The Mill Foundation
The Mill Foundation (EIN 30-0177875) is a private foundation based in Loves Park/ Rockford, IL that provides grants to programs serving disadvantaged youth in the Rockford area. The official site publishes grant criteria, a downloadable grant application, lists recent grant recipients (updated through 2025) and provides contact information.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A local (Rockford-area) 501(c)(3) that serves disadvantaged youth or runs after-school/community-center programs and can report measurable outcomes.
Good Fit
- • Programs focused on youth development, after-school services, or community centers in the greater Rockford area
- • Organization is a registered 501(c)(3)
- • Ability to provide measurable outcome reports
- • Budget and request size aligned with past awards (typically mid-thousands to low five-figure grants)
- • Willingness to apply by the published deadlines and use the foundation's application form
- • Local presence or demonstrated service to the Rockford community
Geography
Observed giving is geographically narrow: every recorded grant across four years went to Illinois recipients and the portfolio is concentrated in the Rockford/Loves Park area.
Recipient Variety
The foundation consistently funds many independent local organizations (14–19 distinct grantees per year, 18 in the latest year) with a mix of repeat and new recipients, indicating a broad recipient set for a small private foundation.
New Applicants
Direct evidence supports newcomer access: the website posts a downloadable application, specific twice-yearly deadlines, a mailing address and named contact, and about one third of latest-year grantees were new, so unfamiliar local 501(c)(3)s appear able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
