in nature and among cultures; and the Chicago Zoological Society, whose mission is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 132 grants totaling $50,188,807. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $10,862,968, with a median of $5,000. The largest reported grants included transfers of approximately $10.86 million each to Hamill Charitable Trust, The Corwith Fund, and Carwythen Charitable Trust, all for transfer of assets to successor private foundations. Among other grants, Openlands received $2.4 million for Nature for All Endowment; the Environmental Law & Policy Center received $1.05 million for conservation of natural resources and habitat protection; and The Conservation Foundation received $1 million unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jonathan Hamill as Director, President, and Chairman; Elizabeth C Bramsen as Director, Vice President, and Secretary; and Nancy CH Winter as Director, Vice President, and Treasurer.
Hamill Family Foundation is led by Jonathan Hamill, Director, President & Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jonathan Hamill
Director, President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth C Bramsen
Director, Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy CH Winter
Director, Vice President & Treasurer
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 Hamill Family Foundation
How much does Hamill Family Foundation give each year?
Hamill Family Foundation gave $50.2M across 132 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.6M across 133 grants.
What is Hamill Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Hamill Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $380,218, across 132 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hamill Family Foundation that year got $2.4M on average.
Where does Hamill Family Foundation give grants?
Hamill Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (32 grants), Washington, DC (12 grants), Barrington, IL (11 grants) and Elizabeth, IL (4 grants).
Does Hamill Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 71% of Hamill Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (94 of 132) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Transfer of Cash to Successor Private Foundation" (9 grants).
Who are Hamill Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Hamill Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hamill Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,968), The Corwith Fund - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,941) and Carwythen Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,038), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does Hamill Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hamill Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 ↑
How much is Hamill Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hamill Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hamill Family Foundation's EIN?
Hamill Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6096808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Hamill Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hamill Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hamill Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hamill-family-foundation-morg_a5d020c5a9b94cba8f6d96f79a9b64c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366096808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hamill Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hamill-family-foundation-morg_a5d020c5a9b94cba8f6d96f79a9b64c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Hamill Family 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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