The S L Hickman Family Foundation
The S L Hickman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Shaker Heights, Ohio. It makes grants to organizations, with most of its 2024 grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.
Key facts about The S L Hickman Family Foundation
In short: The S L Hickman Family Foundation gave $1.8M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $137K), mostly in Michigan. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 38-3349206
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,779,041
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $136,849
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (5 of 13, 2024)
- Total assets
- $28,870,083
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Applications must be received at the foundation’s business office no later than October 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.9M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
-12.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
-31.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$137K
+27.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The S L Hickman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The S L Hickman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 13 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $205K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees describe a range of work: Adrian College says it offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs; Mackinac Center says it conducts public-policy research, analysis, and education in Michigan; and Montessori Children’s House describes its work as providing an individual-focused learning environment.
Other 2024 recipients describe work that includes educational and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities in Lenawee County, which Hope Community Center says it provides; stewardship and protection of Grand Teton National Park, which Grand Teton National Park Foundation says it supports; and educational, charitable, or religious purposes, which Adrian Kiwanis Foundation says it administers funds for.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $1,779,041. Grant amounts ranged from $41 to $1,000,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest grants were $1,000,000 to Sam Beauford Woodworking, $500,000 to Adrian College, and $100,000 each to Lenawee Community Foundation – Imagination Library and Mackinac Center. The filing lists each of these grants as operating support.
Review Cycle
Applications must be received at the foundation’s business office no later than October 1.
How to Apply
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications must be in writing and include a detailed description of the request’s purpose. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations.
Ready to take the next step with The S L Hickman Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 2% to New York, and 1% to South Carolina. The filing also reports 0% for Wyoming and Ohio. Named Michigan recipients include organizations in Adrian, Midland, and other communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $2.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sam Beauford Woodworking ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 91 (66%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Beauford Woodworking Adrain, MI | Operating | $1,000,000 |
| Adrian College Adrain, MI | Operating | $500,000 |
| Lenawee Community Foundation - Imagination Library Adrian, MI | Operating | $100,000 |
| Mackinac Center Midland, MI | Operating | $100,000 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | Operating | $30,000 |
| Montessori Children's House Adrian, MI | Operating | $15,000 |
| Hope Community Center Adrian, MI | Operating | $10,000 |
| United Way - Lowcountry Beaufort, SC | Operating | $10,000 |
| Adrian Kiwanis Foundation Adrian, MI | Operating | $5,000 |
| Grand Teton National Park Foundation Moose, WY | Operating | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,779,041 | 13 |
| 2023 | $2,043,530 | 19 |
| 2022 | $2,025,418 | 19 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,870,083 | $28,951,231 | $27,003,716 |
| Revenue | $3,448,121 | $1,480,224 | $1,428,008 |
| Expenses | $2,270,865 | $2,402,361 | $2,652,677 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,779,041 | $2,043,530 | $2,025,418 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,993,041 | $1,120,763 | $871,303 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,438,828 | $1,421,486 | $1,439,115 |
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 November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stephanie L Hickman-Boyse as president; Tracy L Hickman as secretary; David S Hickman as treasurer; and Sally D Hickman, Stephen L Hickman, Christine L Jemison, Sheila D Schwartz, and Chad B Munger as directors.
The S L Hickman Family Foundation is led by Stephanie L. Hickman-Boyse, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stephanie L. Hickman-Boyse
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Chad B. Munger
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christine L. Jemison
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sally D. Hickman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sheila D. Schwartz
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen L. Hickman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David S. Hickman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tracy L. Hickman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Sally D Hickman
Mailing address: C/O Corient 3401 Tuttle Rd Suite, 290, Shaker Heights, OH 44122
Phone: (571) 263-5055
Frequently asked questions about The S L Hickman Family Foundation
How much does The S L Hickman Family Foundation give each year?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation gave $1.8M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 19 grants.
What is The S L Hickman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $136,849, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The S L Hickman Family Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does The S L Hickman Family Foundation give grants?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Adrain, MI (4 grants) and Adrian, MI (4 grants).
Does The S L Hickman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The S L Hickman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The S L Hickman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Sam Beauford Woodworking ($1,000,000), Adrian College ($500,000) and Lenawee Community Foundation - Imagination Library ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The S L Hickman Family Foundation?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation reported $28.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The S L Hickman Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The S L Hickman Family Foundation?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The S L Hickman Family Foundation's EIN?
The S L Hickman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3349206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The S L Hickman Family Foundation by hand.
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