Foundations that fund organizations in Rockford, Illinois
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Rockford nonprofits
220 private foundations gave $17M to Rockford organizations in their latest filings; 27 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
1,016 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Rockford around $19K. 71 of these funders are based in Illinois; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 220
- Accept applications
- 27
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Rockford
- $17M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 1,016
- Typical median grant
- $19K
- Based in IL
- 71%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Rockford organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blazer Foundation | Rockford, IL | 15 | $1.2M | $11K | Preselected only | Charitable; Educational; Medical |
| Field Foundation of Illinois | Chicago, IL | 3 | $1.2M | $30K | Yes | Project - funding for a specific project or program |
| The John D Brubaker Family Foundation | Cherry Valley, IL | 4 | $995K | $175K | Preselected only | General |
| Bergstrom Inc Charitable Foundation Xxxxx2008 | Chicago, IL | 66 | $848K | $5,000 | Yes | General; General support |
| The Kjellstrom Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 42 | $645K | $12K | Yes | Social welfare; Education |
| Norris & Margaret Aldeen Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $519K | $519K | Preselected only | General |
| Nicholas Family Foundation Trust C/O Lynn S Nicholas | Mequon, WI | 1 | $500K | $500K | Yes | Annual campaign. supports enhancements and programming at t… |
| Florence C Gregory Charitable Tr(t) | Chicago, IL | 3 | $426K | $160K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation | Oak Brook, IL | 2 | $418K | $209K | Yes | PSA of Gun Violence in our Community; Coming Together for Healthy Children - Building a Youth Men… |
| Ralph & Elizabeth Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 11 | $413K | $47K | Preselected only | Transfer of capital ownership anderson fund llc; Social welfare; Cultural |
| Rockford Health Careers Foundation C/O Heather Sliva | Rockford, IL | 3 | $412K | $98K | Yes | Scholarships |
| Hutzell Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $402K | $402K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Amazin' Mets Foundation Inc | Flushing, NY | 1 | $350K | $350K | Preselected only | Youth athletic support |
| George & Frances Schwenkner Charttr | Rockford, IL | 7 | $348K | $50K | Preselected only | General funding |
| Tuw Louis E Caster - Rockford Memorial | Chicago, IL | 1 | $342K | $342K | Preselected only | General |
| M5m Foundation | Flower Mound, TX | 1 | $279K | $279K | Preselected only | To support hope zones in ecuador and the dominican republic |
| John & Linda Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 26 | $261K | $2,000 | Preselected only | Social welfare; Cultural; Religion |
| Hamill Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $251K | $126K | Preselected only | Lands OwnedStewardshipEndowment Fund; Unrestricted |
| Builders Vision Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | to provide general operating support |
| The McKnight Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | for general operating support |
| Nkc Family Foundation | Geneva, IL | 2 | $250K | $125K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Guy Reno Family Foundation | Green Bay, WI | 22 | $240K | $6,000 | Yes | Operations |
| Helen Grant Trust Xxxxx0008 | Chicago, IL | 83 | $235K | $3,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| Amended and Restated Brubaker Charitable Trust | Cherry Valley, IL | 9 | $232K | $15K | Preselected only | General; Artistic; Social welfare |
| Smith Charitable Foundation Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Rockford, IL | 18 | $231K | $10K | Preselected only | General; Generalk |
| Dr Connie Tucker Scholarship Fund | Roscoe, IL | 3 | $225K | $17K | Yes | Education |
| Perry Family Trust Co Harris Bank | Chicago, IL | 2 | $224K | $112K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Ralph J Baudhuin Foundation C/O Thomas Baudhuin | Roscoe, IL | 51 | $222K | $3,000 | Yes | Humanitarian; Religious; Scholarship |
| Gloyd Family Foundation | Peoria, IL | 25 | $209K | $5,000 | Yes | programs; Youth education and services; Art maintenance |
| Donnini-Rudolph Family Foundation | Champaign, IL | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Best use |
