Hamill Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,630,230 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 129 awards (2023)
• Total Assets: $43,947,391 (2023)
• Grant Range: Under $25,000 - Over $1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Illinois (Chicago area), with select grants to organizations like Teton Regional Land Trust (Wyoming/Idaho)
• Application Process: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Hamill Family Foundation
C/O Briar Hall LLC
200 W. Madison St., Ste. 3400
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 676-0300
EIN: 36-6096808

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Hamill Family Foundation was established in 1963 by the Hamill family and is now operated by veteran Chicago investor Jonathan C. Hamill and his sisters, Elizabeth Bramsen and Nancy Hamill Winter, children of Joan and Corwith "Corky" Hamill. With total assets of approximately $44 million and annual giving of over $7.6 million (2023), the foundation gives primarily for environmental conservation and animal welfare, with additional support for education, the arts, and health and human services. The foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of the family behind Segall Bryant & Hamill, a Chicago-based investment firm co-founded by Jonathan Hamill in 1994. The foundation honors the legacy of Corwith "Corky" Hamill, who served as President of the Chicago Zoological Society from 1975-1981, and Joan Birnie Hamill, who was instrumental in creating the Illinois Prairie Path. The foundation has been in operation for over 55 years and continues the family's multi-generational commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not maintain formal grant programs with set application cycles. Instead, it makes strategic investments in organizations aligned with the family's evolving interests, particularly in conservation and environmental protection.

Grant Size Range:

• Many individual grants are under $25,000
• Major named projects receive grants of over $1 million
• Recent major gifts include $1.5 million to The Conservation Foundation (2014) and $1.25 million to Teton Regional Land Trust (2022)

Priority Areas

Primary Focus - Environment & Animal Welfare:

• Land conservation and wildlife preserve management in Illinois
• Organizations protecting the Fox River watershed
• National wildlife refuges (particularly Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge)
• Illinois-based environmental advocacy organizations
• Land trusts and conservation organizations in areas with family connections (Wyoming/Idaho Tetons)

Secondary Focus Areas:

• Education: Educational institutions and programs
• Arts & Culture: Cultural organizations
• Health & Human Services: Including organizations focused on justice, advocacy, and human rights such as ACLU of Illinois, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders USA, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center, and Planned Parenthood

Past Environmental Grantees Include:

• Chicago Zoological Society (home to the Hamill Family Wild Encounters exhibit)
• The Nature Conservancy in Illinois
• Openlands ($500,000+ level support)
• The Conservation Foundation
• Environmental Law and Policy Center
• Teton Regional Land Trust
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Sierra Club Foundation
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• International Crane Foundation
• International Snow Leopard Trust
• African Wildlife Foundation
• United States Equestrian Team Foundation

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations based on the family's personal interests and connections. Organizations without an existing relationship to the Hamill family or their areas of demonstrated interest are unlikely to receive funding.

Governance and Leadership

Key Officers (all uncompensated):

• Jonathan C. Hamill - Director, President, Chairman

  • Co-founder of Segall Bryant & Hamill (1994), a Chicago investment firm with over $23 billion in assets under management (acquired by CI Financial in 2021)
  • Board member of Openlands
  • Trustee Emeritus of The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter
  • B.A. from Yale University, MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
  • Career began with Stein Roe & Farnham in 1962, became partner in 1969

• Elizabeth C. Bramsen - Director, Vice President, Secretary

  • Barrington, Illinois resident
  • Active in regional conservation efforts, particularly Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge
  • With husband James, supported acquisition of Tamarack Farms for Hackmatack

• Nancy Hamill Winter - Director, Vice President, Treasurer

  • Stockton, Illinois resident
  • Involved with The Nature Conservancy since the late 1980s
  • Active in conservation efforts in both Illinois and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Family Legacy

The foundation honors the legacy of the siblings' parents:

• Corwith "Corky" Hamill (1914-2013): Served as President of the Chicago Zoological Society (1975-1981), civic leader remembered as "one of the greatest civic leaders of the past century." The Chicago Zoological Society's Corwith Hamill Lifetime Achievement Conservation Award continues his legacy.

