The Willow Springs Charitable Trust funds a mix of civil rights, reproductive health, environmental conservation, and local community infrastructure with multi-year general operating support. Grants are often sizable and recurring to the same organizations, and the foundation shows a preference for regional nonprofits (particularly rural/Small-town Midwest and Mountain West) alongside national advocacy groups. Its portfolio blends policy/legal advocacy, place-based conservation, community foundations, and rural arts/education/therapy programs.
Willow Springs Charitable Trust Jenny B Stoddard Trustee repeatedly makes $500,000 general-purpose grants to a small set of organizations, signaling a pattern of sustained support rather than one-off awards. Among the most visible recipients are Motherland Rhythm Community in Grayslake, Illinois; Planned Parenthood in Chicago; and the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama. The trust’s recent giving also includes a sizeable cluster of general support for community infrastructure, environmental work, civil rights advocacy, and rural institutions. Its portfolio mixes national advocacy with place-based nonprofits. The foundation backs groups working on reproductive health, legal and civil rights, land and watershed conservation, local philanthropy, and rural arts, education, and therapy programs. Recipients range from regional community foundations and colleges to advocacy organizations and conservation groups. The trust’s grantmaking is not limited to a single type of institution. Recent awards include recurring support for the same organizations across 2023 and 2025, alongside gifts to community colleges, arts centers, and therapeutic farms. That pattern suggests a funder that uses general-purpose grants to reinforce operating capacity across several sectors.
In reproductive health, the trust gave $500,000 to Planned Parenthood in Chicago for general purpose support, and the organization appears again in the recent-grants list with a $375,000 award. For civil rights and legal advocacy, it awarded $500,000 to the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Alabama, also for general purpose support, reflecting a continued commitment to that field. Place-based community infrastructure is another clear thread. Four Corners Community Foundation in Bozeman, Montana received $500,000 for general purpose support, while the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County in Elizabeth, Illinois received $400,000. The trust also backed local educational and cultural institutions, including Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake, Illinois and McHenry Community College Foundation in Crystal Lake, showing support for rural and small-town civic life.
$11.4M
$111.1M
$15.3M
$14.4M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, repeat multi-year general operating grants: the foundation makes relatively large gifts (hundreds of thousands to >$1M) and often funds the same grantees multiple times, combining regional place-based investments with support for national advocacy groups.
Notable grantees: Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood, Four Corners Community Foundation, Wild Salmon Center, Main Stay Therapeutic Farm
Typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent-grants list shows many awards far above that range, including multiple $500,000 gifts. The pattern is recurring: several organizations appear in both 2023 and 2025, including Motherland Rhythm Community, Planned Parenthood, Four Corners Community Foundation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Catalyst for Change, Highland Community College Foundation, Main Stay Therapeutic Farm, Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County, and Elpc. The trust is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
The trust gives nationally, but Illinois dominates its recent recipient base: 55% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Freeport, Richmond, Elizabeth, and other Illinois cities appear frequently. Outside Illinois, recent awards reach Bozeman, Montana; Montgomery, Alabama; Madison, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Iowa; and Suffield, Connecticut. The country distribution in the available data is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants show support for civil rights and legal advocacy, reproductive health, land and watershed conservation, community foundations, rural colleges, arts organizations, and therapeutic farms. General-purpose grants appear across those areas, including awards to community infrastructure and regional nonprofits.
Repeated awards are common. Several recipients appear in both 2023 and 2025, including Motherland Rhythm Community, Planned Parenthood, Four Corners Community Foundation, Southern Poverty Law Center, Catalyst for Change, Highland Community College Foundation, Main Stay Therapeutic Farm, Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County, and Elpc.
