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Illinois · Private foundation

Red Bird Hollow Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$360k
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
28
Grants FY2025
24
Organizations funded FY2024
17%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$5,000
Largest grant, FY2025
$100,000
Organizations funded a year
24 to 61
FY2017 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
7
Total assets, FY2025
$1.5M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 17% of the organizations Red Bird Hollow Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 3% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationPublic BenefitArts & CultureHuman ServicesEnvironmentPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2025still arriving26$348k12%
FY202424$433k17%
FY202344$1.7M25%
FY202261$1.5M30%
FY202153$1.1M25%
FY202050$1.7M42%
FY201933$3.9M61%
FY201747$5.2Mn/a
95% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$8.7MHuman Services$2.3MArts & Culture$1.5MEnvironment$1.3MHealth$900kPublic Benefit$782kPhilanthropy$133kReligion$97kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
VT
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
WY
IA
OH
PA
CA
KY
VA
DC
GA
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Lake Forest College$6,325,00074%
Lake Forest Open Lands Association$1,225,751810%
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare$838,2004n/a
The College Foundation of the University of Virginia$502,50012%
Illinois Policy Institute$500,00042%
Lake Forest Academy$500,00011%
Forest Bluff School$256,704310%
Cato Institute$175,15060%
Church of the Holy Spirit$74,6207n/a
Teach for America Inc$70,00050%
Show all 85 grantees
All grantees of Red Bird Hollow Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Lake Forest College$6,325,00074%
Lake Forest Open Lands Association$1,225,751810%
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare$838,2004n/a
The College Foundation of the University of Virginia$502,50012%
Illinois Policy Institute$500,00042%
Lake Forest Academy$500,00011%
Forest Bluff School$256,704310%
Cato Institute$175,15060%
Church of the Holy Spirit$74,6207n/a
Teach for America Inc$70,00050%
Bernie's Book Bank$65,00031%
Chicago Symphony Orchestra$60,00040%
The Island School Foundation Inc$55,00035%
Montessori Institute of Milwaukee Inc$50,00017%
American Council of Trustees and Alumni$38,50050%
Beacon Academy$37,50011%
Institute for Humane Studies$35,00050%
MES Foundation$30,00021%
Gorton Community Center$25,00050%
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research$25,00040%
Montessori Training Center of Minnesota Inc$24,00050%
American Transparency$23,50020%
North Chicago Community Partners$23,00060%
Judicial Watch Inc$19,00040%
The Fund for American Studies$19,00040%
Club for Growth$18,00030%
Children's Home & Aid Society of Ill$18,00030%
Americans for Prosperity$13,00040%
Johann Fust Library Foundation Inc$12,00032%
The Heritage Foundation$11,00050%
Loyola University of Chicago$11,00020%
Chicago Horticultural Society$11,00070%
Beacon Academy a Montessori High School$10,00020%
Navy Seal Foundation Inc$10,00030%
History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff$9,50061%
Chicago Cares Inc$9,00060%
Woodlands Academy$8,0003n/a
State Policy Network$7,00040%
Atlas Economic Research Foundation$7,00010%
The Independent Institute$7,00020%
The Heartland Institute$6,00040%
Community Church of Lake Forest & Lake Bluff$6,0004n/a
Cincinnati Country Day School$6,00050%
Openlands$6,00060%
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago$6,00030%
Austin Montessori School Inc$6,00010%
Jefferson Scholars Foundation$6,00020%
Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching$5,00050%
Skidmore College$5,00020%
George Mason University Foundation Inc$5,00010%
Elawa Farm Foundation$5,00020%
Better Government Association Inc$5,00010%
The Miller Center Foundation$4,50040%
Boca Grande Woman's Club Inc$4,50020%
The Island School Inc$4,00020%
Forest Park Conservancy Fka Forest Park Preservation Corporation$4,00033%
Friends of Boca Grande Community Center Inc$4,00040%
Land Trust Alliance Inc$3,00020%
McKinlock Post Foundation$3,00021%
Boca Grande Health Clinic Fndtn Inc$2,50030%
Institute for Free Speech$2,00010%
Trustees of Phillips Academy$2,00020%
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School$2,0001n/a
Lake Forest Police Foundation Inc$2,00012%
National Legal and Policy Center$2,00020%
University of Virginia Alumni Association$2,00020%
St Elmo Foundation$2,00040%
Institute for Justice$2,00010%
The Art Institute of Chicago$1,23030%
Catholic Charities USA$1,2001n/a
Tax Foundation$1,00010%
Alliance for the Great Lakes$1,00010%
Friends of the Highwood Public Library$1,00010%
Old St Patricks Church$1,0001n/a
The Wetlands Initiative$1,00010%
Foundation for Economic Education Inc$1,00010%
North Shore Country Day School$1,00010%
National Parks Conservation Association$1,00010%
Royal Palm Players Inc$1,00010%
The American Writers Museum$1,00010%
Brain Research Foundation$1,00010%
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods$5001n/a
National Geographic Society$50010%
The Keewaydin Foundation$50010%
1916 Redan Foundation$5001n/a

