The McDermott Foundation
The McDermott Foundation is a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. In 2025, it reported 14 grants totaling $35,500 to charitable organizations.
The McDermott Foundation at a glance
In short: The McDermott Foundation gave $36K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,500
- +23.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -26.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,536
- +67.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $264,117
- -4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (83% 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 McDermott Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 330 Willow Road, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (847) 868-8228
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The McDermott Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kenilworth Union Church ($15K). Together the top 10 received $34K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 96 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The reported shares also included North Carolina (6%), Washington (3%), New Hampshire (3%), and Pennsylvania (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The McDermott Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 14 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 150% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2022) to $112K (2020). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $36K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kenilworth Union Church Kenilworth, IL | General | $15,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | General | $5,000 |
| Rush University Chicago, IL | General | $5,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General | $2,000 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | General | $2,000 |
| Evanston Community Foundation Evanston, IL | General | $1,000 |
| HPFF Chicago, IL | General | $1,000 |
| Washington State University Pullman, WA | General | $1,000 |
| Dartmouth University Hanover, NH | General | $1,000 |
| Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA | General | $500 |
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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 | $264,117 | $27,840 | $38,749 | $35,500 | 14 | $38,749 | $27,840 | $25,771 |
| 2024 | $274,990 | $3,503 | $31,732 | $28,800 | 19 | $31,732 | $10,244 | — |
| 2023 | $303,189 | $7,426 | $32,653 | $30,225 | 18 | $32,653 | $12,628 | — |
| 2022 | $328,416 | $77,447 | $27,697 | $25,188 | 20 | $27,697 | $77,447 | $24,950 |
| 2021 | $278,666 | $8,529 | $47,664 | $45,950 | 25 | $47,664 | $6,560 | $23,349 |
| 2020 | $317,801 | $1,656 | $117,868 | $112,300 | 30 | — | $1,656 | $20,693 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McDermott Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26K 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 2025 grants went to organizations including universities, a symphony orchestra, a community foundation, and a public radio station; the listed grant purposes were “General.”
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. The Evanston Community Foundation says it mobilizes community resources to drive systemic social change and build a thriving, resilient Evanston. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $35,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $15,000, with a median of $1,000.
Among its largest reported grants were $15,000 to Kenilworth Union Church, $5,000 each to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Rush University, $2,000 each to the University of Chicago and Wake Forest University, and $1,000 each to the Evanston Community Foundation, HPFF, Washington State University, and Dartmouth University. The listed purposes were “General.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann E McDermott as President; Mary Tritley as Secretary/Treas; and Elizabeth Isley and Edward H McDermott as Directors.
The McDermott Foundation is led by Ann E McDermott, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann E McDermott
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Edward H McDermott
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Isley
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Tritley
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 McDermott Foundation
How much does The McDermott Foundation give each year?
The McDermott Foundation gave $36K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 19 grants.
What is The McDermott Foundation's typical grant size?
The McDermott Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,536, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The McDermott Foundation give grants?
The McDermott Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does The McDermott Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The McDermott Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The McDermott Foundation's largest grantees?
The McDermott Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Kenilworth Union Church ($15,000), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($5,000) and Rush University ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The McDermott Foundation?
The McDermott Foundation reported $264K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The McDermott Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including universities, a symphony orchestra, a community foundation, and a public radio station; the listed grant purposes were “General.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McDermott Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The McDermott Foundation's EIN?
The McDermott Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3501505. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The McDermott Foundation 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
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Figures come from The McDermott 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.
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