The Alton Foundation
The Alton Foundation is a private foundation based in Wood River, Illinois. Its 2025 filing says it funds local charities and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
The Alton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Alton Foundation gave $424K across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $424,232
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,606
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,850
- Total assets
- $6,004,199
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Alton Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a general application letter stating the purpose of the grant to Gary Osborne at The Alton Foundation. The foundation states that it funds local charities and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Gary Osborne The Alton Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 168, Wood River, IL 62095
Phone: (618) 463-4200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Alton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Evangelical Church of Christ ($56K). Together the top 10 received $259K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 122 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Its 2025 filing describes its awards as funding for local charities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Alton Foundation gives
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 161% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $302K (2020) to $424K (2025). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $424K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Evangelical Church of Christ Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $56,316 |
| Hoyleton Youth and Family Services Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $37,544 |
| Crisis Food Center Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Hitz Memorial Home Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $28,158 |
| Operation Blessing Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Alton Salvation Army Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $18,772 |
| Father Flanagan's Boys Home Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $18,772 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Alton Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| The Restore Network Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $12,000 |
| Wm Bedell Achievement & Resource Center Alton, IL | Unrestricted | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Alton 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 | $6,004,199 | $553,992 | $502,745 | $424,232 | 40 | $446,546 | $327,332 | $277,548 |
| 2024 | $5,503,916 | $1,996,451 | $435,156 | $392,315 | 40 | $413,845 | $1,832,552 | $242,328 |
| 2023 | $5,182,946 | $1,502,137 | $365,403 | $324,920 | 40 | $342,730 | $109,947 | $189,067 |
| 2022 | $3,667,398 | $433,552 | $419,213 | $385,938 | 1 | $402,068 | $264,103 | $191,188 |
| 2021 | $4,520,831 | $313,123 | $343,589 | $305,466 | 1 | $322,650 | $146,957 | $205,208 |
| 2020 | $3,947,215 | $409,039 | $339,750 | $302,128 | 1 | — | $230,815 | $177,363 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Alton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $278K 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 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as youth and family services, food assistance, residential and training services for people with developmental disabilities, and support for children and families.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Hoyleton Youth and Family Services says it seeks to meet people’s physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social needs. Beverly Farm Foundation says it provides residential and training options for people with developmental disabilities. The Restore Network says it supports vulnerable children through the restorative powers of a loving family.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $392,315. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $38,673, with a median of $7,840. All grant purposes listed for the largest awards were unrestricted. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 40 grants totaling $424,232.
Among the larger 2024 grants were $38,673 to Evangelical Church of Christ, $35,000 to Crisis Food Center, $26,671 to Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, $20,003 to Hitz Memorial Home, and $20,000 each to Operation Blessing and St. Mary’s School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Kratschmer as chairman; Pat Heitzig as vice-chairman; Gary Osborne as secretary; and Dr. John Hoelscher, Rev. Jason Harrison, Jim Schwartzkopf, Emert Wyss, and Rene Bassett Butler as directors.
The Alton Foundation is led by Mark Kratschmer, New Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Kratschmer
New Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Harrison
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Schwartzkopf
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hoelscher
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rene Bassett Butler
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Waters
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Osborne
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pat Heitzig
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Emert Wyss (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jeannine Kelly (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Robert Walters (2020) — Retiring Secretary
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 The Alton Foundation
How much does The Alton Foundation give each year?
The Alton Foundation gave $424K across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $392K across 40 grants.
What is The Alton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Alton Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,850, and its average grant was $10,606, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Alton Foundation give grants?
The Alton Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Alton, IL (40 grants).
Does The Alton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 95% of The Alton Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Alton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Alton Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Evangelical Church of Christ ($56,316), Hoyleton Youth and Family Services ($37,544) and Crisis Food Center ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Alton Foundation?
The Alton Foundation reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $447K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $278K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Alton Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as youth and family services, food assistance, residential and training services for people with developmental disabilities, and support for children and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Alton Foundation?
Submit a general application letter stating the purpose of the grant to Gary Osborne at The Alton Foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Alton Foundation's EIN?
The Alton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6045370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Alton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Alton Woman's Home Association
Alton, IL
The foundation funds organizations serving needy women and children who reside in Madison County, Illinois; recent grants also supported senior services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $22,500, with a median of $9,000. It lists a request-for-funds application and tax-exempt status letter as required materials and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$4.4M
Grants
20
Total Given
$213K
The Quaker Houghton Foundation
Conshohocken, PA
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$189K
Borman Brothers Foundation co Holly Marcum
Alton, IL
Assets
$409
Grants
4
Total Given
$31K
Piasa Charitable Foundation
Alton, IL
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including community services, animal welfare, disability support, education, and relief efforts. In 2025, it made 32 grants ranging from $150 to $55,000, with a median of $2,750, primarily in Illinois and Missouri. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
32
Total Given
$203K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Alton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-alton-foundation-morg_057ba5288c3142ed80617b072d714326
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_376045370_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Alton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-alton-foundation-morg_057ba5288c3142ed80617b072d714326},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Alton 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.
The Alton Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?