• Joan Birnie Smith Hamill (1916-2001): Principal force in the creation of the Illinois Prairie Path (a 61-mile trail from Maywood to Aurora and Elgin), founding member of the women's boards of the Field Museum and Chicago Zoological Society, and prominent figure in Illinois equestrian circles.

The family learned to love nature growing up on wooded property, and four generations of Hamills have maintained connections to conservation areas from Illinois to the Tetons.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hamill Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates by making grants to pre-selected organizations based on the family's personal interests, relationships, and evolving priorities. According to Inside Philanthropy, this is "largely an inaccessible funder that invests in the family's evolving interests."

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation supports organizations where family members have personal connections and demonstrated long-term interest. Specific pathways that have led to funding relationships include:

Board Service and Leadership Connections:

• Jonathan Hamill serves on the board of Openlands (which received $500,000+ from the foundation)
• Jonathan Hamill is a trustee emeritus of The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter (major grantee)
• The family has deep historical ties to the Chicago Zoological Society through Corwith Hamill's presidency

Geographic and Cause Alignment:

• Illinois-based conservation organizations, particularly those working on land conservation, wildlife preservation, and the Fox River watershed
• Organizations working in areas with family connections (the Greater Yellowstone/Teton region)
• Institutions honoring the family's legacy, such as named exhibits or programs

Conservation Networks:

• Organizations connected to major Illinois conservation initiatives, particularly Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge and the Illinois Prairie Path
• Land trusts and watershed protection organizations

Multi-Year Relationships:

• The foundation demonstrates commitment through sustained, multi-year support (e.g., the $1.5 million gift to The Conservation Foundation was structured over three years)
• Some gifts include match challenges requiring recipient organizations to raise additional funds

According to Inside Philanthropy: "Networking will be key for getting on this Chicago family's radar."

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not have an open application process. Grants are initiated by the foundation based on trustee decisions.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation makes grants to pre-selected organizations and does not have a formal application or reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, analyzing their funding patterns reveals what matters to this family foundation:

Demonstrated Long-Term Impact on Illinois Conservation: The foundation prioritizes organizations with proven track records in protecting Illinois natural areas. Their $1.5 million gift to The Conservation Foundation specifically emphasized "community education and outreach in the Fox River watershed" and created the "Joan and Corwith Hamill Family Fox River Land Fund" to support land acquisition. Brook McDonald, President/CEO of The Conservation Foundation, noted: "We will work hard to show the Hamill family that their investment in The Conservation Foundation is something that would have made Corky and Joan proud."

Honoring Family Legacy: Projects and programs that honor the legacy of Corwith and Joan Hamill resonate with the foundation. The Chicago Zoological Society's "Hamill Family Wild Encounters" exhibit and Openlands' "Corwith Hamill Legacy Fund" (supporting conservation in the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge) demonstrate how recognition of family contributions can lead to major support.

Match Challenges and Leveraged Giving: The foundation structures some gifts to maximize impact. Their Teton Regional Land Trust gift required raising an additional $250,000 to unlock the final $250,000 (1:1 matching), and The Conservation Foundation gift required raising $250,000 to unlock the final $500,000.

Multi-Generational Connection: Nancy Hamill Winter described the Teton region's impact on "four generations of the Hamill family," emphasizing how places that have touched multiple family generations receive consideration. The siblings "grew up on wooded property and learned to love nature like their parents."

Organizations Where Family Members Serve: Active board service by family members appears to correlate with funding. Jonathan Hamill's board service at Openlands and trustee emeritus status at The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter, connect to major grants from the foundation.

Strategic Conservation Priorities: The foundation supported the acquisition of Tamarack Farms (985 acres) for Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, described as "the largest conservation acquisition in the Chicago region since the creation of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in 1996," showing interest in landmark conservation achievements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Open Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations must already be on the family's radar through personal connections, board service, or demonstrated alignment with their conservation priorities in Illinois and select other regions.

