Silvernail Family Foundation
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.
Silvernail Family Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $77,913
- -17.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,583
- -27.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $1,006,269
- -1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (63% 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 Silvernail Family Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 333 West Wacker Dr 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 753-6185
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Silvernail Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Maine ($11K). Together the top 10 received $53K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Silvernail Family Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2023) to $94K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $78K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maine Orono, ME | General Operating | $11,292 |
| Husson University Bangor, ME | General Operating | $7,500 |
| Emerson College Boston, MA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | General Operating | $5,000 |
| University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | General Operating | $3,750 |
| Central Maine Community College Auburn, ME | General Operating | $3,750 |
| Maine College of Art & Design Portland, ME | General Operating | $3,750 |
| Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT | General Operating | $3,750 |
| Southern Maine Community College South Portland, ME | General Operating | $3,750 |
Ready to take the next step with Silvernail Family Foundation?
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 | $1,006,269 | $82,450 | $97,152 | $77,913 | 17 | $95,089 | $81,872 | $108,667 |
| 2024 | $1,020,971 | $80,921 | $118,903 | $94,248 | 15 | $115,911 | $78,949 | $99,163 |
| 2023 | $1,057,748 | $669,792 | $60,835 | $59,985 | 9 | $60,835 | $52,643 | $55,332 |
| 2022 | $713,872 | $1,006,202 | $2,118 | — | — | $2,118 | — | $2,071 |
| 2021 | — | $4,028 | $4,028 | — | — | $3,428 | — | — |
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.
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.
The largest 2025 grants included $11,292 to the University of Maine, $7,500 to Husson University, and $5,000 each to Emerson College, Wellesley College, and the University of Maine at Farmington. Other listed recipients receiving $3,750 each included Bowdoin College, Central Maine Community College, Maine College of Art & Design, Quinnipiac University, Southern Maine Community College, Thomas College, and the University of Connecticut. The listed grants were for general operating support.
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.
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 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 2021 (received by the IRS June 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Silvernail Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Silvernail Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
Felicia M Delorenzo Scholarship
Boston, MA
The Felicia M. DeLorenzo Scholarship Foundation supports post-secondary education for high school graduates who live in Arlington, Massachusetts, with scholarships recognizing academic achievement, strong work ethic, and community commitment. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,500 to $63,125, with a median of $4,500; the Foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$4.6M
Grants
61
Total Given
$367K
Vera Grace Greenlaw Trust
Portland, ME
Assets
$579K
Grants
9
Total Given
$33K
Cochran Gifford a Tr Uind
Pittsburgh, PA
In 2025, this foundation funded college and university scholarships, giving 12 grants of $250 to $2,000 (median $1,000), mainly in Maine, with additional grants in Massachusetts and New York. Its 2024 filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations; application materials and deadlines are listed as not applicable.
Assets
$186K
Grants
12
Total Given
$11K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
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
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
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Silvernail Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/silvernail-family-foundation-morg_9bc8092997014245968219fb7d69ae67
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_870871414_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Silvernail Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/silvernail-family-foundation-morg_9bc8092997014245968219fb7d69ae67},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Silvernail 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.
Silvernail Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?