The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan

Private foundation · Grantmaker Barrington, IL EIN: 36-4121030

The Francis J and Patricia A Houlihan is a private foundation based in Barrington, Illinois. It makes contributions and grants to qualified charitable organizations and engages in other activities exclusively in furtherance of those charitable purposes.

Key facts about The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan

In short: The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan gave $149K across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-4121030
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$149,010
Grants made (2025)
62
Average grant
$2,403
Median grant
$1,750
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (15 of 62, 2025)
Total assets
$3,149,142
Primary geography
Illinois (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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

$3.1M

+1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$149K

+2.0% YoY

Grant Count

62

+8.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

-6.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan reported a distributable amount of $171K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 15 of 62 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 64% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2019–2025). 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 October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s filing describes grantmaking to qualified charitable organizations as its sole charitable activity. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in areas including the arts, health care, veterans’ services, religious organizations, education, and community services.

The Raue Center for the Arts, which received $7,500, describes its mission as enriching the lives of McHenry County and surrounding communities through visual and performing arts in a historic venue. Folds of Honor Foundation, which received $4,400, says it provides educational scholarships for qualifying spouses and dependent children of military service members and first responders killed or disabled while serving. Barrington Area Council on Aging, which received $1,000, says its programs and services aim to improve the lives of older adults, families, and caregivers.

Other 2025 grantees illustrate the range of supported organizations. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which received $1,000, describes providing assistance such as rent, utilities, medical expenses, clothing, furniture, and household goods to people in need. Side By Side Charter School, which received $2,000, says it was created to reduce racial isolation through a multiracial learning environment. New Day Women’s Clinic, which received $2,000, describes itself as a Christian organization supporting expectant mothers and their families.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 62 grants totaling $149,010. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $9,000, with a median of $1,750.

Among the largest reported grants were $9,000 to Tunnel to the Towers; $7,500 to Raue Center for the Arts; $7,000 each to Shriners Hospital for Children and St Jude; and $6,000 to Wounded Warrior. The foundation also gave $5,000 each to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Samaritans Purse, Veterans Closet, and Water Safety Patrol.

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 11% to Wisconsin, 8% to New York, 3% to Oklahoma, and 3% to Texas. The listed grants also included recipients in other states.

Grant Distribution by State

23states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoBarringtonBloomingtonWashingtonArlingtonChamberlainDelavanFort SheridanHoffman EstatesNorwalkStaten IslandWilliams BayAuroraElginGreen BayJohnsburgMcHenryIrondaleDelevanJoliet

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K45 grants2019 52 grants2020 29 grants2021 49 grants2022 58 grants2023 57 grants2024 62 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $91K (2022) to $181K (2019). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $149K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Tunnel to the Towers: $9KTunnel to the Towers$9KRaue Center for the Arts: $8KRaue Center for the Arts$8KShriners Hospital for Children: $7KShriners Hospital for Children$7KSt Jude: $7KSt Jude$7KWounded Warrior: $6KWounded Warrior$6KAnn and Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital: $5KAnn and Robert H LurieChildrens Hospital$5KNorthwestern Memorial Hospital: $5KNorthwestern Memorial Hospital$5KSamaritans Purse: $5KSamaritans Purse$5KVeterans Closet: $5KVeterans Closet$5KWater Safety Patrol: $5KWater Safety Patrol$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Tunnel to the Towers ($9K). Together the top 10 received $62K.

Grant Size Distribution

255 grants across all recorded years

254<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 254 grants of 255 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Tunnel to the Towers Staten Island, NYGeneral$9,000
Raue Center for the Arts Crystal Lake, ILGeneral$7,500
Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago, ILGeneral$7,000
St Jude Chicago, ILGeneral$7,000
Wounded Warrior Chicago, ILGeneral$6,000
Ann and Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital Chicago, ILGeneral$5,000
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, ILGeneral$5,000
Samaritans Purse Aurora, ILGeneral$5,000
Veterans Closet North Chicago, ILGeneral$5,000
Water Safety Patrol Williams Bay, WIGeneral$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $3,149,142 $273,178 $201,961 $149,010
2024 $3,111,302 $247,275 $190,729 $146,100
2023 $3,054,756 $97,742 $193,232 $151,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,149,142$3,111,302$3,054,756
Revenue$273,178$247,275$97,742
Expenses$201,961$190,729$193,232
Qualifying Distributions$158,010$155,594$161,349
Net Investment Income$233,719$212,140$65,859
Distributable Amount$170,658$163,692$160,923

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 29, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 18, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
  5. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 23, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 27, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Francis Houlihan as president; Kathleen Mary Janke, Mary Francis Mattoon, Maureen Ann Otten, and Aileen Marie Fitzgerald as vice presidents; Gregory Dowell as treasurer; and Whitman Brisky as secretary.

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan is led by Francis Houlihan, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Francis Houlihan

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gregory Dowell

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Aileen Marie Fitzgerald

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kathleen Mary Janke

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Francis Mattoon

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maureen Ann Otten

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Whitman Brisky

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Patricia Houlihan (2019–2020) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 3430 Garlands Lane, Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: (630) 272-0263

Frequently asked questions about The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan

How much does The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan give each year?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan gave $149K across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $146K across 57 grants.

What is The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's typical grant size?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's median grant in 2025 was $1,750, and its average grant was $2,403, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan that year got $2K on average.

Where does The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan give grants?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (11%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (15 grants), Barrington, IL (5 grants), Arlington, VA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).

Does The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan give general operating support?

Yes: 95% of The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (59 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's largest grantees?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's largest 2025 grantees include Tunnel to the Towers ($9,000), Raue Center for the Arts ($7,500) and Shriners Hospital for Children ($7,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $158K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $171K (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 The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan fund?

The foundation’s filing describes grantmaking to qualified charitable organizations as its sole charitable activity. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations in areas including the arts, health care, veterans’ services, religious organizations, education, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan?

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

What is The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's EIN?

The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4121030. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Francis J and Patricia a Houlihan 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 October 2026.

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