• Illinois Conservation is Primary: The foundation's largest grants support land conservation, wildlife preservation, and watershed protection in Illinois, particularly the Fox River watershed and Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge area.

• Family Legacy Matters: Projects honoring Corwith and Joan Hamill's conservation legacy, particularly those connecting to the Chicago Zoological Society, Illinois Prairie Path, or multi-generational family interests, resonate strongly.

• Relationship-Driven: Funding follows personal connections. Organizations where Jonathan, Elizabeth, or Nancy serve on boards or have long-standing relationships are most likely to receive support.

• Grant Range is Wide: While many grants are under $25,000, major strategic initiatives can receive $1 million+ in multi-year commitments, often structured with match requirements.

• Patient Approach Required: According to Inside Philanthropy, "Networking will be key for getting on this Chicago family's radar." This is a multi-year relationship-building process, not a single application.

• Beyond Environment: While environmental giving is primary (approximately 60-70% of grants), the foundation also supports health and human services organizations focused on justice, advocacy, and human rights, particularly those with Chicago connections.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Hamill Family Foundation (EIN: 36-6096808). Form 990-PF filings 2021-2023. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366096808

2. Inside Philanthropy. "Hamill Foundation | Inside Philanthropy." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-h/hamill-foundation

3. Inside Philanthropy. "Hamill Foundation | Environmental Grants | Inside Philanthropy." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/grants-for-conservation/hamill-family-foundation-grants-for-the-environment.html

4. Inside Philanthropy. "Jonathan C. Hamill | Inside Philanthropy." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/jonathan-c-hamill-html

5. The Conservation Foundation. "Transformative Gift Announcement - The Conservation Foundation." November 2014. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://theconservationfoundation.org/transformative-gift-announcement/

6. Daily Herald. "HAMILL FAMILY DONATES $1.5 MILLION FOR LOCAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS." November 6, 2014. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.dailyherald.com/20141106/submitted-content/hamill-family-donates-1-5-million-for-local-conservation-efforts/

7. Teton Regional Land Trust. "Land Trust Unveils the Public Phase of the Legacy of Land Campaign with the Announcement of a Capstone Gift." 2022. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://tetonlandtrust.org/land-trust-unveils-the-public-phase-of-the-legacy-of-land-campaign-with-the-announcement-of-a-capstone-gift/

8. Post Register. "Teton Regional Land Trust receives $1.2 million donation toward Legacy of Land campaign." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.postregister.com/news/local/teton-regional-land-trust-receives-1-2-million-donation-toward-legacy-of-land-campaign/article_e35b6f00-62d5-5937-8886-55de7ee8dce5.html

9. Openlands. "Annual Report 2024 | Openlands." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://openlands.org/about-openlands/who-we-are/accountability-impact/annual-report-2024/

10. The Conservation Fund. "Nearly 1,000 Acres Protected for Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in Largest Regional Conservation Acquisition in 28 Years." March 2024. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.conservationfund.org/our-impact/press-room/nearly-1000-acres-protected-for-hackmatack-national-wildlife-refuge-in-largest-regional-conservation-acquisition-in-28-years/

11. Chicago Tribune. "JOAN BIRNIE HAMILL, 84." July 27, 2001. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/07/27/joan-birnie-hamill-84/

12. Inside Philanthropy. "Corwith Hamill Legacy Fund." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/h-grants/tag/Corwith+Hamill+Legacy+Fund

13. Cause IQ. "Hamill Family Foundation | Chicago, IL." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hamill-family-foundation,366096808/

14. CI Financial. "CI Financial Kickstarts 2021 with Acquisition of Chicago-based Segall Bryant & Hamill." January 25, 2021. Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.cifinancial.com/ci-financial/ca/en/news/2021/ci-financial-kickstarts-2021-with-acquisition-of-chicago-based-s.html

15. Brookfield Zoo Chicago. "Hamill Family Wild Encounters." Accessed February 7, 2026. https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/hamill-family-wild-encounters