Wilemal Fund
Wilemal Fund is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1964. The foundation provides philanthropic support across multiple sectors with a focus on strengthening communities through strategic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.6M
-55.5% YoY
Grant Count
44
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$82K
-58.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation directs its giving primarily toward:
- Arts
- Education
- Social services
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $3,932,179
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides grants primarily in:
- North Carolina
- Illinois
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $3,178,241 (as of most recent filing)
- Total Annual Giving: $3,628,298
- EIN: 36-6098849
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Masters School ($852,336), Lake Forest College ($558,786), The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $122,176 |
| AUDUBON NORTH CAROLINA DURHAM, NC | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $200,000 |
| BANNER LAKE CLUB HOBE SOUND, FL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL FOR BOYS WASHINGTON, DC | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA MENLO PARK, CA | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BRAVO WAUKEGAN LAKE FOREST, IL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CHRIST MEMORIAL CHAPEL HOBE SOUND, FL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| CHURCH OF ST MARY LAKE FOREST, IL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD DURHAM, NC | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT LAKE FOREST, IL | FOR THE GENERAL, SCIENTIFIC OR EDUCATION PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM GARDNER BROWN | GENERAL FUND PRES/SECY/DIR | — | — |
| MALCOLM MCDOUGAL BROWN | GENERAL FUND VP/TREAS/DIR | — | — |
| SOLANGE PEZON BROWN | GENERAL FUND DIRECTOR | — | — |
| WILLIAM GARDNER BROWN | WGB FUND PRES/SECY/DIR | — | — |
| SOLANGE PEZON BROWN | WGB FUND VP/TREAS/DIR | — | — |
| SOLANGE STEPHANIE PEZON BROWN | WGB FUND DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PATRICIA A BROWN | PAB FUND PRES/SECY/DIR | — | — |
| KENTON RANDOLPH BROWN | PAB FUND CO-TREAS./VP/DIR | — | — |
| PRESTON GARDNER BROWN | PAB FUND CO-TREAS./VP/DIR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 333 W Wacker Dr Ste 2500, Chicago, IL 60606-2208
Telephone: 312-676-0321
Administrative Contact: C/o Briar Hall LLC
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wilemal Fund fund?
The foundation directs its giving primarily toward: • Arts • Education • Social services • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Wilemal Fund?
**Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $3,932,179 **Annual Giving:** Total giving of $3,628,298 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing from 2024) **Funding Focus Areas Include:** • Arts access and participation • Historic preservation • Science education
Where does Wilemal Fund make grants?
The foundation provides grants primarily in: • North Carolina • Illinois • District of Columbia
What size grants does Wilemal Fund award?
In 2024, Wilemal Fund awarded 44 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $82K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wilemal Fund'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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