Hickory Fund Inc
Hickory Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its longstanding mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities in Wisconsin and South Carolina, and it also supports other organizations based on its current funding priorities.
Hickory Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Hickory Fund Inc gave $290K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Wisconsin. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $290,000
- +6.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,059
- -12.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $5,514,685
- +0.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hickory Fund Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted through the foundation’s online process. It requests a Letter of Inquiry from each grantee; organizations and projects it wishes to learn more about may be invited to submit a formal application, and a site visit may be requested. A Letter of Inquiry is required at all grant sizes. Applications are required for grants of $5,000 or more; reporting requirements depend on grant size, with reports required for grants of $25,000 or more. General operating support is limited to three years and requires an exit strategy.
- Review Cycle
- The listed Letter of Inquiry closing date is May 1, the application deadline is September 1, and grants are awarded at the end of November.
- Deadline
- The listed Letter of Inquiry closing date is May 1, the application deadline is September 1, and grants are awarded at…
- Contact
Application contact: Httpshickoryfundorgapply-Now
Mailing address: 10361 W Innovation Dr 350, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 203-8040
Email: info@hickoryfund.org
Website: https://hickoryfund.org/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hickory Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Milwaukee Public Museum ($50K). Together the top 10 received $252K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 85 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation lists Wisconsin and South Carolina as its geographic scope. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin (71%), South Carolina (28%), and Ohio (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hickory Fund Inc open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). 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 $225K (2020) to $326K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $290K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Public Museum Milwaukee, WI | Capital / Accessibility in the Future Museum | $50,000 |
| Kandu Industries Milton, WI | Capital / New Building | $40,000 |
| Down Syndrome Association of Wiscon West Allis, WI | Program / Think Ability Wisconsin Center | $25,000 |
| St Francis Childrens Center Milwaukee, WI | Program / Gear for Growth Lending Library | $25,000 |
| Lowcountry Food Bank Charleston, SC | Capital / Equipment Purchase for Partner Agencies | $20,000 |
| Covey Inc Oshkosh, WI | Program / Lets Talk About It | $20,000 |
| Fishing HAS No Boundaries Inc Hayward, WI | Capital / Training and Adaptive Equipment | $17,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton HEA Hilton Head Island, SC | Operating / Meal Delivery Program | $15,000 |
| Bluffton Self Help Bluffton, SC | Operating / the Market | $15,000 |
| Lowcountry Food Bank Charleston, SC | Operating / partnering with local farmers to build food security | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hickory Fund Inc?
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 | $5,514,685 | $382,616 | $354,525 | $290,000 | 17 | $324,589 | $359,619 | $344,273 |
| 2024 | $5,486,141 | $384,187 | $325,732 | $272,000 | 14 | $303,932 | $362,387 | $326,667 |
| 2023 | $5,427,242 | $140,807 | $332,422 | $280,000 | 20 | $311,573 | $119,958 | $299,685 |
| 2022 | $5,619,186 | $122,698 | $387,364 | $326,000 | 20 | $356,921 | $99,510 | $311,045 |
| 2021 | $5,884,192 | $471,763 | $306,712 | $240,500 | 14 | $274,646 | $445,095 | $355,906 |
| 2020 | $5,718,096 | $392,541 | $297,084 | $225,000 | 16 | — | $368,211 | $294,467 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hickory Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $344K for 2025 — 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 centers on improving quality of life for people with intellectual and physical disabilities in Wisconsin and South Carolina. Its funding priorities also include food insecurity, military veterans, and underserved youth. For disability-related work, it seeks approaches that promote inclusion, independence, and cost-effective solutions. Its food-security interests span the food supply chain, while projects for veterans may include adaptive sports, recreation, and family respite.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work reflected in its grants. Kandu Industries says it creates opportunities for people with disabilities or disadvantages to pursue greater independence. Fishing Has No Boundaries says it provides recreational fishing opportunities for anglers with disabilities. Lowcountry Food Bank says it works for equitable, dignified, and consistent access to food. Covey says it creates opportunities that foster personal growth. These are the organizations’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
The foundation funds capital campaigns, new or expanding programs, limited-term general operating support, and social entrepreneurship. It does not fund endowments, grants to individuals, grants to non-501(c)(3) organizations, lobbying, scholarships, or medical research.
In 2025, it awarded 17 grants totaling $290,000. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $50,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest were $50,000 to Milwaukee Public Museum for capital accessibility work at its future museum; $40,000 to Kandu Industries for a new building; and $25,000 each to the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin for the Think Ability Wisconsin Center and St. Francis Children’s Center for its Gear for Growth Lending Library. Lowcountry Food Bank received two grants totaling $35,000: $20,000 for equipment for partner agencies and $15,000 for work with local farmers to build food security.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cynthia L. Linnan as president and director; John P. Linnan as treasurer and director; Nicholas K. Linnan as vice president and director; Jennifer D’Amato as secretary and director; and Melissa Roberts as director.
Hickory Fund Inc is led by Cynthia L. Linnan, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cynthia L. Linnan
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jennifer D'amato
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
John P. Linnan
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nicholas K. Linnan
Vice President & Director
Vice President & Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Melissa Roberts
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Hickory Fund Inc
How much does Hickory Fund Inc give each year?
Hickory Fund Inc gave $290K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $272K across 14 grants.
What is Hickory Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Hickory Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,059, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hickory Fund Inc that year got $21K on average.
Where does Hickory Fund Inc give grants?
Hickory Fund Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was South Carolina (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (3 grants), Charleston, SC (2 grants), Bluffton, SC (2 grants) and Hilton Head Island, SC (2 grants).
Does Hickory Fund Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 35% of Hickory Fund Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hickory Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Hickory Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Milwaukee Public Museum ($50,000), Kandu Industries ($40,000) and Lowcountry Food Bank ($35,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($5,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hickory Fund Inc?
Hickory Fund Inc reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $325K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $344K (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 Hickory Fund Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission centers on improving quality of life for people with intellectual and physical disabilities in Wisconsin and South Carolina. Its funding priorities also include food insecurity, military veterans, and underserved youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hickory Fund Inc?
Applications are submitted through the foundation’s online process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hickory Fund Inc's EIN?
Hickory Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6069677. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hickory Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hickory-fund-inc-morg_735667ab085745c59eb7c235150784b0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396069677_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hickory Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hickory-fund-inc-morg_735667ab085745c59eb7c235150784b0},
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 Hickory Fund Inc'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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