| Nicor Illinois Community Investment Inc | Chicago, IL | 2 | $200K | $100K | Preselected only | Impact grant |
| Hobart W Williams | Dallas, TX | 1 | $147K | $147K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Mill Foundation | Loves Park, IL | 17 | $120K | $8,000 | Yes | Social welfare |
| Charles & Marie von Weise | Chicago, IL | 11 | $100K | $7,723 | Preselected only | Program support; General support |
| Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund | Holland, MI | 3 | $100K | $40K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Foglia Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| D a O Foundation in Care of Aircraft Gear Corporation | Loves Park, IL | 15 | $98K | $5,000 | Yes | Support services; Arts and science; Art and sciences |
| Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char | Chicago, IL | 3 | $98K | $10K | Yes | Program support |
| Rydell Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 10 | $81K | $3,750 | Preselected only | General Operating Support |
| Jeffrey R Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 28 | $74K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Social welfare; Cultural; Religion |
| Stenstrom Foundation | Rockford, IL | 10 | $73K | $3,000 | Yes | Charitable |
| Lions Trust for Winn Center for Blind | Rockford, IL | 1 | $72K | $72K | Preselected only | Operating funds |
| William M Miller Tw | Chicago, IL | 7 | $71K | $10K | Yes | Program support |
| Donald H Wrork MD Charitable Tr Ta | Chicago, IL | 2 | $69K | $34K | Preselected only | Program support |
| The David & Colleen Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 34 | $68K | $1,500 | Preselected only | Social welfare; Cultural; Youth services |
| Tracy E Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 32 | $67K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Social welfare; Cultural; Education |
| Pritzker Family Foundation C/O Pritzker Group | Chicago, IL | 2 | $65K | $33K | Preselected only | Research and education on early childhood development |
| Miner Family Charitable Trust | Rockford, IL | 4 | $60K | $15K | Preselected only | General funding; Community hospice care |
| John R Wright and Eloise Mountain Wright Foundation | Houston, TX | 3 | $60K | $20K | Preselected only | Liam foundation and endownment support; Starlight theater support; General operating fund |
| Zisson Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| John T Wolf Charitable Trust II | Overland Park, KS | 2 | $60K | $30K | Preselected only | Community |
| Ruth Frejd Charitable Tr Dtd 3 26 2008 | St Petersburg, FL | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | Camp improvements, |
| Ida M Brechtel Charitable Trust | Chicago, IL | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Willow Springs Charitable Trust Jenny B Stoddard Trustee | Mount Carroll, IL | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Caprock Partners Giving Foundation | Newport Beach, CA | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | In support of food event |
| Ingram Family Charitable Trust 0065410 | Kansas City, MO | 1 | $55K | $55K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Kristin L Anderson Charitable Foundation | Rockford, IL | 30 | $53K | $1,250 | Preselected only | Social welfare; Cultural; Religion |
| The Bersted Foundation | Dallas, TX | 3 | $45K | $15K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| Hendrickson Family Foundation Uad April 27 | Chicago, IL | 1 | $45K | $45K | Preselected only | General support |
| George W and Ruth Frejd Charitable Trust Dtd | St Petersburg, FL | 1 | $45K | $45K | Preselected only | Camp improvements, |
| Marie a Beckman Crut | Chicago, IL | 3 | $44K | $4,875 | Preselected only | General support; Gernal support |
| Sjostrom & Sons Foundation | Rockford, IL | 30 | $41K | $1,000 | Yes | Medical; Recreational; Charitable |
| C Hoffer & C Hoffer Memorial Fd Ta | Chicago, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Rino Foundation Inc | Allentown, PA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Kids around the world |
| Reuben a Aldeen Outreach Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Ch Birmingham Charitable Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Social welfare |
| Ike Nizam Foundation Inc % Laurie Feller | Brentwood, TN | 16 | $38K | $1,000 | Yes | To promote and support function as public charities and/or… |
| The Joy Box Foundation | Rockford, IL | 3 | $38K | $13K | Preselected only | Sharing Christs love with youth; Providing biblical-based education; Chaplain services for 1st respondersvictims |
