Red Bird Hollow Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Red Bird Hollow Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of Lake Forest couple John and Paula Lillard and their family. The foundation supports education, arts and culture, human services, health, the environment and religious causes in the Chicago metropolitan area.
IP TAKE: The is not an accessible or approachable funder. It prefers to keep a low profile and to take a proactive approach to grantmaking, rather than accepting unsolicited applications. However, given it’s small size, it’s common for such a funder to choose such a giving approach.
Nonprofits in the Lake Forest area may have an advantage.
PROFILE: Established in 1991, the Red Bird Hollow Foundation is the private family foundation of John and Paula Lillard in Illinois. John S. Lillard is a retired real estate investment executive. His wife, Paula Polk Lillard, is an education professional who co-founded Forest Bluff School, a Montessori school in Forest Bluff, Illinois. The couple and family move their philanthropy though the Red Bird Hollow Foundation, which supports select nonprofits in the Chicago area, particularly in Lake Forest. Grantmaking funds education and youth, arts and culture, human services, health, environment and religious causes.
Grants for Chicago
The foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers, which limits transparency about it’s giving strategies and priorities. However, tax filings suggest several patterns.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
The foundation appears to give to education outfits with which it is affliated, local schools and colleges, or local chapters of national programs. The Lillards have supported Lake Forest College, Ounce of Prevention Fund and Teach for America. A significant grantee is the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
Grants for Arts and Culture
Arts and culture grants here tend to focus on funding large scale organizations and institutions, rather than smaller, grassroots efforts that focus on local, direct services in the arts. It also does not appear to fund individual, local artists. Previous arts and culture grantees in Chicago include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony, the Lake Forest Historical Society and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Grants for Health and Human Services
On the health and human services front, grantees have included larger local organizations and hospitals, especially those where the family serves on committees. Past grantees include the Gorton Community Center and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, where John Lillard serves on the executive committee.
Grants for the Environment
A component of this family's giving also focuses broadly on the environment, typically in land conservation and stewardship. Grantees have included Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Wetlands Initiative and National Parks Conservation Association.
Other Grant Opportunities: The Lillards have also given grants to St. Andrews Episcopal Church and Church of Holy Spirit.
Important Grant Details:
Most foundation grants are under $10,000. In a recent year, the Red Bird Hollow Foundation gave away around $2.6 million. Review the funder’s recent tax records to learn more about recent giving.
Grantmaking does not appear to be limited exclusively to the Chicago area, but this is where the foundation gives many of its grants.
The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits.
The funder is based in Lake Forest, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and its phone number to get in touch is 847-999-2130.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
1340 N. Waukegan Rd.
Lake Forest, IL 60045-1147
(847) 999-2130
