Dillon Foundation
Historical FunderSterling, Illinois · EIN 36-6059349 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$3.6M
Organizations funded134
Typical grant$6,000
Total assets$79.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $2,500 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | PETER DILLON |
|---|---|
| Address | PO BOX 537, STERLING IL 61081 |
| Phone | 8156269000 |
| Form and materials | SUBMIT A LETTER STATING PURPOSE OF GRANT AND INCLUDE COPY OF EXEMPTION LETTER |
| Deadlines | NONE |
| Restrictions | NONE |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
29% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Park District | Sterling, IL | To support community improvement | $867,500 |
| Sterling Riverfront Foundation | Sterling, IL | To support community improvement/dev | $382,500 |
| Woodlawn Arts Academy | Sterling, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $230,347 |
| Sterling Park District - Museum Association | Sterling, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $196,472 |
| United Way of Whiteside County | Sterling, IL | To support human service activities | $192,750 |
| Community Unit School District 5 | Sterling, IL | In support of education/instruction | $159,259 |
| Sterling Public Library | Sterling, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $153,000 |
| Greater Sterling Development Corp | Sterling, IL | To support community improvement | $144,566 |
| Whiteside Area Career Center | Sterling, IL | To support education/instruction | $84,000 |
| Sauk Valley Community College Foundation | Dixon, IL | To support education/instruction | $78,000 |
| Rock River Hospice and Home | Sterling, IL | In support of human service | $68,850 |
| City of Sterling | Sterling, IL | To support community improvement | $57,958 |
| Sterling Rock Falls Family YMCA | Sterling, IL | In support of human service | $55,000 |
| Sterling Schools Foundation | Sterling, IL | To support education/instruction | $49,000 |
| First Presbyterian Church | Sterling, IL | In support of religion/spiritual dev | $36,750 |
| Grace Episcopal Church | Sterling, IL | To support religion/spiritual develo | $36,000 |
| Timber Lake Playhouse | Mount Carroll, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $31,000 |
| Whiteside County Senior Center | Sterling, IL | To support human service activites | $29,500 |
| Rock River Stone Real Estate LLC | Rock Falls, IL | To support community improvement | $25,000 |
| St Mary's School Saints Club | Raleigh, NC | In support of education/instruction | $25,000 |
| Cgh Health Foundation | Sterling, IL | To support health/general and relate | $22,000 |
| Sterling Rock Falls Historical Society | Sterling, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $22,000 |
| YWCA of the Sauk Valley | Sterling, IL | To support human service activities | $22,000 |
| St Mark's Episcopal Church | Geneva, IL | To support religion/spiritual develo | $20,000 |
| Mayo Foundation for Medical Educati and Research | Rochester, MN | To support health/general | $18,500 |
| The Salvation Army | Sterling, IL | To support human service activities | $16,500 |
| Sauk Valley Foodbank | Sterling, IL | To support food, nutrition, and ag | $16,250 |
| Rock Falls Elementary School | Rock Falls, IL | In support of education/instruction | $15,488 |
| Rock River Valley Self Help Enterprises | Sterling, IL | To support education/instruction | $15,000 |
| The Museum of Flight | Seattle, WA | To support arts, culture, humanities | $14,000 |
| The Associated Colleges of Illinois | Chicago, IL | To support education/instruction | $12,500 |
| Cornerstone Special Care | Sterling, IL | To support health/general | $12,000 |
| Berea College | Berea, KY | To support education/instruction | $10,500 |
| Coloma Township Park District | Rock Falls, IL | To support recreation, leisure, spor | $10,000 |
| Community Christmas for Children | Sterling, IL | To support human service activities | $10,000 |
| Living Well Cancer Resource Center | Geneva, IL | In support of health/general related | $10,000 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | Sterling, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $10,000 |
| Rock Falls Public Library | Rock Falls, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $10,000 |
| Tri-County Opportunities Council | Rock Falls, IL | To support housing & shelter | $10,000 |
| Twin City Public Action to Deliver Shelter Inc | Sterling, IL | To support public safety/emergency | $10,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois | Freeport, IL | In support of youth development | $9,500 |
| Franklin Creek Conservation Association | Franklin Grove, IL | To support environmental quality | $9,000 |
| Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundatio | Jeffersonville, IN | To support religion/spiritual develo | $9,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospita | Memphis, TN | To support health/general and relate | $9,000 |
| The Culver Educational Foundation | Culver, IN | To support education/instruction | $8,750 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | To support education/instruction | $8,750 |
| Rock Falls Township High School District 301 | Rock Falls, IL | To support education/instruction | $8,712 |
| Bi-County Cooperative Foundation | Sterling, IL | In support of education/instruction | $8,500 |
| Boy Scouts of America Blackhawk Area Council | Rockford, IL | In support of youth development | $8,500 |
| Erie County SPCA | West Seneca, NY | In support of animals | $8,000 |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL | To support education/instruction | $8,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Inc | Denver, CO | To support education/instruction | $8,000 |
| Hope Cancer Wellness Center | Dixon, IL | In support of human service | $7,500 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Il Chapter | Chicago, IL | To support environmental quality | $7,500 |
| YMCA at University of Illinois | Champaign, IL | To support human service activities | $7,500 |
| Acs Relay for Life of Sauk Valley | Sterling, IL | To support health/general and relate | $7,000 |
| Mr Grey's Strays Inc | Brockport, NY | In support of animals | $7,000 |
| Northern Illinois University Foundation - Wniu | Dekalb, IL | To support arts, culture, humanities | $7,000 |
| Seymour Library | Brockport, NY | To support arts, culture, humanities | $7,000 |
| St Charles Library Foundation | St Peters, MO | To support arts, culture, humanities | $7,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 134 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,580,339 | 134 |
| 2023 | $3,392,896 | 148 |
| 2022 | $2,907,295 | 136 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Mar 2, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202620619349100807
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 36-6059349
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.