The Mills Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $836K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $50K. Net investment income was $39K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$836K
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$50K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
2
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-50.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Mills Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Mills Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $836K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $50K. Net investment income was $39K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $835,595 | $848,857 | $850,116 |
| Revenue | $46,638 | $57,417 | $40,527 |
| Expenses | $60,013 | $58,676 | $68,483 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $51,250 | $55,469 | $65,738 |
| Net Investment Income | $38,655 | $55,215 | $38,675 |
| Distributable Amount | $86,503 | $73,072 | $72,087 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
11 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Filson Historical Society ($25,000), Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FILSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY LOUISVILLE, KY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| FRIENDS OF HOPELANDS AND RYE PATCH Aiken, SC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH H WATERFILL | TRUSTEE, DIST COMMITTEE | 3 | — |
| JULIA MILLS WATERFILL | TRUSTEE, DIST. COMMITTEE | 3 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mills Foundation?
The Mills Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds $836K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Mills Foundation?
As of 2024, The Mills Foundation holds $836K in total assets with $47K in annual revenue. It awarded 2 grants totaling $50K in 2024.
Where does The Mills Foundation operate?
The Mills Foundation has awarded grants in Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, South Carolina.
What size grants does The Mills Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mills Foundation awarded 2 grants totaling $50K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mills Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Mills Foundation's EIN?
The Mills Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6457422. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mills Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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