| John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Program |
| Polly Williamson Griffin Charitabletrust C/O Kelley-Williamson Company | Rockford, IL | 4 | $35K | $8,750 | Preselected only | Educational; Health |
| Ahlstrand Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 6 | $35K | $3,716 | Preselected only | General; Educational |
| Community Memorial Foundation | Hinsdale, IL | 1 | $34K | $34K | Yes | Responsive |
| Mr and Mrs George W Taylor Foundation | Tucson, AZ | 2 | $33K | $17K | Preselected only | Education and conservation; Social welfare - domestic abuse and addiction treatment |
| Rosetta Love Ta | Chicago, IL | 1 | $33K | $33K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Gummow Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 4 | $33K | $3,000 | Preselected only | General offering; Support mission of crusader clinic; Fund rock house kids |
| The Ben Harding Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 28 | $32K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Thomas V Giddens Jr Charitable Foundation | Fircrest, WA | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | General Support |
| Goddard Family Foundation | Loves Park, IL | 9 | $29K | $2,000 | Preselected only | General purposes; Endowment fund; To provide support |
| Anderson Family Gardens Foundation | Rockford, IL | 1 | $28K | $28K | Preselected only | Cultural |
| Marie Louise Hunt Charitable Tuw | Rockford, IL | 3 | $28K | $6,888 | Preselected only | General funding |
| Anderson Family Foundation | Port Townsend, WA | 12 | $27K | $2,125 | Preselected only | Provide funds to assist individuals and families improve th…; Support and promote music education outreach programs for c…; Provide funds to supply basic food for attested "in need" f… |
| The Behr Foundation | Boca Raton, FL | 2 | $26K | $13K | Yes | Artistic |
| Arie and Ida Crown Memorial | Chicago, IL | 5 | $25K | $5,000 | Yes | General operating |
| T2g Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $25K | $13K | Preselected only | Scholarship Grant |
| The Rockjensen Foundation Inc | The Woodlands, TX | 3 | $25K | $7,000 | Preselected only | Support organization's activities |
| Daniel C Ferguson Charitable Trust | Naples, FL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Perks Family Equine Center |
| The Jerome Mirza Foundation | Bloomington, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Support of operations |
| Midland States Bank Foundation C/O Midland States Bank Trust Dept | Rockford, IL | 3 | $25K | $7,500 | Yes | Provide funds for operations |
| The Marilyn J Fulton Foundation Char Tr C/O Lori Fulton | Bull Valley, IL | 4 | $24K | $6,000 | Preselected only | To further the exempt purpose of the organization |
| Abba's Storehouse Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $22K | $11K | Preselected only | school for the disabled in Matwapa Kenya; General & Unrestricted |
| The Lello Family Foundation | Rockford, IL | 3 | $21K | $10K | Preselected only | Social welfare; Strong kids campaign |
| Dillon Foundation | Sterling, IL | 6 | $21K | $1,625 | Yes | In support of youth development; To support arts, culture, humanities; In support of medical research |
| John J Barton Charitable Trust | Rockford, IL | 3 | $21K | $10K | Preselected only | Operations |
| The Second Step Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | Program support to reduce hunger |
| Thomas J & Kathleen M Laird Family Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | Support local structure & geography |
| Jeff and Shelley Shinn Foundation | Naples, FL | 11 | $19K | $500 | Yes | Unrestricted operational support |
| Louise M Wasney Charitable Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $19K | $19K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Nancy Nichols Olson Foundation | Rockford, IL | 7 | $19K | $2,000 | Preselected only | Civic |
| Wayne & Ruth Diehl Charitable Trust (w) | Chicago, IL | 8 | $18K | $2,234 | Preselected only | General |
| Casler Foundation | Ham Lake, MN | 5 | $16K | $3,000 | Yes | Social welfare; Homeless support; Health foundation |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Rockford, Illinois?
Blazer Foundation, Field Foundation of Illinois, The John D Brubaker Family Foundation, Bergstrom Inc Charitable Foundation Xxxxx2008, The Kjellstrom Family Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Rockford organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Rockford. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.