The William F O'connor Foundation
The William F O'Connor Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as an independent grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting charitable causes through discretionary board decisions.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.9M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$260K
+0.8% YoY
Grant Count
27
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-6.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William F O'connor Foundation reported a distributable amount of $479K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Medical research, with particular emphasis on cancer prevention and cure
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Human services
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
The foundation maintains board discretion in its grantmaking approach, allowing flexibility in funding decisions across these areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 18 grants totaling $260,000 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the Chicago, Illinois area, with additional giving in Michigan and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,847,449
- Total Revenues: $519,964
- Total Expenses: $395,622
- Investment Income and Dividends: $510,380
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $9,584
Revenue Trends
Total revenues increased 119.3% from the prior fiscal year (FYE June 2023: $237,128), driven primarily by a 43.6% increase in investment income and dividends.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,876,779 | $9,847,449 | $9,724,476 |
| Revenue | $448,214 | $519,964 | $237,128 |
| Expenses | $418,868 | $395,622 | $431,683 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $260,000 | $308,000 | $322,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $448,214 | $469,964 | $295,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $479,479 | $475,602 | $474,966 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Wttw Channel 11 ($110,000), The Bridge Fund ($25,000), St Coletta's of Illinois Foundation ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE OF ILLINOIS WILMETTE, IL | GENERAL | $1,500 |
| BROTHER DAN'S FOOD PANTRY PETOSKEY, MI | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| CATHOLIC CHURCH EXTENSION SOCIETY OF USA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO JESUIT ACADEMY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CLUB OF HEARTS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $4,000 |
| DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PALM DESERT, CA | GENERAL | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by trustees Carol Hennessy and Joanne Unkovsky. Administrative services are provided through Ryan & Juraska LLP.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL HENNESSY | PRESIDENT | 7 | $40,000 |
| MARY JANE O'CONNOR | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 5 | $40,000 |
| PHILIP C RYAN | SECRETARY | 5 | $40,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 141 W Jackson Blvd, Suite 2250, Chicago, IL 60604-3328
Telephone: 312-922-0062
EIN: 36-3593445
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William F O'connor Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Medical research, with particular emphasis on cancer prevention and cure • Arts and culture • Education • Human services • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking The foundation maintains board discretion in its grantmaking approach, allowing flexibility in funding decisions across these areas.
How do I apply for a grant from The William F O'connor Foundation?
**Grant Activity (Fiscal Year 2024)** The foundation made 18 grants totaling $260,000 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: • Club of Hearts: $15,000 (general support) • St Colettas of Illinois Foundation: $15,000 (general support) • Chicago Jesuit Academy: $15,000 (general support) **Grant Range** Typical awards range from $250 to $110,000.
Where does The William F O'connor Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the Chicago, Illinois area, with additional giving in Michigan and New York.
What size grants does The William F O'connor Foundation award?
In 2025, The William F O'connor Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $260K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William F O'connor Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The William F O'connor Foundation reported a distributable amount of $479K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William F O'connor Foundation's EIN?
The William F O'connor Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3593445. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William F O'connor Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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