The 8020 Foundation Trust concentrates giving in northeast Indiana on education-to-workforce pathways, funding both K–12 career academies and higher-education engineering programs that prepare students for manufacturing and technical careers. Grants are mission-driven toward STEM facility upgrades, equipment, and startup support for vocational pathways, and the foundation favors local institutions and programs that link schools with industry. Recipients are primarily regional public school districts, private colleges, and youth-serving organizations operating career pathway initiatives.
A defining feature of 8020 Foundation Trust is its repeated use of large, multi-year grants to build career pathways in northeast Indiana. The trust has backed school districts, colleges, and youth-serving organizations that connect students to manufacturing, engineering, and workforce readiness. Recent awards include $973,551 to Whitko Community School for Whitko Career Academy startup funds and $742,500 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne for a Career Pathway Center, showing a preference for programs that move learners from classroom exposure into career-linked experiences. That same pattern appears in higher education, where the trust supported Indiana Wesleyan University with $702,173 for school of engineering equipment and Taylor University with $1,000,000 for a mechanical engineering degree and certification track. The grants suggest a funder focused on capacity-building rather than short-term activities: renovations, equipment, startup support, and partnership infrastructure recur across recipients. Its public programs point to the same strategy, with named efforts for career ready grants, developing talent, engaging youth, and manufacturing ecosystem support. The result is a portfolio centered on education-to-workforce transitions, especially where schools, employers, and community partners work together.
In CTE and workforce readiness, the trust funded Dekalb County Eastern School District Impact Institute with $1,500,000 for the Fairview Project and J Kruse Education Center with $712,000 for a manufacturing pathway career exploration effort. Those grants align with its Career Ready Grant and Developing Talent programs, both built around partnerships that link K-12, higher education, nonprofits, and employers. For engineering capacity, Indiana Institute of Technology received $907,370 in 2023 and $791,895 in 2024 for the Zollner Engineering Center renovation, while Grace Schools got $443,240 for Grace Engineering 2.0. Youth STEAM and exploration are another theme: Garrett-Keyser-Butler Education Foundation received $240,068 for Garrett Middle School career development, and Nearspace Education received $335,000 for Dream Big. Entrepreneurship also appears, including $262,725 to Northeast Indiana Innovation Center for Entrepreneurism for All Phase 1.
Typical grants cluster at a $25,000 p25, $50,000 median, and $125,000 p75, but the trust also makes much larger strategic awards, including seven-figure commitments. The recent record shows recurring support to several recipients over multiple years: Indiana Institute of Technology, Taylor University, Ohio Northern University, and Bluffton Harrison MSD each appear more than once. That repeat funding suggests a multi-year partnership model rather than isolated one-time gifts. The trust is a private foundation with a local giving scope, and it also funds individuals. Program-related investments are not part of the pattern. Application routes vary by program: some, such as Camps, Clubs, & Competitions and Rolling Grant Program, accept unsolicited proposals, while others explicitly do not.
Current and upcoming funding from 8020 Foundation Trust that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: All funded activities must advance a recognized charitable purpose and produce a clear public benefit beyond the interests of any single employer.
Deadline: Application deadlines: January 15 and July 15.
$8.2M
$240.6M
$8.4M
$11.7M
Most grants fall between $25K and $125K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$125K
About 97% of grants go to recipients in IN.
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Highly concentrated: a small number of large grants to regional educational institutions and career-program start-ups, with repeat support to local higher-education partners and K–12 districts rather than many small, diversified gifts.
Notable grantees: DeKalb County Eastern School District / Impact Institute, Indiana Institute of Technology, Taylor University, Whitko Community School (Whitko Career Academy), Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Indiana, with 97% of grants to recipients in the HQ state and the top giving state also Indiana. The strongest recipient cluster is in northeast Indiana, especially Fort Wayne, Marion, Upland, Warsaw, Bluffton, Butler, Auburn, and Larwill. Fort Wayne appears repeatedly through awards to Indiana Institute of Technology, Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, and Questa Education Foundation. Outside Indiana, only one recipient country appears in the data, and all recorded grants go to U.S. organizations.
