Masonic Foundation of Wilmette
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette is a private foundation based in Glencoe, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $66,154 through 10 grants to charitable organizations.
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette at a glance
In short: Masonic Foundation of Wilmette gave $66K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $66,154
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,615
- -30.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $1,413,949
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Masonic Foundation of Wilmette
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 102 Green Bay Rd C/O Wm Conron, Glencoe, IL 60022
Phone: (847) 686-1982
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Masonic Foundation of Wilmette funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wilmett Evanston Lodge 524 ($50K). Together the top 10 received $66K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 38 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 2% to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Masonic Foundation of Wilmette gives
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (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 $9K (2020) to $80K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmett Evanston Lodge 524 Winnetka, IL | Charitable - in Support of General C | $49,999 |
| Illinois Masonic Outreach Services Springfield, IL | Charitable - in Suppirt of General | $3,155 |
| Illinois Masonic Found for the Pre Springfield, IL | Charitable-General Support | $3,000 |
| Illinois Demolay New Lenox, IL | Charitable-General Support | $3,000 |
| Disabled Patriot Fund Inc Tinley Park, IL | Charitable-General Support | $2,000 |
| Pro Se Family Foundation Union, NJ | Charitable- General Support | $1,000 |
| Friendship Assembly 100 Glenview, IL | Charitble-General Support | $1,000 |
| Society of King Solomon Springfield, IL | Charitable-General Support | $1,000 |
| Royal Arch Masons of ILLINOIS(EVANS Morton Grove, IL | Charitable-General Support | $1,000 |
| 124 Augustus N Gage Council Glenview, IL | Charitable-General Support | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Masonic Foundation of Wilmette?
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 | $1,413,949 | $77,653 | $80,866 | $66,154 | 10 | $71,890 | $68,165 | $72,650 |
| 2024 | $1,418,074 | $77,776 | $78,767 | $66,465 | 7 | $71,521 | $79,321 | $71,210 |
| 2023 | $1,419,603 | $-18,553 | $89,220 | $73,377 | 3 | $76,957 | $32,164 | $70,045 |
| 2022 | $1,528,990 | $99,399 | $97,324 | $79,508 | 17 | $80,283 | $86,744 | $74,152 |
| 2021 | $1,526,811 | $107,638 | $65,212 | $26,076 | 1 | $26,826 | $92,835 | $80,258 |
| 2020 | $1,485,206 | $1,464,751 | $21,581 | $9,117 | 1 | — | $1,454,365 | $26,076 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Masonic Foundation of Wilmette reported a distributable amount of $73K 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 filing describes its contributions as charitable. Its 2025 grants included support for Masonic organizations and other charitable organizations. Illinois Masonic Outreach Services describes its mission as providing assistance and charity to needy Master Masons and their families, widows, and other proper objects of Masonic charity. Disabled Patriot Fund describes its mission as providing financial relief to local U.S. military families adversely affected by the “War on Terror.” These are the grantees’ stated missions, not a mission statement for the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $66,154. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $49,999, with a median of $1,500. The largest grant was $49,999 to Wilmette Evanston Lodge 524 in Winnetka, Illinois. Other grants included $3,155 to Illinois Masonic Outreach Services, $3,000 to Illinois Masonic Foundation for the Pre… and $3,000 to Illinois DeMolay. The foundation also gave $2,000 to Disabled Patriot Fund and $1,000 each to five other listed organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Hardesty as president, Bill Conron as vice president, David Kurtz as secretary, and Robert Blackwell as treasurer.
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette is led by Gary Hardesty, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Hardesty
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert Blackwell
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bill Conron
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
David Kurtz
Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Lee Bradley (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Stuart Berger (2020) — Vice President
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 Masonic Foundation of Wilmette
How much does Masonic Foundation of Wilmette give each year?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette gave $66K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 7 grants.
What is Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's typical grant size?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $6,615, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Masonic Foundation of Wilmette give grants?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, IL (3 grants) and Glenview, IL (2 grants).
Does Masonic Foundation of Wilmette give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Masonic Foundation of Wilmette'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 Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's largest grantees?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's largest 2025 grantees include Wilmett Evanston Lodge 524 ($49,999), Illinois Masonic Outreach Services ($3,155) and Illinois Masonic Found for the Pre ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Masonic Foundation of Wilmette?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $73K (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 Masonic Foundation of Wilmette fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its contributions as charitable. Its 2025 grants included support for Masonic organizations and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Masonic Foundation of Wilmette?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's EIN?
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-1970628. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Masonic Foundation of Wilmette 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Masonic Foundation of Wilmette's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Glickenhaus Foundation
Sleepy Hollow, NY
The Glickenhaus Foundation’s 2023 grants supported organizations in health care and research, community services, youth and family programs, reproductive health, and the arts; grants ranged from $100 to $100,000, with a median of $1,500. Most funding went to New York organizations, though grants also reached other states. The foundation said it had ceased activity and transferred its assets to successor foundations; its filing lists no required application materials, but does not clearly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
130
Total Given
$593K
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Crankstart Foundation
San Jose, CA
Crankstart funds education, economic mobility, democracy and civil rights, housing security, the environment and basic science, with about 60% of its grants going to the San Francisco Bay Area. Its grants typically range from $100,000 to $1 million (the 2024 median was $250,000), and it does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$4.4B
Grants
435
Total Given
$201.3M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Masonic Foundation of Wilmette funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/masonic-foundation-of-wilmette-morg_da755d4757854c348c1b553c9db047b7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_361970628_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Masonic Foundation of Wilmette funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/masonic-foundation-of-wilmette-morg_da755d4757854c348c1b553c9db047b7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Masonic Foundation of Wilmette'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.
Masonic Foundation of Wilmette down — hundreds of funders to go?