Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation
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 and works by invitation only, so a cold application is not worth sending; look first for a route to an invitation.
- Its stated focus on environmental education for underserved communities, with grants for urban farming and conservation leadership, is the best test of fit.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $1,500 and $42,000, and half of its grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, so a modest request suits its typical grant, though its largest grant was about $340,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- In the latest filing, 86% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings, so it leans heavily on repeat giving.
- The filing shows grants mainly in Illinois, Maryland and North Carolina, but no geographic focus is stated, so location alone should not rule you out.
Overview
Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (2019nationalforumonfamilyphilant.sched.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its work as partnering with others to advance economic and ecological health through environmental education programmes, particularly for underserved communities. Its filings show grants to environmental and conservation organisations, educational and youth programmes, cultural institutions, community foundations, and social-service organisations. Most grants are recorded as general support, alongside purposes including urban farming, green youth farming, conservation leadership, environmental internships and community engagement. This mix supports organisations’ ongoing work as well as specific initiatives, while the foundation’s statement places environmental education and underserved communities at the centre of its approach. The filings show a concentration of grants in Illinois, but do not state a geographic eligibility rule.
Themes
- Environmental education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Illinois, Maryland and North Carolina.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 199 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It seeks to work in partnership with others to advance economic and ecological health through environmental education, particularly for underserved communities. (as reported in other published sources)
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 87 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- College of Lake County Foundation · Urban farm$225,0002024 tax year
- Ravinia Festival · Rsmi gift to honor lois steans & maxine hunter$110,0002024 tax year
- Cool Learning Experience · General support$65,0002024 tax year
- Openlands · General support$53,5002024 tax year
- Brushwood Center of Ryerson Woods · General support$47,5002024 tax year
- Chicago Voyagers · General support$45,0002024 tax year
- Lake County Community Foundation · Campaign for a thriving lake county$37,5002024 tax year
- Ragdale Foundation · "next" campaign$37,5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Helen Morrison — Chair
- Adeline S Morrison — Secretary
- Margot Brinley — Vice Chair
- Bruce Boyd — Executive Director
- Charles Brinley — Treasurer
- Lois Morrison — Director Of Operations
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,026,224 | $1,453,166 | $30,262,576 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,317,459 | $1,299,584 | $33,719,536 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,969,092 | $1,196,000 | $38,191,661 | 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 Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL
Applying to Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Chicago, IL