The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation AKA is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka at a glance
In short: The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka gave $775K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $775K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $774,500
- +298.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $774,500
- +298.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $774,500
- Total assets
- $16,871,216
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 803878, Chicago, IL 60680
Phone: (312) 630-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 193 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2024 went to a recipient listed in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka gives
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $195K (2023) to $775K (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $775K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached Schedule See Attached Schedule, IL | General Support | $774,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,871,216 | $1,189,154 | $1,056,133 | $774,500 | 1 | $905,385 | $1,097,407 | $966,791 |
| 2023 | $16,731,839 | $3,264,147 | $271,861 | $194,500 | 1 | $229,290 | $3,237,971 | $848,016 |
| 2022 | $9,619,198 | $304,844 | $509,158 | $473,714 | 49 | $473,714 | $279,426 | $905,892 |
| 2021 | $9,823,512 | $1,599,130 | $645,152 | $577,158 | 70 | $577,158 | $945,132 | $845,606 |
| 2020 | $8,869,534 | $5,956,704 | $645,496 | $632,300 | 72 | — | $1,582,567 | $341,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka reported a distributable amount of $967K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported one grant totaling $774,500. That grant, listed to “SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE” in Illinois, was for general support. The single grant was also the smallest, largest, and median grant reported for that year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Northern Trust Company, H Thomas Watkins III, Wendy R Watkins, and Philip A Huss (deceased) as co-trustees.
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Northern Trust Company
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$41K (2023) → $201K (2024)
H. Thomas Watkins III
Co-Trustee
Co-Trustee → Trustee, 2022
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy R. Watkins
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Philip A. Huss (2020–2024) — Co-Trustee · Filing note: Deceased
- Former: Betty J. Watkins (2020–2022) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Hays T. Watkins (2020–2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $201K, to Northern Trust Company (Co-Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka
How much does The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka give each year?
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka gave $775K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $195K across 1 grant.
How large is The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka?
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $905K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $967K (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.
How do I apply for a grant from The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka make grants?
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2024 went to a recipient listed in Illinois.
What is The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka's EIN?
The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1873256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Watkins Family Charitable Foundation Aka funds
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