Tomkins Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker South Elgin, IL EIN: 45-3998558

Tomkins Family Foundation is a private foundation based in South Elgin, Illinois. In 2024, it reported 27 grants totaling $222,817 to charitable organizations in multiple states, including organizations working in education, civic engagement, women’s social impact, and community development.

Tomkins Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Tomkins Family Foundation gave $223K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state California. 52% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$222,817
+78.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
27
+22.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$8,252
+45.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$1,978,076
+19.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
52% first-time grantees (14 of 27, 2024)
Primary geography
California (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Tomkins Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Contact

Mailing address: 310 N Lafox St 647, South Elgin, IL 60177
Phone: (650) 906-1781

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Tomkins Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Illinois Foundation: $50KUniversity of IllinoisFoundation$50KWay to Rise: $23KWay to Rise$23KThe Hamlin School: $20KThe Hamlin School$20KElisabetta M Colabianchikurandza: $15KElisabetta MColabianchikurandza$15KFriends of Christ Hospital: $15KFriends of Christ Hospital$15KWorld Pulse Voices: $15KWorld Pulse Voices$15KWomens Donor Network: $13KWomens Donor Network$13KUnited Nations Relief & Works Agency: $11KUnited Nations Relief & WorksAgency$11KWay to Win: $10KWay to Win$10KAsian Community Development: $5KAsian Community Development$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Illinois Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $177K.

Grant Size Distribution

130 grants across all recorded years

129<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 130 (99%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, California received 29% of grant dollars, Illinois 23%, the District of Columbia 22%, Pennsylvania 9%, and Oregon 7%.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.

Cities

San FranciscoWashingtonNew YorkChicagoPortlandPetalumaBerkeleyNew OrleansOaklandPhoenixSomervilleAustinBostonBurlingtonDurhamSan RafaelSycamoreBaton RougeChampaignCleveland

Is Tomkins Family Foundation open to new grantees?

52%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 14 of 27 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $7K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 84% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 241% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K27 grants2019 35 grants2020 28 grants2021 18 grants2022 22 grants2023 27 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $109K (2020) to $223K (2024). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $223K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Illinois Foundation Champaign, ILTo Further Program Services$50,000
Way to Rise Washington, DCTo Further Program Services$23,000
The Hamlin School San Francisco, CATo Further Program Services$20,000
Elisabetta M Colabianchikurandza Petaluma, CATo Further Program Services$15,000
Friends of Christ Hospital Lititz, PATo Further Program Services$15,000
World Pulse Voices Portland, ORTo Further Program Services$15,000
Womens Donor Network San Francisco, CATo Further Program Services$13,090
United Nations Relief & Works Agency Washington, DCTo Further Program Services$11,148
Way to Win Washington, DCTo Further Program Services$10,000
Asian Community Development Boston, MATo Further Program Services$5,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Reported grantmaking by filing year:

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,978,076$546,163$247,996$222,81727$222,817$522,184$92,519
2023$1,661,387$41,872$145,753$124,53722$124,537$20,656$98,616
2022$2,529,169$-35,713$149,908$122,17018$122,584$19,047$143,559
2021$2,738,595$-24,493$151,883$121,10328$121,103$21,040$151,872
2020$2,891,726$78,943$136,206$109,29435—$49,131$142,280
2019$2,951,461$134,270$184,088$157,05027—$103,689$148,978

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tomkins Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $93K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, the University of Illinois Foundation says its mission is to encourage and administer private gifts that benefit the University of Illinois. Way to Rise describes its work as funding sustained, nonpartisan civic engagement led by state-based organizations and national groups that support them. World Pulse Voices describes itself as a global network connecting women to support social change.

Other 2024 recipients include The Hamlin School, which says it educates girls to become thinkers, innovators, and leaders, and Asian Community Development Corporation, which says it works with underserved and immigrant Asian American communities to create and preserve affordable, sustainable, and healthy neighborhoods.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $222,817. Grant amounts ranged from $400 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants included $50,000 to the University of Illinois Foundation, $23,000 to Way to Rise, and $20,000 to The Hamlin School. Other notable awards were $15,000 each to Elisabetta M Colabianchikurandza, Friends of Christ Hospital, and World Pulse Voices, and $13,090 to Women’s Donor Network. The stated purpose for these grants was “to further program services.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Claire Tomkins as president and treasurer, Nicholas Tomkins as vice president, and Michael Drennan as director.

Tomkins Family Foundation is led by Claire Tomkins, President & Treasurer since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Claire Tomkins

    President & Treasurer

    Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $1K (2022) → $0 (2024)

  • Michael Drennan

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicholas Tomkins

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Jennifer Tomkins (2019) — Secretary
  • Former: Trevor Tomkins (2019) — President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2022 IRS filing

Claire Tomkins — President / Treasurer: $1KClaire TomkinsPresident / Treasurer$1K

The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $1K, to Claire Tomkins (President / Treasurer).

Frequently asked questions about Tomkins Family Foundation

How much does Tomkins Family Foundation give each year?

Tomkins Family Foundation gave $223K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $125K across 22 grants.

What is Tomkins Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Tomkins Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,252, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tomkins Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Tomkins Family Foundation give grants?

Tomkins Family Foundation's top state is California, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (23%) and District of Columbia (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Washington, DC (5 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).

Does Tomkins Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Tomkins Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Program Services" (27 grants).

Who are Tomkins Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Tomkins Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Illinois Foundation ($50,000), Way to Rise ($23,000) and The Hamlin School ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Tomkins Family Foundation?

Tomkins Family Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $223K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $93K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Tomkins Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, the University of Illinois Foundation says its mission is to encourage and administer private gifts that benefit the University of Illinois. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Tomkins Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Tomkins Family Foundation's EIN?

Tomkins Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3998558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does Tomkins Family Foundation 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

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 16, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 17, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Live grants for the work Tomkins Family Foundation funds

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Tomkins Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/tomkins-family-foundation-morg_783de41d958b456783f7f6830729af5c

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453998558_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Tomkins Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/tomkins-family-foundation-morg_783de41d958b456783f7f6830729af5c},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Tomkins Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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