Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Coldwater, MI EIN: 38-6750813

The Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Coldwater, Michigan. In 2025, it reported making 21 grants totaling $257,807, nearly all to recipients in Michigan.

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation gave $258K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Michigan. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$257,807
+5.4% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
21
+5.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$12,277
+0.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$3,777,248
-6.9% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
29% first-time grantees (6 of 21, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Michigan (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 Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 417 Northshore Drive, Coldwater, MI 49036
Phone: (517) 279-8445

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Children's Museum of Branch County: $82KChildren's Museum of BranchCounty$82KFamilies Forward Michigan Inc: $60KFamilies Forward Michigan Inc$60KUniversity of Michigan - Ross School of Business: $50KUniversity of Michigan - RossSchool of Business$50KMichigan State University Social Work: $27KMichigan State UniversitySocial Work$27KUniversity of Michigan - Engineering: $22KUniversity of Michigan -Engineering$22KCrystal Community Ski Club: $5KCrystal Community Ski Club$5KTibbets Endowment Fund: $3KTibbets Endowment Fund$3KCognition: $2KCognition$2KBranch County Literacy Council: $1KBranch County Literacy Council$1KCHS National Art Honor Society: $1KCHS National Art Honor Society$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Museum of Branch County ($82K). Together the top 10 received $252K.

Grant Size Distribution

106 grants across all recorded years

99<$50K7$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 106 (93%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

About 99% of grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan; small grants also went to recipients in Indiana, Georgia, and New York.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

ColdwaterBeulahBenzoniaTraverse CityAnn ArborThompsonvilleFrankfortHonorHowellSuttons BayFlintGenevaHerndonBattle CreekEast LansingElk RapidsIndianapolisAmericusAngolaElizabethton

Is Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation open to new grantees?

29%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 6 of 21 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $14K. How we count

Medians: $465 first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K11 grants2019 9 grants2020 9 grants2021 27 grants2022 29 grants2023 20 grants2024 21 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $258K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $258K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Children's Museum of Branch County Coldwater, MIChildren's Museum Program$82,099
Families Forward Michigan Inc Howell, MIEducation$60,000
University of Michigan - Ross School of Business Ann Arbor, MIEducation and Learning$50,000
Michigan State University Social Work East Lansing, MIEducation$26,500
University of Michigan - Engineering Ann Arbor, MIEducation and Learning$21,800
Crystal Community Ski Club Thompsonville, MISports Education and Promotion$5,000
Tibbets Endowment Fund Coldwater, MIEducation$2,500
Cognition Beulah, MIInteractive Science Museuminteractive Science Museum$2,000
Branch County Literacy Council Coldwater, MILiteracy and Education Promotion$1,000
CHS National Art Honor Society Coldwater, MIEducation$1,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$3,777,248$91,801$345,093$257,80721$290,307$82,059$235,801
2024$4,055,798$230,573$323,374$244,61020$275,610$182,809$227,169
2023$4,078,005$435,100$224,164$145,25029$172,750$394,612$198,338
2022$3,746,966$3,767,044$243,611$193,25027$217,400$647,711$88,771
2021$223,533$9,149$14,640$11,5009$11,500$9,149$10,609
2020$212,434$7,003$12,476$10,0009—$7,005$10,573
2019$220,873$8,095$12,758$10,50011—$10,039$10,700

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for education and learning, children’s museum programming, literacy, music education, and sports education.

The Children’s Museum of Branch County describes its mission as providing a community-driven, child-centered space for children to explore, learn, and grow through interactive play. COGNITION describes its mission as facilitating learning through awe and wonder and inspiring people to investigate the world around them. The Army of Survivors describes its mission as bringing awareness, accountability, and transparency to sexual violence against athletes. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $257,807. Grant amounts ranged from $84 to $82,099, with a median grant of $1,000.

Notable 2025 grants included $82,099 to Children’s Museum of Branch County in Coldwater for children’s museum programming; $60,000 to Families Forward Michigan Inc for education; $50,000 to the University of Michigan–Ross School of Business for education and learning; $26,500 to Michigan State University Social Work for education; and $21,800 to the University of Michigan–Engineering for education and learning. Other listed grants included $5,000 to Crystal Community Ski Club for sports education and promotion, $2,000 to COGNITION for an interactive science museum, and $1,000 to Branch County Literacy Council for literacy and education promotion. The Army of Survivors received $840 in 2025.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Shana Grife and Lara Bouse as co-trustees.

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lara Bouse

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $1K (2019) → $33K (2025)

  • Shana Grife

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $1K (2019) → $33K (2025)

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Shana Grife — Co-Trustee: $33KShana GrifeCo-Trustee$33KLara Bouse — Co-Trustee: $33KLara BouseCo-Trustee$33K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $33K, to Shana Grife (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation

How much does Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation give each year?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation gave $258K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $245K across 20 grants.

What is Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $12,277, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation give grants?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Coldwater, MI (9 grants) and Ann Arbor, MI (3 grants).

Does Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (6 grants) and "Education and Learning" (4 grants).

Who are Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Museum of Branch County ($82,099), Families Forward Michigan Inc ($60,000) and University of Michigan - Ross School of Business ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $290K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for education and learning, children’s museum programming, literacy, music education, and sports education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's EIN?

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6750813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 22, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Live grants for the work Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation funds

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Broad Family Foundation

Traverse City, MI

The Broad Family Foundation funds Michigan nonprofits working with children and families, food insecurity, education, and community services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $60,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$10.2M

Grants

29

Total Given

$542K

The Hawthorne Family Foundation

Boca Grande, FL

The Hawthorne Family Foundation funds education, health services, community support, environmental conservation, senior services, animal welfare, and other charitable work. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000, and went to organizations in Florida, Michigan, Tennessee, and Massachusetts. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$847K

Grants

19

Total Given

$60K

Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation

Frankfort, MI

The Herbert H and Barbara C Dow Foundation supports charitable organizations in areas including health care, arts, community services, housing, and research, with most 2025 funding going to Michigan organizations and additional support in Arizona and elsewhere. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $175,000, with a median of $40,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$34.3M

Grants

28

Total Given

$1.5M

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation

Traverse City, MI

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation funds charitable organizations, with preferences for work that supports children’s well-being, economic opportunity, and the community’s moral or spiritual life; it has also funded health, education, arts, youth, and conservation projects. It primarily serves the greater Grand Traverse region but may consider organizations elsewhere in or outside Michigan; 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $6,400. It accepts applications from 501(c)(3) organizations year-round and reviews them in two cycles.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$7.1M

Grants

38

Total Given

$523K

Rotary Charities of Traverse City

Traverse City, MI

Rotary Charities of Traverse City funds community assets, collaborative efforts addressing complex regional challenges, early-stage initiatives, and training in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties in Northwest Lower Michigan. Its 2025 grants ranged from $7,440 to $221,166, with a median of $14,000; program limits include up to $15,000 for Seed Grants, $50,000 for Assets for Thriving Communities, and $150,000 for Systems Change Accelerator grants. The profile describes application opportunities and deadlines but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$50.3M

Grants

42

Total Given

$1.8M

Feather Foundation

Pittsboro, NC

Assets

$514K

Grants

6

Total Given

$44K

More similar funders

More Funders in Michigan

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hillquist-irrevocable-family-foundation-morg_2d82c199026f441bba3fdda243750780

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386750813_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/hillquist-irrevocable-family-foundation-morg_2d82c199026f441bba3fdda243750780},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Hillquist Irrevocable 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.

Hillquist Irrevocable Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?