Hamilton Charitable Trust
Hamilton Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Marissa, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants to local organizations including a ministry, historical society, fire protection district, hospital, library, scouting groups, a church, a school district, and a family-support organization.
Hamilton Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Hamilton Charitable Trust gave $34K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,631
- +8.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,363
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $1,173,108
- +10.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (4 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hamilton Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The trust accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing states that requests should be made by letter to Cathy L Norton. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Cathy L Norton
Mailing address: 11167 Norton Road, Sparta, IL 62286
Phone: (618) 587-7091
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hamilton Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Christ Care Ministry ($7K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 42 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in the 2025 filing went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Hamilton Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 10 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2024) to $36K (2021). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $34K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Christ Care Ministry Marissa, IL | General | $6,500 |
| Marissa Historical and Geneological Society Marissa, IL | General | $5,381 |
| Marissa Area Fire Protection District Marissa, IL | General | $5,000 |
| Sparta Community Hosiptal Sparta, IL | General | $5,000 |
| Marissa Area Public Library District Marissa, IL | General | $4,000 |
| Marrisa Cub Scout Pack 8327 Marissa, IL | General | $4,000 |
| Marissa Girl Scout Troup No 438 Marissa, IL | General | $1,500 |
| Marrissa 1ST Baptist Church Marissa, IL | General | $1,000 |
| Marissa Community Unit School District # 40 Marissa, IL | General | $750 |
| Family Treehousetwigs Marissa, IL | General | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,173,108 | $90,816 | $57,672 | $33,631 | 10 | $51,880 | $86,316 | $55,077 |
| 2024 | $1,062,446 | $68,655 | $54,060 | $30,998 | 8 | $49,181 | $64,155 | $51,629 |
| 2023 | $1,014,674 | $40,400 | $56,948 | $34,400 | 9 | $52,303 | $35,900 | $48,767 |
| 2022 | $985,976 | $49,069 | $56,641 | $34,360 | 8 | $52,141 | $44,569 | $50,855 |
| 2021 | $1,119,515 | $60,720 | $57,415 | $35,514 | 7 | $52,915 | $53,663 | $53,221 |
| 2020 | $1,023,254 | $34,662 | $58,453 | $32,760 | 5 | — | $30,162 | $48,352 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hamilton Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $55K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust gave $33,631 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $6,500, with a median grant of $4,000. Its largest grants were $6,500 to Christ Care Ministry, $5,381 to Marissa Historical and Geneological Society, and $5,000 each to Marissa Area Fire Protection District and Sparta Community Hospital. All 10 grants were listed for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Helen M Phillips and Cathy L Norton as trustees.
Hamilton Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cathy L. Norton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Helen M. Phillips
Trustee
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $9K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $9K, to Helen M Phillips (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Hamilton Charitable Trust
How much does Hamilton Charitable Trust give each year?
Hamilton Charitable Trust gave $34K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $31K across 8 grants.
What is Hamilton Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Hamilton Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $3,363, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hamilton Charitable Trust that year got $4K on average.
Where does Hamilton Charitable Trust give grants?
Hamilton Charitable Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marissa, IL (9 grants).
Does Hamilton Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Hamilton Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hamilton Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Hamilton Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Christ Care Ministry ($6,500), Marissa Historical and Geneological Society ($5,381) and Marissa Area Fire Protection District ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hamilton Charitable Trust?
Hamilton Charitable Trust reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $52K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $55K (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.
How do I apply for a grant from Hamilton Charitable Trust?
The trust accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hamilton Charitable Trust's EIN?
Hamilton Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6366318. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Hamilton Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hamilton Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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