The Woodward Charitable Trust directs large, targeted grants toward community well‑being, public safety, and local economic revitalization, with a clear concentration in Rockford, IL and notable giving in the Fort Collins/Poudre Valley area. Their portfolio blends human services (child welfare, domestic violence support, respite care), healthcare and hospital support, civic/regional development efforts, and an occasional high‑profile national/international grant (e.g., Airlink). They frequently fund United Ways and place big, multi‑hundred‑thousand dollar gifts to repeat local partners and strategic community initiatives.
A $1,000,000 grant to Airlink Inc. stands out in Woodward Charitable Trust’s recent record and shows the scale of its highest-priority gifts. The trust pairs that kind of one-off national support with repeated, place-based funding in Rockford, IL and Fort Collins, CO, especially for community well-being, public safety, and local economic development. Recent grants include $450,000 to Fort Collins Police Services for general operating support and $250,000 to Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives for general operating support, alongside other large awards to local community institutions. The portfolio reflects a mix of institutional support and community services. It funds United Way affiliates, child and family support organizations, medical and hospital partners, civic and regional development groups, and education-related institutions. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Transform Rockford, Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives, Rock Valley College Foundation, Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital, and United Way of Larimer County. That pattern suggests a trust that backs both continuing local intermediaries and specific projects or operating needs. Its giving is not limited to one geography, but the strongest concentrations are visible in Rockford and Fort Collins. In both places, the trust uses substantial grants to support organizations that serve broad community needs rather than narrow program niches.
In community revitalization and economic development, Woodward Charitable Trust gave $250,000 to Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives for general operating support and $150,000 to Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau for general operating support. It also supported Transform Rockford with $115,000 in 2025 after earlier awards in prior years, indicating sustained interest in Rockford’s civic and economic infrastructure. For public safety and emergency-related community services, the trust gave $450,000 to Fort Collins Police Services for general operating support and $100,000 to UC Health Northern Colorado Foundation for general operating support. It also made a $100,000 grant to Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital for medical purposes, showing that health and safety funding can sit alongside civic support. Child and family support is another recurring area. The trust gave $250,000 to Realities for Children Charities and $250,000 to Respite Care Inc, both in Fort Collins, each for general operating support. Domestic violence and family stabilization also appear through a $200,000 grant to Family Peace Center in Rockford.
$2.8M
$4.3M
$3.5M
$2.9M
Most grants fall between $2K and $7K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$7K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants (many in the $150k–$1M range) with repeated support to regional partners; predominantly place-based funding focused on Rockford and a secondary hub around Fort Collins/Poudre Valley, plus occasional singular national/international grants.
Notable grantees: Airlink Inc, Fort Collins Police Services, United Way of Larimer County (GIVE NEXT), Realities for Children Charities, Transform Rockford
Typical grants are in the mid-thousands, with a p25 of $1,500, a median of $4,500, and a p75 of $7,000. The recent record also includes a small set of much larger awards, including several six-figure and seven-figure gifts. Recipients recur across years: Transform Rockford, Rock Valley College Foundation, Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital, and United Way of Larimer County each appear more than once in the recent grants list. Woodward Charitable Trust is a private charitable trust and does not make grants to individuals or program-related investments.
Grants are national in scope, but the trust gives most often in Michigan. Illinois recipients account for 35% of grants, and recent awards cluster in Rockford and Fort Collins. Other named recipient cities include Washington, DC; Chicago-area DeKalb; Denver; and Cheyenne. The distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the available recent grants data.
Typical grants are modest in size: the p25 is $1,500, the median is $4,500, and the p75 is $7,000. The recent grants list also shows larger strategic awards, including multiple six-figure gifts and one $1,000,000 grant.
Recent grants show repeated support for community revitalization and economic development, public safety, child and family services, health and hospital support, and United Way-related general welfare funding. Rockford and Fort Collins are the main places where those themes appear.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Transform Rockford, Rock Valley College Foundation, Poudre Valley Memorial Hospital, and United Way of Larimer County. That suggests an ongoing relationship with some community partners rather than one-time giving only.
