Pat Tillman Foundation
The Pat Tillman Foundation is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois, that invests in U.S. military service members, veterans, and spouses through scholarships, leadership development, career support, and community engagement. Founded in 2004, it describes its mission as building a lifelong community committed to service beyond self.
Pat Tillman Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $7,257,300
- +8.8% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $5,752,880
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $220,829
- +34.0% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $4,899,570
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Pat Tillman Foundation
- Next open deadline
- February 1, 2027 (Tillman Scholars Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: 180 N Lasalle St Ste 2910, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (773) 360-5277
Website: https://pattillmanfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Pat Tillman Foundation
Who Pat Tillman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 66 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Scholarships support full-time study at accredited public or private institutions based in the United States. The foundation says its scholars represent all six branches of the U.S. military, including the National Guard and Reserves, as well as military spouses.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Pat Tillman Foundation gives
- 41% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2020) to $1.2M (2021). In 2021 it made 66 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma Norman, OK | Education | $55,000 |
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Education | $54,500 |
| Texas A&M University College Station, TX | Education | $53,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Education | $49,000 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | Education | $46,500 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Education | $38,000 |
| University of Arizona Tucson, AZ | Education | $38,000 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Education | $34,000 |
| UCLA Los Angeles, CA | Education | $33,000 |
| ASU Foundation Tempe, AZ | Education | $31,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Pat Tillman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,257,300 | $5,752,880 | $4,899,570 | — | — | $220,829 |
| 2024 | $6,673,196 | $5,720,794 | $5,049,008 | — | — | $164,776 |
| 2023 | $5,748,892 | $4,945,986 | $5,569,363 | — | — | $66,139 |
| 2022 | $6,402,784 | $5,161,720 | $5,115,473 | — | — | $95,712 |
| 2021 | $5,928,677 | $5,314,322 | $4,020,132 | $1,237,500 | 66 | $106,321 |
| 2020 | $4,713,801 | $3,681,025 | $3,240,972 | $1,006,000 | 52 | $50,745 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to unite and empower military service members, veterans, and spouses as the next generation of public- and private-sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Its main program, founded in 2009, supports full-time students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or professional degrees at accredited U.S. public or private institutions. Scholarships cover direct study-related expenses, including tuition and fees, books, and living expenses. The program also offers leadership development, mentorship, career support, and access to a lifelong peer network.
The foundation says its selection process considers scholarship, humble leadership, service, and impact. Its website describes the program as highly selective, with less than 3% of applicants selected.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s primary program supports individual Tillman Scholars rather than offering a grant program for outside organizations. According to its 2025 filing, it awarded $1,341,188 in scholarships in 2025, compared with $1,466,750 in 2024. The board designated $1,946,250 at year-end 2025 for anticipated scholarship renewals. The filing says grant funds are used for new and renewable Tillman Scholarships, with any remaining funds held for the next class.
The 2025 filing reports that the foundation selected 42 scholars from more than 4,000 complete applications. Its website says scholarships may be renewed and provides support for tuition and fees, books, and living expenses. Separately, the 2021 grantee information lists grants to higher-education institutions, including $54,500 to President and Fellows of Harvard College, $49,000 to the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, and $38,000 to Georgetown University. Those grantees describe their missions as, respectively, providing education and research across academic domains; operating a leading research institution and medical center; and advancing education, research, and knowledge.
The IRS filing data reports a grant count of zero for each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation’s website states that applications for the 2026 class are closed. The program listing gives a deadline of February 1, 2027.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Katherine Steele as CEO; Matthew Nygaard and Michelle Martin as directors of functions not specified in the filing data; Brandon Underwood as chief of staff; Meg Cortezi, Brett Funck, Alex Garwood, and Amber Manke as directors; Chris Hart as vice chair; and Benjamin Hill as treasurer.
Pat Tillman Foundation is led by Katherine Steele, CEO on every filing since 2024; 4 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katherine Steele
CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$211K (2024) → $200K (2025)
Marie Tillman Shenton
Chair & Co-Founder
Chair → Chair & Co-Founder, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Martin
Director of
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024) → $129K (2025)
Matthew Nygaard
Director of
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Alex Garwood
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Sacks
Lead Director
Director → Lead Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Shenton
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Wilkinson
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Svoboda
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amber Manke
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brett Funck
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meg Cortezi
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Underwood
Chief of Sta
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Benjamin Hill
Treasurer
Treasurer → Director, 2022
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Hart
Vice Chair
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Joe Browne (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lazar Raynal (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Bidwell (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Margaret Cortezi (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Colleen Reaney (2023–2024) — Head of Tli
- Former: Robert Faulk (2024) — Pat Tillman
- Former: Dan Futrell (2020–2023) — CEO
- Former: Marie Tillman (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Sabrina Perales (2020–2023) — Director of
- Former: Mercedes Rohlfs (2023) — Director of
- Former: Stephanie Kuenn (2021–2022) — Director of
- Former: Mark Haggarty (2021) — Director of
- Former: Jonathan Due (2020) — Director of
- Former: Sage Steele (2020) — Director
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 $200K, to Katherine Steele (CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pat Tillman Foundation
How large is Pat Tillman Foundation?
Pat Tillman Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.8M.
What does Pat Tillman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to unite and empower military service members, veterans, and spouses as the next generation of public- and private-sector leaders committed to service beyond self. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pat Tillman Foundation?
Pat Tillman Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check pattillmanfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Pat Tillman Foundation make grants?
Scholarships support full-time study at accredited public or private institutions based in the United States. The foundation says its scholars represent all six branches of the U.S. military, including the National Guard and Reserves, as well as military spouses.
What is Pat Tillman Foundation's EIN?
Pat Tillman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1072336. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pat Tillman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Tulsa Community Foundation
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Community Foundation supports charitable causes through donor-advised grants and selected funds, including scholarships, emergency assistance, disaster relief, arts and humanities, healthcare, and financial literacy, primarily in the Tulsa metro area and eastern Oklahoma, with some giving elsewhere in the United States. Its 2024 median grant was $18,560; selected field-of-interest funds have application cycles, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,066
Total Given
$158.6M
KPMG US Foundation Inc
Montvale, NJ
KPMG US Foundation supports education, mental health, community vitality, and community relief and resilience, with grants distributed across the United States. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts ranged from about $5,000 to $2.2 million. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.4M
Grants
387
Total Given
$33.5M
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
Austin, TX
The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation funds education, health, jobs and livelihoods, and family economic stability, with its deepest U.S. focus in Texas and additional work across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024 it awarded 835 grants totaling about $164.6 million; grants ranged from $75 to $50 million, with a median of $19,324. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online application process.
Assets
$7.8B
Grants
835
Total Given
$164.6M
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
New York, NY
The William Randolph Hearst Foundation supports established U.S. nonprofits in culture, education, health, and social services, with grants typically around $100,000 (2024 awards ranged from $1,000 to $2 million). It accepts applications through its grants portal and funds organizations across the United States.
Assets
$942.7M
Grants
264
Total Given
$34.9M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
American Chemical Society
Washington, DC
The American Chemical Society funds chemistry research, education, scholarships, fellowships, student activities, and related projects through programs for researchers, institutions, educators, students, and ACS groups. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,200 to $504,691, with a median of $31,252; funding supports U.S. and international research, though some programs are limited to U.S.-based applicants. The profile does not state whether ACS accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
341
Total Given
$22.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Pat Tillman 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.
Pat Tillman Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?