The George A Bates Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It made 10 grants totaling $350,000 in 2025, supporting organizations including a school, wildlife and animal-welfare organizations, and organizations whose work includes family support and reproductive health.
Key facts about The George a Bates Memorial Foundation
In short: The George a Bates Memorial Foundation gave $350K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), top state Illinois. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-3747609
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $350,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $35,000
- Median grant
- $22,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,137,105
- Primary geography
- Illinois (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s filing says to submit an initial inquiry by letter to the contact named on the filing. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
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
$5.1M
+6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
+22.8% YoY
Grant Count
10
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+84.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The George a Bates Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The George a Bates Memorial Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. The Hill School says it prepares students for college, careers, and life through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum. Oaken Acres Wildlife Center says it rehabilitates native Illinois wildlife and advocates for wildlife through community education and conversation. PAWS Chicago describes itself as a leader in the no-kill animal-welfare movement, providing spay/neuter, medical, and adoption programs. Save-A-Pet describes its work as finding homes for cats and dogs and promoting humane treatment of animals. The Cheetah Conservation Fund says its mission is to ensure the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystem through research and education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 10 grants totaling $350,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $22,500. Its largest awards were $100,000 each to Oaken Acres Wildlife Center and The Hill School. Other grants included $25,000 each to Furry Friends, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation; $20,000 to Home for Our Troops and Winnetka Community Center; $15,000 to PAWS Chicago; and $10,000 each to Cheetah Conservation Fund and Save-A-Pet.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states and Washington, DC. The largest listed shares were Illinois (41%) and Pennsylvania (29%), followed by Florida, Washington, DC, and New York (7% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $276K (2020) to $357K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $350K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oaken Acres Wildlife Center ($100K). Together the top 10 received $350K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 58 (84%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oaken Acres Wildlife Center Sycamore, IL | General Operating | $100,000 |
| The Hill School Pottstown, PA | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Furry Friends Jupiter, FL | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America Washington, DC | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Home for Our Troops Taunton, MA | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Winnetka Community Center Winnetka, IL | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Paws Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Cheetah Conservation Fund Alexandria, VA | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Save-a-Pet Grayslake, IL | General Operating | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,137,105 | $744,063 | $435,317 | $350,000 (10 grants) |
| 2024 | $4,828,359 | $815,698 | $341,017 | $285,000 (15 grants) |
| 2023 | $4,353,678 | $126,025 | $385,649 | $312,000 (15 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,137,105 | $4,828,359 | $4,353,678 |
| Revenue | $744,063 | $815,698 | $126,025 |
| Expenses | $435,317 | $341,017 | $385,649 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $375,664 | $307,972 | $344,970 |
| Net Investment Income | $699,522 | $781,567 | $86,102 |
| Distributable Amount | $362,223 | $342,394 | $319,604 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Ian C S Macgregor, Constance Bates Macgregor, Lesley B Macgregor, James A S Macgregor, and Ian Kinloch Macgregor.
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Constance Bates Macgregor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Lesley B. Macgregor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Ian C. S. Macgrecor
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Ian Kinloch Macgregor
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
James A. S. Macgregor
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Michael C. Murray PhD (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: James H. Stacke (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Ian C S Macgrecor (Trustee). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Co Kirk A Hoopingarner
Mailing address: Quarles Brady Llp 155 No Wacker Dr, Ste 3200, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 715-5251
Frequently asked questions about The George a Bates Memorial Foundation
How much does The George a Bates Memorial Foundation give each year?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation gave $350K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $285K across 15 grants.
What is The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's typical grant size?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $35,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The George a Bates Memorial Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does The George a Bates Memorial Foundation give grants?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (29%) and Florida (7%).
Does The George a Bates Memorial Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's largest grantees?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oaken Acres Wildlife Center ($100,000), The Hill School ($100,000) and Furry Friends ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The George a Bates Memorial Foundation?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $376K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $362K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The George a Bates Memorial Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. The Hill School says it prepares students for college, careers, and life through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The George a Bates Memorial Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to submit an initial inquiry by letter to the contact named on the filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's EIN?
The George a Bates Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3747609. 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.
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