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 52 recipients with no EIN on record ($4.7M), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget Red Bird Hollow Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetLake Forest College: $6,325,000 over 7y, 3.7% of budgetLake Forest Open Lands Association: $1,225,751 over 8y, 10.0% of budgetThe College Foundation of the University of Virginia: $502,500 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetIllinois Policy Institute: $500,000 over 4y, 2.0% of budgetLake Forest Academy: $500,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetForest Bluff School: $256,704 over 3y, 10% of budgetCato Institute: $175,150 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $70,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBernie's Book Bank: $65,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetChicago Symphony Orchestra: $60,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Island School Foundation Inc: $55,000 over 3y, 4.6% of budgetMontessori Institute of Milwaukee Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 6.7% of budgetAmerican Council of Trustees and Alumni: $38,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetBeacon Academy: $37,500 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetInstitute for Humane Studies: $35,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMES Foundation: $30,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetGorton Community Center: $25,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetAmerican Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research: $25,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMontessori Training Center of Minnesota Inc: $24,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetAmerican Transparency: $23,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetNorth Chicago Community Partners: $23,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetJudicial Watch Inc: $19,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Fund for American Studies: $19,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetClub for Growth: $18,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetChildren's Home & Aid Society of Ill: $18,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAmericans for Prosperity: $13,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetJohann Fust Library Foundation Inc: $12,000 over 3y, 2.0% of budgetThe Heritage Foundation: $11,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetLoyola University of Chicago: $11,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Horticultural Society: $11,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetBeacon Academy a Montessori High School: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNavy Seal Foundation Inc: $10,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHistory Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff: $9,500 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetChicago Cares Inc: $9,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetState Policy Network: $7,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAtlas Economic Research Foundation: $7,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Independent Institute: $7,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetThe Heartland Institute: $6,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCincinnati Country Day School: $6,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOpenlands: $6,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetRehabilitation Institute of Chicago: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAustin Montessori School Inc: $6,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJefferson Scholars Foundation: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGolden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSkidmore College: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGeorge Mason University Foundation Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetElawa Farm Foundation: $5,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetBetter Government Association Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 76.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Chicago Community TrustIL34.7× affinity26 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · The Buchanan Family Foundation · Clarks Fork Foundation · Hunter Family Foundation · The Gorter Family Foundation · Carney Family Foundation · Butler Family Foundation · Hunter Family Foundation · Hedberg Foundation Inc · David D & Mary F Grumhaus Fund · CMB Foundation · Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Red Bird Hollow Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Red Bird Hollow Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Red Bird Hollow Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Red Bird Hollow Foundation

How much does Red Bird Hollow Foundation give?
Red Bird Hollow Foundation reported 28 grants totaling $359,781 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 24 and 61 organizations a year over FY2017 to FY2024.
What does Red Bird Hollow Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2025, its largest causes are Education (54%), Human Services (15%), Arts & Culture (9%).
Who are Red Bird Hollow Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2025: Lake Forest College ($6.3M), Lake Forest Open Lands Association ($1.2M), Northwestern Memorial Healthcare ($838k).
Does Red Bird Hollow Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 17% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Red Bird Hollow Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Red Bird Hollow Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include The Chicago Community Trust, The Buchanan Family Foundation, Clarks Fork Foundation.
Where is Red Bird Hollow Foundation based?
Red Bird Hollow Foundation is based in IL.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 143 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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