Verl I Brooks Scholarship
The Verl I Brooks Scholarship Foundation is a private foundation based in Galesburg, Illinois. It funds scholarships for eligible students and has also made charitable contributions to Rivoli Township nonprofits and grants for community improvement.
Verl I Brooks Scholarship at a glance
In short: Verl I Brooks Scholarship gave $607K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $607,418
- +326.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -27.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,724
- +490.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,578
- Total assets
- $1,141,040
- -28.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Verl I Brooks Scholarship
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website stated that 2026–2027 would be its final scholarship year; it directed applicants to submit the scholarship application and required materials described above. The 2025 filing lists a scholarship application and a restriction requiring residence in Rivoli Township, Mercer County, Illinois, for at least two years before high school graduation.
- Contact
Application contact: Judy Diemer
Mailing address: 1313 Maple Ave, Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: (309) 343-1348
Website: https://vbrooksfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Verl I Brooks Scholarship funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rivoli Fire Protection District ($481K). Together the top 10 received $601K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 90 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes scholarship eligibility for Rivoli Township students. The 2025 filing specifies residence in Rivoli Township, Mercer County, Illinois, for at least two years before high school graduation. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and Minnesota, with 99% going to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How Verl I Brooks Scholarship gives
- Giving grew 666% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 467% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $79K (2022) to $607K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $607K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rivoli Fire Protection District New Windsor, IL | Public Safety | $480,687 |
| Wilson Alex New Windsor, IL | Education | $25,200 |
| Johnson Leah New Windsor, IL | Education | $19,635 |
| Elsbury Kyla New Windsor, IL | Education | $17,400 |
| Hatlestad Jack New Windsor, IL | Education | $13,161 |
| Walz Elizabeth Rock Island, IL | Education | $12,299 |
| Johnson Elaina New Windsor, IL | Education | $9,578 |
| Ryan Alexis New Windsor, IL | Education | $9,517 |
| Goble Ellie New Windsor, IL | Education | $9,445 |
| Ernst Carlee Kness Foley, MN | Education | $4,340 |
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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 | $1,141,040 | $195,593 | $642,029 | $607,418 | 13 | $628,076 | $73,375 | $134,539 |
| 2024 | $1,587,476 | $65,132 | $176,654 | $142,546 | 18 | $161,272 | $79,301 | $132,845 |
| 2023 | $1,698,998 | $196,928 | $143,289 | $111,079 | 17 | $130,138 | $183,768 | $127,069 |
| 2022 | $1,645,359 | $52,875 | $113,971 | $79,263 | 21 | $99,017 | $76,656 | $137,104 |
| 2021 | $1,706,455 | $104,580 | $114,527 | $81,062 | 21 | $100,191 | $93,564 | $136,576 |
| 2020 | $1,716,402 | $248,525 | $136,412 | $107,097 | 24 | — | $237,274 | $119,861 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Verl I Brooks Scholarship reported a distributable amount of $135K 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
Verl I Brooks wanted to help residents of her rural community succeed. The foundation’s website says its income was directed to eligible Rivoli Township students attending accredited schools in the United States. It also reports approval to make additional charitable contributions to Rivoli Township nonprofits when scholarship awards did not meet the annual distribution requirements for private foundations.
Grantmaking
For 2025, the filing lists 13 grants totaling $607,418, with a median grant of $9,578. The largest listed grant was $480,687 to Rivoli Fire Protection District in New Windsor, Illinois, for public safety. Other listed awards included scholarships for education, such as $25,200 to Alex Wilson and $19,635 to Leah Johnson, both of New Windsor. The filing reports that 99% of 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 1% to Minnesota.
The foundation’s 2025 filing separately describes 13 scholarships totaling $122,656 and community improvement grants approved for the fiscal year totaling $483,134. These figures do not equal the $607,418 grant sum reported for 2025.
The website identifies the 2026–2027 academic year as the final scholarship cycle. It described an application consisting of a scholarship application, a completed budget, a statement explaining need with a signature, transcripts, and—if the applicant filed FAFSA—pages 1–4 of the Student Aid Report. It instructed applicants to obtain the form from the Sherrard High School guidance counselor, the New Windsor Public Library, or the foundation website. The website’s April 1, 2026 postmark deadline is past. The 2025 filing separately lists June 1 as the annual deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas Bischoff and Michael Schaubroeck as trustees and Judy Diemer as foundation manager. The foundation’s website identifies Diemer as managing trustee.
Verl I Brooks Scholarship's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Schaubroeck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$4K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Thomas Bischoff
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$4K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Judy Diemer
Foundation M
On filings since 2020
$19K (2020) → $21K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $21K, to Judy Diemer (Foundation M). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Verl I Brooks Scholarship
How much does Verl I Brooks Scholarship give each year?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship gave $607K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $143K across 18 grants.
What is Verl I Brooks Scholarship's typical grant size?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship's median grant in 2025 was $9,578, and its average grant was $46,724, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Verl I Brooks Scholarship give grants?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Windsor, IL (11 grants).
Does Verl I Brooks Scholarship give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Verl I Brooks Scholarship's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (12 grants).
Who are Verl I Brooks Scholarship's largest grantees?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship's largest 2025 grantees include Rivoli Fire Protection District ($480,687), Wilson Alex ($25,200) and Johnson Leah ($19,635), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Verl I Brooks Scholarship?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $628K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $135K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Verl I Brooks Scholarship fund?
Verl I Brooks wanted to help residents of her rural community succeed. The foundation’s website says its income was directed to eligible Rivoli Township students attending accredited schools in the United States. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Verl I Brooks Scholarship?
The foundation’s website stated that 2026–2027 would be its final scholarship year; it directed applicants to submit the scholarship application and required materials described above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Verl I Brooks Scholarship's EIN?
Verl I Brooks Scholarship's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3967580. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 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 July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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