Hamill Family Foundation
The Hamill Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1963 by the Hamill family. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the foundation operates as a family foundation with over 60 years of philanthropic activity. The foundation is currently operated by Jonathan C. Hamill and his sisters, Elizabeth Bramsen and Nancy Hamill Winter, children of Joan and Corwith "Corky" Hamill.
Key facts about Hamill Family Foundation
- EIN
- 36-6096808
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,188,807
- Grants made (2024)
- 132
- Average grant
- $380,218
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (18 of 100, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not maintain a website. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hamill Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Hamill Family Foundation's 132 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (32 grants), Washington, DC (12 grants), Barrington, IL (11 grants) and Elizabeth, IL (4 grants). 71% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Transfer of Cash to Successor Private Foundation" (9 grants).
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.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Hamill Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Hamill Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$50.2M
+557.8% YoY
Grant Count
132
-0.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$380K
+562.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for environmental conservation and animal welfare, with additional support for education, the arts, and health and human services.
The foundation honors the legacy of Corwith "Corky" Hamill, who served as President of the Chicago Zoological Society from 1975-1981, and Joan Birnie Hamill, who was instrumental in creating the Illinois Prairie Path.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$25,000 to $1.5 million
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Hamill Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives primarily in Illinois, with particular focus on the Chicago area. The foundation also makes select grants to organizations outside Illinois, such as the Teton Regional Land Trust (Wyoming/Idaho).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 132 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $43,947,391
- Annual giving: $7,630,230
- Total revenue: $4,941,411
- Total expenses: $7,746,017
As of 2024:
- Revenue: $4.65 million
- Expenses: $50.3 million
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since February 1965 (EIN: 36-6096808)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
688 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Hamill Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,968), The Corwith Fund - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,941), Carwythen Charitable Trust - NT 03-18125 ($10,862,038).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jonathan C. Hamill – Director, President, Chairman
- Elizabeth C. Bramsen – Director, Vice President, Secretary
- Nancy CH Winter – Director, Vice President, Treasurer
Jonathan C. Hamill is a veteran Chicago investor and co-founder of Segall Bryant & Hamill, a Chicago-based investment firm established in 1994.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Hamill | Director, Pres, Chrmn | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth C Bramsen | Director, VP, Sec | 1 | — |
| Nancy CH Winter | Director, VP, Treas | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made recent grants to organizations including Amazing Place, which received a $3 million gift for a new campus in Katy. The foundation has also participated in funding initiatives such as Partners for Places, awarding grants to multiple communities for sustainability funding.
Hamill Family Foundation - Grant Information & Application ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hamill Family Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for environmental conservation and animal welfare, with additional support for education, the arts, and health and human services. The foundation honors the legacy of Corwith "Corky" Hamill, who served as President of the Chicago Zoological Society from 1975-1981, and Joan Birnie Hamill, who was instrumental in creating the Illinois Prairie Path.
How do I apply for a grant from Hamill Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not maintain a website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Hamill Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation gives primarily in Illinois, with particular focus on the Chicago area. The foundation also makes select grants to organizations outside Illinois, such as the Teton Regional Land Trust (Wyoming/Idaho).
What size grants does Hamill Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Hamill Family Foundation awarded 132 grants totaling $50.2M — an average of about $380K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.