The James G Hart Foundation is a private independent foundation established in Illinois and based in Wadsworth, IL. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.2M
+17.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$842K
+11.4% YoY
Grant Count
72
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+8.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James G Hart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $895K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations across multiple sectors including:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Music and performing arts
- Science and neurological research
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation made 48 additional grants in 2023 totaling approximately $556,000.
Grant Range
$1,600
Average Grant
$16,800
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in:
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Illinois
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $12,036,355
- Total Revenue: $730,465
- Total Expenses: $826,397
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $475,024
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $251,941
- Grants and contributions: $3,500
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Investment income increased 2.4%
- Net gains from asset sales increased 188.6%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,195,021 | $12,036,355 | $12,132,287 |
| Revenue | $3,084,578 | $730,465 | $551,124 |
| Expenses | $925,912 | $826,397 | $925,378 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $867,414 | $776,313 | $877,646 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,930,453 | $686,910 | $506,902 |
| Distributable Amount | $894,581 | $821,257 | $823,415 |
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
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Committee to Protect Journalists ($60,000), Frontline Journalism Fund ($50,000), Institute for Music & Neurologic Function ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $1,500 |
| ALDO LEOPOLD FOUNDATON BARABOO, WI | GENERAL FUND | $2,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FND CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE PHILIDELPHIA, PA | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN NEAR EAST REFUGEE AID WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $1,500 |
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $12,500 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL EQUITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $500 |
| BENNINGTON COLLEGE BENNINGTON, VT | GENERAL FUND | $7,000 |
| BIKEPACKING ROOTS BALTIMORE, MD | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- James G Hart — President & Treasurer/Director
- Carol Ann Vretta — Director
- Rockney W Hudson — Secretary/Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES G HART | PRES & TREAS/DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CAROL ANN VRETTA | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROCKNEY W HUDSON | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James G Hart Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations across multiple sectors including: • Arts and culture • Education • Music and performing arts • Science and neurological research • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from James G Hart Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total grants distributed: $756,000–$840,500 • Number of grants: 50 • Median grant size: $1,600 • Average grant size: $16,800 • Typical award range: $500–$425,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Women Make Movies: $170,000 • Old Town School of Folk Music: $75,000 • Institute for Music and Neurological Function: $50,000 The foundation made 48 additional grants in 2023 totaling approximately $556,000.
Where does James G Hart Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in: • District of Columbia • New York • Illinois
What size grants does James G Hart Foundation award?
In 2024, James G Hart Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $842K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James G Hart Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James G Hart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $895K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James G Hart Foundation's EIN?
James G Hart Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0254015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James G Hart Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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