Silvernail Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 87-0871414

Silvernail Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In filing year 2025, it reported 17 grants totaling $77,913, primarily to colleges and universities in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

Key facts about Silvernail Family Foundation

In short: Silvernail Family Foundation gave $78K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Maine. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
87-0871414
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$77,913
Grants made (2025)
17
Average grant
$4,583
Median grant
$3,750
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025)
Total assets
$1,006,269
Primary geography
Maine (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0M

-1.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$78K

-17.3% YoY

Grant Count

17

+13.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

-27.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Silvernail Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $109K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Silvernail Family Foundation open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 88% 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 (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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 show support for colleges and universities. For example, Husson University describes its mission as preparing students for professional careers through an education informed by the sciences and humanities. Wellesley College says its mission is to provide an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Central Maine Community College describes its mission as supporting the college by providing financial assistance to its students.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave 17 grants totaling $77,913. Grants ranged from $2,871 to $11,292, with a median of $3,750.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine, 18% to Massachusetts, 14% to Connecticut, and 5% to North Carolina.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

AshevilleBiddefordBostonOronoSouth PortlandAuburnBangorBar HarborBrunswickHamdenLewistonMount VernonPortlandStorrsWatervilleFarmingtonLake ForestNew LondonNorth EastonWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K0 grants2021 0 grants2022 9 grants2023 15 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2023) to $94K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $78K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of Maine: $11KUniversity of Maine$11KHusson University: $8KHusson University$8KEmerson College: $5KEmerson College$5KWellesley College: $5KWellesley College$5KUniversity of Maine at Farmington: $5KUniversity of Maine atFarmington$5KBowdoin College: $4KBowdoin College$4KCentral Maine Community College: $4KCentral Maine CommunityCollege$4KMaine College of Art & Design: $4KMaine College of Art & Design$4KQuinnipiac University: $4KQuinnipiac University$4KSouthern Maine Community College: $4KSouthern Maine CommunityCollege$4K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of Maine ($11K). Together the top 10 received $53K.

Grant Size Distribution

41 grants across all recorded years

41<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Maine Orono, MEGeneral Operating$11,292
Husson University Bangor, MEGeneral Operating$7,500
Emerson College Boston, MAGeneral Operating$5,000
Wellesley College Wellesley, MAGeneral Operating$5,000
University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, MEGeneral Operating$5,000
Bowdoin College Brunswick, MEGeneral Operating$3,750
Central Maine Community College Auburn, MEGeneral Operating$3,750
Maine College of Art & Design Portland, MEGeneral Operating$3,750
Quinnipiac University Hamden, CTGeneral Operating$3,750
Southern Maine Community College South Portland, MEGeneral Operating$3,750

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,006,269 $82,450 $97,152 $77,913
2024 $1,020,971 $80,921 $118,903 $94,248
2023 $1,057,748 $669,792 $60,835 $59,985
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,006,269$1,020,971$1,057,748
Revenue$82,450$80,921$669,792
Expenses$97,152$118,903$60,835
Qualifying Distributions$95,089$115,911$60,835
Net Investment Income$81,872$78,949$52,643
Distributable Amount$108,667$99,163$55,332

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 23, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
  5. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Andrew K. Silvernail and Shelby H. Silvernail as co-trustees, and Elizabeth A. Garlovsky as treasurer.

Silvernail Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Andrew K. Silvernail

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shelby H. Silvernail

    Co-Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth A. Garlovsky

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2021

    0.2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 333 West Wacker Dr 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 753-6185

Frequently asked questions about Silvernail Family Foundation

How much does Silvernail Family Foundation give each year?

Silvernail Family Foundation gave $78K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $94K across 15 grants.

What is Silvernail Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Silvernail Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $4,583, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Silvernail Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Silvernail Family Foundation give grants?

Silvernail Family Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (18%) and Connecticut (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).

Does Silvernail Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Silvernail Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Silvernail Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Silvernail Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Maine ($11,292), Husson University ($7,500) and Emerson College ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Silvernail Family Foundation?

Silvernail Family Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $95K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $109K (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 Silvernail Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for colleges and universities. For example, Husson University describes its mission as preparing students for professional careers through an education informed by the sciences and humanities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Silvernail Family Foundation?

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

What is Silvernail Family Foundation's EIN?

Silvernail Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0871414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Does Silvernail Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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