The a Montgomery Ward Foundation
The A Montgomery Ward Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1959 and based in Dallas, Texas. The foundation was created by Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker, daughter of A. Montgomery Ward, the founder of Montgomery Ward & Company, to support charitable institutions in the Chicago area and surrounding communities. The foundation is managed by Bank of America.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.6M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$683K
+1.6% YoY
Grant Count
56
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-2.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission emphasizes support for institutions in the Chicago, Illinois area that provide high-quality, well-established educational and cultural activities. Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and Culture: Museums and cultural programming
- Education: Educational institutions and scholarships
- Children and Youth: Programs for children from birth to age five
- Social Services: Treatment for families experiencing child abuse and neglect, recordings for the blind and dyslexic, and women's services
- Humanities: Cultural and educational programming for current and future Chicago residents
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to qualified charitable organizations. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
**: $4,000–$62,500
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with particular emphasis on the Chicago area and surrounding communities. Additional funding extends to Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets (2024): $14,327,674
- Total Assets (2025): $14,589,251
- Total Revenue (2024): $494,035
- Total Revenue (2025): $1,212,047
- Total Expenses (2024): $965,885
- Total Expenses (2025): $1,014,102
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,589,251 | $14,327,674 | $14,762,266 |
| Revenue | $1,212,047 | $494,035 | $508,262 |
| Expenses | $1,014,102 | $965,885 | $1,052,822 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $831,207 | $807,720 | $888,835 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,038,488 | $337,503 | $410,963 |
| Distributable Amount | $879,815 | $829,344 | $799,841 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The a Montgomery Ward Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is co-managed by Bank of America N.A., with co-trustees including Jack Hutchings and Richard Oloffson.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of America N A | Co-Trustee | 1 | $125,450 |
| Jack Hutchings | Co-Trustee | 4 | $60,566 |
| Richard Oloffson | Co-Trustee | 4 | $60,566 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265-3067
- Website: www.bankofamerica.com/philanth
- Telephone: 888-866-3275
- EIN: 36-2417437
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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