Wilemal Fund
Wilemal Fund is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing lists grants to educational institutions, conservation organizations, arts organizations, and community-service organizations.
Wilemal Fund at a glance
In short: Wilemal Fund gave $3.6M across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $82K), top state North Carolina. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,628,298
- -55.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- +7.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $82,461
- -58.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $3,178,241
- -31.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (6 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (27% 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 Wilemal Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 333 W Wacker Drive 2500, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 676-0321
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilemal Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Masters School ($852K). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 189 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (27%), New York (23%), Illinois (23%), Florida (14%), and the District of Columbia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wilemal Fund open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 44 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $93K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 202% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2024) to $8.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Masters School Dobbs Ferry, NY | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $852,336 |
| Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $558,786 |
| The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina Durham, NC | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $500,000 |
| Palm Beach Opera West Palm Beach, FL | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $250,000 |
| Audubon North Carolina Durham, NC | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $200,000 |
| Hobe Sound Community Chest Hobe Sound, FL | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $150,000 |
| Alliance Francaise De Chicago Chicago, IL | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $122,176 |
| Banner Lake Club Hobe Sound, FL | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $100,000 |
| Sawtooth School for Visual Arts Winston-Salem, NC | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $100,000 |
| Tudor Place Washington, DC | For the General, Scientific or Education Purpose | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,178,241 | $7,384,566 | $3,744,312 | $3,628,298 | 44 | $3,707,702 | $2,006,080 | $1,836,031 |
| 2023 | $4,649,508 | $8,303,096 | $8,214,059 | $8,161,744 | 41 | $8,194,769 | $3,102,875 | $1,680,622 |
| 2022 | $7,038,188 | $9,571,911 | $5,129,400 | $5,095,651 | 37 | $5,115,390 | $1,826,842 | $1,736,476 |
| 2021 | $5,343,024 | $4,192,297 | $4,469,238 | $4,405,345 | 31 | $4,447,938 | $1,845,499 | $1,910,314 |
| 2020 | $7,804,478 | $4,048,850 | $5,826,518 | $5,734,642 | 36 | — | $2,788,312 | $1,554,399 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilemal Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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 fund is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, The Master’s School says it provides an education intended to equip students to impact the world for Christ; Lake Forest College describes its work as providing post-secondary education leading to a baccalaureate degree; and Palm Beach Opera says it produces opera, offers educational programs, and trains opera performers. Hobe Sound Community Chest describes its mission as promoting community social and educational wellbeing by funding programs for residents in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Wilemal Fund reported 44 grants totaling $3,628,298. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $852,336, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest grants were $852,336 to The Master’s School, $558,786 to Lake Forest College, $500,000 to The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina, $250,000 to Palm Beach Opera, and $200,000 to Audubon North Carolina. Other notable grants included $150,000 to Hobe Sound Community Chest, $122,176 to Alliance Française de Chicago, and $100,000 each to Banner Lake Club, Sawtooth School for Visual Arts, and Tudor Place.
The filing states that the foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following officers and directors:
- William Gardner Brown — General Fund president, secretary, and director; WGB Fund president, secretary, and director
- Malcolm McDougal Brown — General Fund vice president, treasurer, and director
- Solange Pezon Brown — General Fund director; WGB Fund vice president, treasurer, and director
- Solange Stephanie Pezon Brown — WGB Fund director
- Patricia A. Brown — PAB Fund president, secretary, and director
- Kenton Randolph Brown — PAB Fund co-treasurer, vice president, and director
- Preston Gardner Brown — PAB Fund co-treasurer, vice president, and director
Wilemal Fund is led by Patricia A. Brown, Pab Fund President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patricia A. Brown
Pab Fund President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William Gardner Brown
General Fund President, Secretary, Director, Wgb Fund President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kenton Randolph Brown
Pab Fund Co-Treas., Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Malcolm McDougal Brown
General Fund Vice President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Preston Gardner Brown
Pab Fund Co-Treas., Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Solange Stephanie Pezon Brown
General Fund Director, Wgb Fund Vice President, Treasurer, Director & Wgb Fund Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wilemal Fund
How much does Wilemal Fund give each year?
Wilemal Fund gave $3.6M across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.2M across 41 grants.
What is Wilemal Fund's typical grant size?
Wilemal Fund's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $82,461, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wilemal Fund that year got $13K on average.
Where does Wilemal Fund give grants?
Wilemal Fund's top state is North Carolina, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (23%) and Illinois (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (9 grants), Durham, NC (5 grants), Lake Forest, IL (5 grants) and Hobe Sound, FL (4 grants).
Does Wilemal Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wilemal Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wilemal Fund's largest grantees?
Wilemal Fund's largest 2024 grantees include The Masters School ($852,336), Lake Forest College ($558,786) and The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wilemal Fund?
Wilemal Fund reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wilemal Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilemal Fund?
Wilemal Fund does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Wilemal Fund's EIN?
Wilemal Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6098849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Wilemal Fund 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wilemal Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wilemal-fund-morg_b24a6e06862f4ef5bb2d60c26f389c4c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366098849_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wilemal Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wilemal-fund-morg_b24a6e06862f4ef5bb2d60c26f389c4c},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-01. 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 Wilemal Fund'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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