Woodward Charitable Trust
The Woodward Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1947 and granted tax-exempt status in July 1949. Based in Chicago, Illinois (with operations referenced in Rockford, IL), the trust operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple states and focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.4M
+11.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+156.0% YoY
Grant Count
98
+2.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+150.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Woodward Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust supports organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health and mental health
- Hunger and housing
- Human services
- Community development
- Services for disabled people
- Services for homeless people
- Support for economically disadvantaged people
Grantmaking
The trust accepts applications and is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
$66
Average Grant
$66
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust supports organizations across multiple states including:
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Illinois
- Michigan
- South Carolina
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Primary grantmaking focuses on Illinois, Michigan, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $40.7 million
- Total revenue: $924,941
- Total expenses: $1.51 million
- Total liabilities: $6,170
Assets (2024):
- Total assets: $45,353,965
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,353,965 | $40,670,491 | $30,988,840 |
| Revenue | $1,075,128 | $924,941 | $906,170 |
| Expenses | $3,794,463 | $1,509,563 | $1,611,951 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,719,341 | $1,453,415 | $1,547,221 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,015,206 | $575,793 | $537,536 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,331,528 | $1,749,548 | $1,651,920 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Airlink Inc ($1,000,000), Fort Collins Police Services ($450,000), Colorado Succeeds ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Airlink Inc Washington, DC | General operating support | $1,000,000 |
| Barbara Olson School of Hope Rockford, IL | Educational | $4,500 |
| Berista Inc Grand Haven, MI | General operating support | $1,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General operating support | $3,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County Fort Collins, CO | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Association of Rockford Rockford, IL | General operating support | $10,000 |
| Bravehearts Therapeutic and Educational Center Harvard, IL | General operating support | $17,420 |
| CASA of Larimer County Fort Collins, CO | General operating support | $5,000 |
| Center for Developmental Services Greenville, SC | General operating support | $2,250 |
| Center for Dispute Resolution Holland, MI | General operating support | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trust is led by a team of uncompensated trustees:
- A. Christopher Fawzy (President and Trustee)
- Julia G. Buchanan (Trustee)
- Jay Evans (Trustee)
- Michael Schablaske (Trustee)
- Rick Holm (Trustee)
- Kody Braisted (Trustee)
- Jennifer Ray (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kody Braisted | President/Trustee | 20 | — |
| Bryan Dunn | President/Trustee (Thru 11/24) | 0.2 | — |
| A Christopher Fawzy | President/Trustee (Thru 04/24) | 0.2 | — |
| Julia G Buchanan | Trustee | 0.2 | — |
| Jay Evans | Trustee | 0.2 | — |
| Rick Holm | Trustee | 0.2 | — |
| Jennifer Ray | Trustee | 0.2 | — |
| Michael Schablaske | Trustee | 0.2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant awards and announcements include:
$350,000 grant to Loveland Youth Campus (2024)
Woodward Charitable Trust donates $350,000 to Loveland Youth Campus \u2013\$9,000 grant to Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (2026)
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois receives $9K grant from Woodward CharitableNew focus areas emerging around young children and families
Woodward Charitable Trust Grants: New Focus on Young Children and FamiliesFrequently Asked Questions
What does Woodward Charitable Trust fund?
The trust supports organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education • Health and mental health • Hunger and housing • Human services • Community development • Services for disabled people • Services for homeless people • Support for economically disadvantaged people
How do I apply for a grant from Woodward Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $3,702,000 • Total giving in 2023: Approximately $1.4 million • Typical award range: $500–$1,000,000 • Average grant size: $66 • Median grant size: Not specified in available data • Recent grants include $350,000 to Loveland Youth Campus and $9,000 to Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois **Application Process:** The trust accepts applications and is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does Woodward Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust supports organizations across multiple states including: • California • Colorado • Florida • Illinois • Michigan • South Carolina • Wisconsin • Wyoming Primary grantmaking focuses on Illinois, Michigan, and Colorado.
What size grants does Woodward Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Woodward Charitable Trust awarded 98 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Woodward Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Woodward Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Woodward Charitable Trust's EIN?
Woodward Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6025403. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Woodward Charitable Trust'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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