Vernon F Dale Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered, and any approach should go through a preselected relationship rather than an open letter.
- Its grants have mainly gone to organisations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern should not be read as a rule on who may apply.
- In its most recent filing, every grant dollar to organisations went to groups it had also funded in one of the two filings before that, so repeat support is the norm.
- Half of its 90 grants to organisations were about $14,000 or less, so a modest request fits the usual size, though the typical band of $6,900 to $145,000 is not a ceiling, since the largest grant was about $285,000.
Overview
Vernon F Dale Charitable Trust is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Northern Trust Company, in Po Box Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The trust's filings describe its grants as general or general support, rather than naming a particular funding field. Its recipients include healthcare providers and medical foundations, Catholic social services, schools, churches, scouting and youth organisations, alongside national charities. Most of its recorded grant dollars went to organisations in Wisconsin; Illinois and Minnesota were also significant recipient states. The recipient list shows repeated support for organisations in the La Crosse area as well as institutions elsewhere. The filed application information says that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, indicating a selective rather than open application route.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 100% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 90 grants to organisations were about $14,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 100% of grant dollars went to organisations Vernon F Dale Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 30 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $13,892 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Mayo Clinic Health System La Crosse · General support$277,8672024 tax year
- Catholic Charities Of The Diocese Of Lacrosse · General support$208,4072024 tax year
- Gundersen Medical Foundation · General support$138,9342024 tax year
- Shriners Hospitals for Children · General support$138,9342024 tax year
- Mayo Clinic · General support$138,9342024 tax year
- Aquinas Catholic Schools · General support$69,4742024 tax year
- National Jewish Medical and Research Center · General support$69,4742024 tax year
- Father Flanagans Boys Home · General support$41,6762024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
Administered by its trustee, Northern Trust Company.
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,572,482 | $1,391,145 | $26,510,749 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,606,631 | $1,397,020 | $29,070,064 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,565,106 | $1,373,708 | $29,136,343 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Vernon F Dale Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Po Box Chicago, IL (office of its trustee, Northern Trust Company)
Applying to Vernon F Dale Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Po Box Chicago, IL (office of its trustee, Northern Trust Company)