The top state by grant count is Michigan, while Illinois receives 35% of grants. Recent grants are concentrated in Rockford, IL and Fort Collins, CO, with additional awards in places such as Washington, DC, Denver, Cheyenne, and DeKalb.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE | SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE, IL | $2,785,000 | 2026 | SEE ATTACHED |
| Airlink Inc | Washington, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Fort Collins Police Services | Fort Collins, CO | $450,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Respite Care Inc | Fort Collins, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Realities for Children Charities | Fort Collins, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives | Rockford, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau | Rockford, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| United Way of River Rock Valley | Rockford, IL | $150,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Rock Valley College Foundation | Rockford, IL | $129,500 | 2025 | Educational |
| Transform Rockford | Rockford, IL | $115,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| YWCA - Rockford | Rockford, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| UC Health Northern Colorado Foundation | Fort Collins, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Colorado Succeeds | Denver, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Habitat for Humanity (Fort Collins) | Fort Collins, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Colorado Chamber Foundation | Denver, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce | Fort Collins, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Vindeket | Fort Collins, CO | $40,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| She's in Power | Fort Collins, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Habitat for Humanity (Rockford) | Loves Park, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Discovery Center-Rockford | Rockford, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| The Family Center La Familia | Fort Collins, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Bravehearts Therapeutic and Educational Center | Harvard, IL | $17,420 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Regional Access & Mobilization Project Inc | Rockford, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Guide Right Achievement Development Foundation | Canyon Country, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| The Matthews House | Fort Collins, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Harlem Consolidated School Dist #122 | Machesney Park, IL | $11,820 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Sorophimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley | Santa Clarita, CA | $10,500 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Fostering Youth Independence | Santa Clarita, CA | $10,500 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Weld Food Bank | Greeley, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Boys and Girls Club Association of Rockford | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County | Fort Collins, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Rock River Valley Food Pantry | Rockford, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Project Self-Sufficiency Ft Collins | Loveland, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Dementia Together | Windsor, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries | Rockford, IL | $9,843 | 2025 | General operating support |
| The Bridge to Home | Santa Clarita, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| The Painted Turtle | Santa Monica, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Family Promise of the Santa Clarita Valley | Santa Clarita, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Youth & Opportunity United Inc (YOU) | Evanston, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Foster Progress | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Milestone Inc | Loves Park, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center | Gurnee, IL | $6,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Meals on Wheels (Ft Collins) | Fort Collins, CO | $6,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Erie Neighborhood House | Chicago, IL | $5,500 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Midway Village Museum | Rockford, IL | $5,500 | 2025 | General operating support |
| YWCA - Evanston | Evanston, IL | $5,500 | 2025 | General operating support |
| CASA of Larimer County | Fort Collins, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Crossroads Safehouse Inc | Fort Collins, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Hope House | Arvada, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
| Disabled Resource Service | Loveland, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | General operating support |
SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE
$2,785,000SEE ATTACHED
Fort Collins Police Services
$450,000General operating support
Respite Care Inc
$250,000General operating support
Rockford Area Strategic Initiatives
$250,000General operating support
Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
$150,000General operating support
United Way of River Rock Valley
$150,000General operating support
Transform Rockford
$115,000General operating support
YWCA - Rockford
$100,000General operating support
Habitat for Humanity (Fort Collins)
$50,000General operating support
Colorado Chamber Foundation
$50,000General operating support
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
$50,000General operating support
Vindeket
$40,000General operating support
She's in Power
$25,000General operating support
Habitat for Humanity (Rockford)
$20,000General operating support
Discovery Center-Rockford
$20,000General operating support
Bravehearts Therapeutic and Educational Center
$17,420General operating support
Regional Access & Mobilization Project Inc
$15,000General operating support
Guide Right Achievement Development Foundation
$15,000General operating support
Harlem Consolidated School Dist #122
$11,820General operating support
Sorophimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley
$10,500General operating support
Fostering Youth Independence
$10,500General operating support
Boys and Girls Club Association of Rockford
$10,000General operating support
Rock River Valley Food Pantry
$10,000General operating support
Project Self-Sufficiency Ft Collins
$10,000General operating support
Dementia Together
$10,000General operating support
The Bridge to Home
$8,000General operating support
Youth & Opportunity United Inc (YOU)
$6,000General operating support
Foster Progress
$6,000General operating support
Milestone Inc
$6,000General operating support
Meals on Wheels (Ft Collins)
$6,000General operating support
Midway Village Museum
$5,500General operating support
Crossroads Safehouse Inc
$5,000General operating support
Hope House
$5,000General operating support
Disabled Resource Service
$5,000General operating support