The Hillier Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on private, faith-linked education, directing large gifts to individual schools rather than a broad portfolio of charities. Recent grants show a preference for supporting K–12 Christian schooling and a small liberal arts college, suggesting an interest in sustaining faith-based educational institutions and local/regional educational access.
Highly concentrated giving: a very small number of large grants (two six-figure gifts) directed at individual educational institutions rather than many small grants; appears to favor repeatable, transformational-sized gifts to schools.
The Hillier Family Foundation’s largest recent gift was $1,005,000 to Allice Lloyd College, a signal that education sits at the center of its grantmaking. The 2023 record shows a strong preference for institutions rather than individuals, with support flowing to schools, colleges, health-related organizations, social service providers, and local civic groups. Faith-linked education appears repeatedly: Summit Christian School received $800,000, while other education grants went to Ohio Wesleyan University, Stark State College Foundation, and Berea College. The foundation also backs organizations tied to community care and institutional support, including The Village of St Edward Foundation, St Luke Lutheran Community, and Battered Women’s Shelter. Several awards are sizable enough to matter for operating stability, not just project work, and many go to organizations in northeast Ohio communities around Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, North Canton, and Medina. The mix of schools, service agencies, and place-based nonprofits suggests a funder that favors established local institutions with clear community roles and mission-driven programming.
Education is the clearest throughline. In 2023, the foundation gave $800,000 to Summit Christian School for education, $200,000 to Ohio Wesleyan University for education, and $60,000 to Stark State College Foundation for education. Faith-linked schooling appears alongside broader educational institutions, indicating that both K–12 and higher education fit within its portfolio. Beyond education, the foundation supports health and social service delivery. It gave $600,000 to The Village of St Edward Foundation for health, $500,000 to St Luke Lutheran Community for social services, and $450,000 to Battered Women's Shelter for social services. Community and civic organizations also receive support, including $160,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Summit County and $55,000 to Cuyahoga Falls Partnership for Parks for art & cultural programs. That mix points to grantmaking that reaches into institutional care, housing, and local cultural life.
The Hillier Family Foundation’s typical grant size is $7,750 at the 25th percentile, $27,500 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile, but its 2023 list also includes several much larger awards. Giving is overwhelmingly local: 94% of grants go to recipients in Ohio, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The pattern in the recent grants is concentrated in one year’s slate of institutional awards rather than a broad, individual-facing program. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent roster shows repeated support for established organizations serving schools, congregations, care facilities, and community institutions.
$8.6M
$0
$3.6M
$8.9M
Most grants fall between $8K and $60K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$60K
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Notable grantees: Allice Lloyd College, Summit Christian School
Grant recipients are heavily concentrated in Ohio, which accounts for 94% of grants. Akron appears repeatedly, along with nearby Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, North Canton, Medina, and Sharon Center. The list also reaches a few other Ohio places such as Peninsula, Delaware, Kent, and Tallmadge. Outside Ohio, only Kentucky appears in the recent-grants list, through Pippa Passes and Berea. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants favor schools, colleges, health-related institutions, social service organizations, and local civic or philanthropic groups. The 2023 list includes education, health, social services, philanthropic support, and arts & cultural programs, with many awards going to established institutions rather than individuals.
Typical grant size is $7,750 at the 25th percentile, $27,500 at the median, and $60,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes larger awards, including seven-figure and mid-six-figure grants.
It gives most often in Ohio: 94% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Ohio is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, North Canton, Medina, and Sharon Center.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Its grantmaking is directed to organizations.
