The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 33 grants totaling $1,555,000, including support for educational institutions, social-service organizations, and charitable organizations.
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer at a glance
In short: The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer gave $1.6M across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,555,000
- +9.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +26.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,121
- -13.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $18,676,342
- -0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (6 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (65% 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 The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9 Woodley Rd, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 446-7454
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Misericordia Foundation ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
161 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 109 grants of 161 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 21% to recipients in Texas. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey each accounted for 4%, 3%, and 3%, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 33 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $1.2M (2023) to $1.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Misericordia Foundation Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL | Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| Catholic Theological Union Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Mobile Loaves and Fishes Austin, TX | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| De La Salle Institute Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Children's Association for Maximum Potential San Antonio, TX | Unrestricted | $60,000 |
| Deborah's Place Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters Sinsinawa, WI | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| St Joseph's Home for the Elderly Totowa, NJ | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
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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 | $18,676,342 | $1,479,560 | $1,601,916 | $1,555,000 | 33 | $1,568,042 | $1,454,561 | $1,622,420 |
| 2024 | $18,798,698 | $606,213 | $1,446,995 | $1,415,000 | 26 | $1,425,305 | $664,373 | $1,578,327 |
| 2023 | $19,639,480 | $705,395 | $1,213,331 | $1,176,000 | 34 | $1,196,395 | $690,115 | $1,409,045 |
| 2022 | $20,147,416 | $769,473 | $1,494,720 | $1,441,500 | 32 | $1,458,829 | $733,582 | $1,439,802 |
| 2021 | $20,872,663 | $1,369,297 | $1,621,200 | $1,593,000 | 36 | $1,599,945 | $1,348,032 | $1,588,439 |
| 2020 | $21,124,566 | $95,863 | $1,467,848 | $1,418,500 | 28 | — | $313,315 | $1,311,586 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No funder mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose work includes education, services for people with disabilities, food assistance, housing and homelessness services, and religiously affiliated institutions.
Among the grantees, the Greater Chicago Food Depository describes its mission as ending hunger in Cook County, while Caritas of Austin says it provides housing and tailored services to prevent and end homelessness. Children’s Association for Maximum Potential describes its work as supporting people with disabilities and their caregivers through recreation, respite, and education. The Holdsworth Center says it supports and develops educational leaders to improve Texas public education. These are descriptions of the grantees’ work, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $1,555,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $25,000. The largest listed grants included $200,000 to Misericordia Foundation, $150,000 to Dominican University, $125,000 each to Catholic Theological Union and Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and $100,000 each to Catholic Charities of Chicago and De La Salle Institute. The listed purposes for these grants were unrestricted.
Other reported 2025 grants included $60,000 to Children’s Association for Maximum Potential; $50,000 each to Deborah’s Place, Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, St Joseph’s Home for the Elderly, St Mary’s University of Minnesota, and The Holdsworth Center; and $45,000 to Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carolyn Noonan Parmer as settlor trustee, and James W Parmer, Raymond C Parmer, and Phyllis M Parmer Plummer as founding trustees.
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carolyn Noonan Parmer
Settlor Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James W. Parmer
Founding Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis M. Parmer Plummer
Founding Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond C. Parmer
Founding Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John F. Parmer (2020–2021) — Former Trustee
- Former: Carolyn L. Parmer Larochelle (2020) — Founding 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.
Frequently asked questions about The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer
How much does The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer give each year?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer gave $1.6M across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 26 grants.
What is The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's typical grant size?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $47,121, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer that year got $18K on average.
Where does The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer give grants?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer gives mostly in Illinois: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (13 grants) and Austin, TX (5 grants).
Does The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's largest grantees?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's largest 2025 grantees include Misericordia Foundation ($200,000), Dominican University ($150,000) and Catholic Theological Union ($125,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer reported $18.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (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 John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer fund?
No funder mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose work includes education, services for people with disabilities, food assistance, housing and homelessness services, and religiously affiliated institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's EIN?
The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4153563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-c-and-carolyn-noonan-parmer-morg_c498260f04474eb09a389c520beb839d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364153563_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-john-c-and-carolyn-noonan-parmer-morg_c498260f04474eb09a389c520beb839d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer'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.
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