OVERVIEW: The Hamill Family Foundation's Chicago grantmaking centers on supporting environmental organizations. Other areas of interest include arts and culture, education and human services.
IP TAKE: This foundation keeps a low-profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking will be key for getting on this Chicago family's radar.
PROFILE: Established in 1963, the Hamill Family Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Jonathan C. Hamill and his sisters, Elizabeth and Nancy. The Hamill’s parents were Corwith "Corky" Hamill, who was once president of the Chicago Zoological Society, and Joan Smith Hamill, who was a driving force in the creation of the Illinois Prairie Path. Hamill, Elizabeth and Nancy have continued in their parents' philanthropic footsteps. Jonathan Hamill, who founded the investment firm Segall, Bryant & Hamill, sits on the board of Openlands and is a trustee emeritus of the Illinois chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Elizabeth is a founding board member at Barrington Area Conservation Trust, a land conservation and preservation organization in Barrington, Illinois. The foundation’s areas of grantmaking are the environment and animals, arts and culture, education, human services and health.
The Hamill Family Foundation has strongly supported Chicago Zoological Society, home to the Hamill Family Wild Encounters. Another past grantee is the Openlands organization, which supports community gardening, trail maintenance, farmland protection and other conservation projects. Other past grantees include the Environmental Law and Policy Center, the Conservation Foundation and the Field Museum of Natural History. In education, the foundation has supported Northwestern University, Elgin Academy and Strategic Learning Initiatives, which aims to improve K-12 classroom practice and academic achievement. The foundation's Chicago grantmaking also supports health and human services organizations in the region, including the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, ACLU of Illinois and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
Foundation grants tend to range from $1,000 to $50,000. Many individual grants are under $25,000. Grantseekers should review the funder’s recent tax forms to learn more about past grantees. In a recently reported tax year, the foundation gave away around $5.6 million. Although grants are made nationwide, Chicago is still a key area for the funder’s giving.
It does not appear that this foundation accepts unsolicited grant proposals, and it does not have a website to guide grantseekers. Based in Chicago, the foundation’s phone number is 312-676-0300.
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