The Virginia Burns Private
The Virginia Burns Private is a private foundation based in Morrison, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 13 grants totaling $48,500, with listed grant purposes including promoting the arts and providing food to children in need.
The Virginia Burns Private at a glance
In short: The Virginia Burns Private gave $49K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Iowa. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $48,500
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,731
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $873,902
- +11.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (70% 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 Virginia Burns Private
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It lists no formal application form and asks organizations to provide a brief description, the amount requested and how it will be used, a current budget, previous-year financial statements, an IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status, and a current board of directors list. The filing names Virginia Burns Foundation as the contact for this process.
- Review Cycle
- October 1 each year, as stated on the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- October 1 each year, as stated on the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Virginia Burns Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 105, Morrison, IL 61270
Phone: (815) 772-2121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Virginia Burns Private funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wartburg College ($33K). Together the top 10 received $47K.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 75 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa (70%), Illinois (11%), Colorado (11%), and Wisconsin (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Virginia Burns Private open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2021) to $49K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $49K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wartburg College Waverly, IA | Promote the Arts | $33,000 |
| Urban Servant Corps Denver, CO | Promote the Arts | $4,000 |
| IL Public Radio Rock Island, IL | Promote the Arts | $2,500 |
| Timberlake Playhouse Mt Carroll, IL | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| Northern Sky Theater Ephraim, WI | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| Francis Hardy Gallery Ephraim, WI | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| Woodlawn Arts Academy Sterling, IL | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| Peninsula School of Art Inc Fish Creek, WI | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| Clinton Showboat Theater Clinton, IA | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
| American Alpine Club Golden, CO | Promote the Arts | $1,000 |
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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 | $873,902 | $81,338 | $66,440 | $48,500 | 13 | $48,500 | $1,043 | $40,840 |
| 2024 | $785,760 | $53,540 | $61,913 | $48,500 | 14 | $48,500 | $6,560 | $38,603 |
| 2023 | $736,149 | $7,017 | $63,290 | $48,500 | 15 | $48,500 | $3,967 | $35,222 |
| 2022 | $689,987 | $-172,620 | $69,680 | $48,000 | 15 | $48,000 | — | $41,053 |
| 2021 | $977,652 | $331,708 | $52,110 | $40,000 | 18 | $40,000 | $319,162 | $43,411 |
| 2020 | $626,695 | $95,820 | $57,015 | $45,000 | 18 | — | $13,087 | $39,853 |
| 2019 | $656,243 | $31,454 | $53,129 | $40,950 | 19 | — | $20,287 | $39,291 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Virginia Burns Private reported a distributable amount of $41K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants include support for arts organizations and a program providing food to children in need. Among the grantees, Woodlawn Arts Academy says it provides artistic opportunities to the Sauk Valley community; Peninsula School of Art says it offers educational experiences in the visual arts; and Northern Sky Theater says it creates and presents professional musical and dramatic productions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $48,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $33,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest listed awards were $33,000 to Wartburg College, $4,000 to Urban Servant Corps, and $2,500 to Illinois Public Radio. Each was recorded with the purpose “promote the arts.” Other listed 2025 grants include $1,000 to Feeding Our Kids, for providing food to children in need.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joann Kilgus, Amy Kilgus-Chamley, and Adam Kilgus as trustees.
The Virginia Burns Private's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam Kilgus
Trustee
On filings since 2019
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Amy Kilgus-Chamley
Trustee
On filings since 2019
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Joann Kilgus
Trustee
On filings since 2019
$2K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $2K, to Joann Kilgus (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Virginia Burns Private
How much does The Virginia Burns Private give each year?
The Virginia Burns Private gave $49K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $49K across 14 grants.
What is The Virginia Burns Private's typical grant size?
The Virginia Burns Private's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,731, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Virginia Burns Private that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Virginia Burns Private give grants?
The Virginia Burns Private gives mostly in Iowa: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (11%) and Colorado (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (2 grants) and Ephraim, WI (2 grants).
Does The Virginia Burns Private give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Virginia Burns Private's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Promote the Arts" (12 grants).
Who are The Virginia Burns Private's largest grantees?
The Virginia Burns Private's largest 2025 grantees include Wartburg College ($33,000), Urban Servant Corps ($4,000) and IL Public Radio ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Virginia Burns Private?
The Virginia Burns Private reported $874K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $49K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $41K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Virginia Burns Private fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants include support for arts organizations and a program providing food to children in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia Burns Private?
The foundation states that it 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 Virginia Burns Private's EIN?
The Virginia Burns Private's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6255849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Virginia Burns Private 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work The Virginia Burns Private funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Virginia Burns Private's focus areas in our free grants database
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