Among the foundation’s grants, the 25th percentile is $25,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. Recent grant records also include multiple $500,000 awards, showing a mix of mid-sized and very large general-purpose grants.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 55% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Illinois recipients include Chicago, Crystal Lake, Grayslake, Freeport, Richmond, and Elizabeth.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOTHERLAND RHYTHM COMMUNITY | GRAYSLAKE, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | CHICAGO, IL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FOUR CORNERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATALYST FOR CHANGE | MADISON, WI | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $450,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MCHENRY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $411,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ELPC | CHICAGO, IL | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | FREEPORT, IL | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SUFFIELD ACADEMY | SUFFIELD, CT | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MAIN STAY THERAPEUTIC FARM | RICHMOND, IL | $325,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY | ELIZABETH, IL | $319,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TWO BY TWO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT | DUBUQUE, IA | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GALLATIN WATERSHED COUNCIL | BOZEMAN, MT | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HRDC | BOZEMAN, MT | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WILD SALMON CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANK | LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MONTANA CONSERVATION CORPS | BOZEMAN, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUND OF CDS | EAGAN, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STOCKTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION | STOCKTON, IL | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MONTANA FRESHWATER PARTNERS | LIVINGSTON, MT | $195,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DIGS WITH DIGNITY | CHICAGO, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JO DAVIESS LOCAL FOODS | ELIZABETH, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BALLENISLES CHARITIES FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RIVERVIEW CENTER | DUBUQUE, IA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ASIAN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT | EVANSTON, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARE USA | ATLANTA, GA | $140,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TURNING POINT | WOODSTOCK, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WARREN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS | WARREN, MI | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST | HELENA, MT | $120,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SEVEN GENERATIONS AHEAD | OAK PARK, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| POVERTY 2 PROSPERITY | MENLO PARK, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RAMP | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| KILO WATTS FOR HUMANITY | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARTER CENTER | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | ELGIN, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PADS | NORTH CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JO DAVIES CONSERVATION FOUNDATION | ELIZABETH, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STERLING ROCK FALLS YMCA | STERLING, IL | $97,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| APPLE RIVER FIRE DISTRICT | APPLE RIVER, IL | $95,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW DIRECTIONS | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $90,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SEATTLE ARTISTS LEAGUE | SEATTLE, WA | $90,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK | GENEVA, IL | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDEPENDENCE HEALTH & THERAPY | HUNTLEY, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BENZAITEN CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS | LAKE WORTH, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNION LEAGUE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WEST PALM BEACH LIBRARY FOUNDATION | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MSU BIOREGIONS INTERNATIONAL | BOZEMAN, MT | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TIMBER LAKE PLAYHOUSE | MOUNT CARROLL HISTORIC, IL | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
MOTHERLAND RHYTHM COMMUNITY
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FOUR CORNERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATALYST FOR CHANGE
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$450,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MCHENRY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
GENERAL PURPOSE
ELPC
$400,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HIGHLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$350,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SUFFIELD ACADEMY
$350,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MAIN STAY THERAPEUTIC FARM
$325,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JO DAVIESS COUNTY
$319,500GENERAL PURPOSE
TWO BY TWO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
$300,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GALLATIN WATERSHED COUNCIL
$300,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HRDC
$300,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WILD SALMON CENTER
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANK
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MONTANA CONSERVATION CORPS
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUND OF CDS
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE
STOCKTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MONTANA FRESHWATER PARTNERS
$195,000GENERAL PURPOSE
DIGS WITH DIGNITY
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JO DAVIESS LOCAL FOODS
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BALLENISLES CHARITIES FOUNDATION
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RIVERVIEW CENTER
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ASIAN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CARE USA
$140,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TURNING POINT
$125,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WARREN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS
$125,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST
$120,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SEVEN GENERATIONS AHEAD
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
POVERTY 2 PROSPERITY
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
RAMP
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
KILO WATTS FOR HUMANITY
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CARTER CENTER
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
PADS
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JO DAVIES CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
STERLING ROCK FALLS YMCA
$97,000GENERAL PURPOSE
APPLE RIVER FIRE DISTRICT
$95,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW DIRECTIONS
$90,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SEATTLE ARTISTS LEAGUE
$90,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK
$80,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INDEPENDENCE HEALTH & THERAPY
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BENZAITEN CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
UNION LEAGUE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WEST PALM BEACH LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MSU BIOREGIONS INTERNATIONAL
$60,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TIMBER LAKE PLAYHOUSE
$60,000GENERAL PURPOSE