Yes. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 108 grants in the United States and none listed elsewhere.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALLICE LLOYD COLLEGE | PIPPA PASSES, KY | $1,005,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| SUMMIT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH | $800,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| THE VILLAGE OF ST EDWARD FOUNDATION | FAIRLAWN, OH | $600,000 | 2023 | HEALTH |
| ST LUKE LUTHERAN COMMUNITY | NORTH CANTON, OH | $500,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER | AKRON, OH | $450,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| CONSERVANCY FOR C V NATIONAL PARK | PENNINSULA, OH | $375,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| HAPPY TRAILS FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY | RAVENNA, OH | $310,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF WADSWORTH | WADSWORTH, OH | $220,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| SHARON COMMUNITY TRUSTS | SHARON CENTER, OH | $210,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM | KIRTLAND, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| PBS WESTERN RESERVE | KENT, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS | AKRON, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | DELAWARE, OH | $200,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| STEWART'S CARING PLACE | FAIRLAWN, OH | $175,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF WADSWORTH | WADSWORTH, OH | $170,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SUMMIT COUNTY | AKRON, OH | $160,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| MEDINA COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION | MEDINA, OH | $150,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| OHIO NORHERN UNIVERSITY | ADA, OH | $150,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| MEDINA CREATIVE HOUSING | MEDINA, OH | $130,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| THE SOCIETY | SEVILLE, OH | $106,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SEVILLE-GILFORD FIRE ASSOCIATION | SEVILLE, OH | $102,355 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| SHARON TOWNSHIP FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION | SHARON CENTER, OH | $100,500 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| VANTAGE AGING | AKRON, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SHELTER CARE | TALLMADGE, OH | $100,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SHARON WOMENS CLUB | SHARON CENTER, OH | $60,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| STARK STATE COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NORTH CANTON, OH | $60,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| GRANGER TOWNHIP VOLUNTEER FIREMENS | MEDINA, OH | $60,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| AKRON ZOO | AKRON, OH | $60,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| CUYAHOGA FALLS PARTNERSHIP FOR PARKS | CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH | $55,000 | 2023 | ART & CULTURAL |
| SAFETY FORCES SUPPORT CENTER | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | HEALTH |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MEDINA COUNTY | MEDINA, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| CUYAHOGA VALLEY ART CENTER | CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| AKRON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | ART & CULTURAL |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| SANTA'S HIDE-A-WAY HALLOW | MIDDLEFIELD, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| BEREA COLLEGE | BEREA, KY | $50,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| AKRON BLIND CENTER | AKRON, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| MEDINA COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL | MEDINA, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT | MEDINA, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| THE LETTUCE WORK FOUNDATION INC | NEW ALBANY, OH | $45,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF SUMMIT COUNTY | AKRON, OH | $45,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| CASA (COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES) | AKRON, OH | $40,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| RECOVERY CENTER OF MEDINA COUNTY | MEDINA, OH | $40,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| NEWBRIDGE PLACE | LODI, OH | $38,500 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| BRUNSWICK ROTARY FOUNDATION INC | BRUNSWICK, OH | $35,000 | 2023 | HEALTH |
| GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH | KENT, OH | $35,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| WADSWORTH SOPREMA SENIOR CENTER | WADSWORTH, OH | $30,350 | 2023 | PHILANTHROPIC |
| ST PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH | SHARON CENTER, OH | $30,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| COMMUNITY AKRON WAYNE & MEDINA COUNTIES | WOOSTER, OH | $30,000 | 2023 | SOCIAL SERVICES |
| TUESDAY MUSICAL ASSOCIATION | AKRON, OH | $30,000 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
ALLICE LLOYD COLLEGE
$1,005,000EDUCATION
SUMMIT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$800,000EDUCATION
THE VILLAGE OF ST EDWARD FOUNDATION
$600,000HEALTH
ST LUKE LUTHERAN COMMUNITY
$500,000SOCIAL SERVICES
CONSERVANCY FOR C V NATIONAL PARK
$375,000EDUCATION
HAPPY TRAILS FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY
$310,000SOCIAL SERVICES
THE SALVATION ARMY OF WADSWORTH
$220,000PHILANTHROPIC
SHARON COMMUNITY TRUSTS
$210,000PHILANTHROPIC
PBS WESTERN RESERVE
$200,000EDUCATION
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS
$200,000EDUCATION
THE SALVATION ARMY OF WADSWORTH
$170,000EDUCATION
MEDINA COUNTY FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
$150,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE SOCIETY
$106,000SOCIAL SERVICES
SEVILLE-GILFORD FIRE ASSOCIATION
$102,355PHILANTHROPIC
SHARON TOWNSHIP FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION
$100,500PHILANTHROPIC
SHELTER CARE
$100,000SOCIAL SERVICES
SHARON WOMENS CLUB
$60,000EDUCATION
GRANGER TOWNHIP VOLUNTEER FIREMENS
$60,000PHILANTHROPIC
CUYAHOGA FALLS PARTNERSHIP FOR PARKS
$55,000ART & CULTURAL
SAFETY FORCES SUPPORT CENTER
$50,000HEALTH
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MEDINA COUNTY
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
CUYAHOGA VALLEY ART CENTER
$50,000EDUCATION
AKRON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$50,000ART & CULTURAL
SANTA'S HIDE-A-WAY HALLOW
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
AKRON BLIND CENTER
$50,000SOCIAL SERVICES
MEDINA COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT
$50,000PHILANTHROPIC
THE LETTUCE WORK FOUNDATION INC
$45,000SOCIAL SERVICES
FAMILY PROMISE OF SUMMIT COUNTY
$45,000SOCIAL SERVICES
CASA (COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES)
$40,000SOCIAL SERVICES
RECOVERY CENTER OF MEDINA COUNTY
$40,000EDUCATION
NEWBRIDGE PLACE
$38,500SOCIAL SERVICES
BRUNSWICK ROTARY FOUNDATION INC
$35,000HEALTH
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
$35,000RELIGIOUS
WADSWORTH SOPREMA SENIOR CENTER
$30,350PHILANTHROPIC
ST PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
$30,000RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY AKRON WAYNE & MEDINA COUNTIES
$30,000SOCIAL SERVICES
TUESDAY MUSICAL ASSOCIATION
$30,000EDUCATION