The trust repeatedly funds education-to-workforce pathways, especially career and technical education, engineering capacity, and youth STEAM learning. Recent examples include manufacturing pathway work, engineering center renovations, career academy startup support, and career pathway centers tied to local schools and community organizations.
Yes, but only for some programs. Camps, Clubs, & Competitions accepts unsolicited proposals, and the Rolling Grant Program also accepts them. Other named programs in the data, including Empowering Manufacturing Grant Program, Developing Talent, Engaging Youth, Career Ready Grant, and Ignite Your Future, do not accept unsolicited applications.
The grant-size distribution centers at $25,000 for the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $125,000 at the 75th percentile. The trust also makes much larger program awards, including grants in the hundreds of thousands and some at or above $1 million.
Yes. The foundation’s scope is local, 97% of grants go to recipients in Indiana, and the recent grant list is entirely U.S.-based. Most awards land in northeast Indiana cities such as Fort Wayne, Marion, Upland, Warsaw, Bluffton, Auburn, and Larwill.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list, including Indiana Institute of Technology, Taylor University, Ohio Northern University, and Bluffton Harrison MSD. That pattern points to ongoing support for multi-year projects and partnerships.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Who can apply: Best suited for programs that center student voice and agency, are developmentally appropriate, and are delivered in partnership with schools, educators, and community organizations.
Deadline: Effective in 2026: July 15, 2026 and September 15, 2026. Beginning in 2027: March 15 and September 15.
Who can apply: Particularly interested in efforts with strong partnerships among educators, employers, and community organizations that reduce barriers to participation.
Deadline: Effective in 2026: July 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and November 15, 2026. Beginning in 2027: May 15 and November 15.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations may apply; supports programs engaging young people from preschool through high school in STEAM camps or clubs, robotics clubs and competitions, and STEAM-related classroom tools and activities.
Deadline: Applications accepted any time throughout the year; award decisions are made monthly.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WARSAW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | WARSAW, IN | $778,760 | 2025 | FUTURE WELDING & ADVANCED MANUFACTUR |
| J KRUSE EDUCATION CENTER INC | AUBURN, IN | $712,000 | 2025 | MANUFACTURING PATHWAY - CAREER EXPLO |
| INDIANA WESLEYAN | MARION, IN | $571,473 | 2025 | IWU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT | MARION, IN | $561,579 | 2025 | WIRED 2.0 - GRANT REGIONAL CAREER CE |
| OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY | ADA, OH | $525,000 | 2025 | DON WOOD FOUNDATION MACHINE |
| TAYLOR UNIVERSITY | UPLAND, IN | $498,351 | 2025 | BS IN MECH. ENGINEERING W/ CERTIFCAT |
| UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS - CELL | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $402,366 | 2025 | INDIANA PATHWAYS TO CAREERS & POSTSE |
| ORTHOPEDICS CAPITAL FOUNDATION INC | WARSAW, IN | $360,394 | 2025 | IXPLORE CTE CAREER EXPLORATION W/VIR |
| NEARSPACE EDUCATION INC | UPLAND, IN | $335,000 | 2025 | DREAM BIG |
| DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL | WATERLOO, IN | $300,000 | 2025 | BARON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROGRAM |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HUNTINGTON COU | HUNTINGTON, IN | $250,000 | 2025 | ENTREPRENUERSHIP & WORKFORCE READINE |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FORT WAYNE IN | FORT WAYNE, IN | $249,650 | 2025 | LIFE & CAREER READINESS |
| QUESTA EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $220,000 | 2025 | MANUFACTURING AND ENTREPRENUERIAL SC |
| BLUE JACKET INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $179,065 | 2025 | STRENGTHENING BLUE JACKET'S WORKFORC |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDI | FORT WAYNE, IN | $159,870 | 2025 | JA ENTREPRENUERSHIP PATHWAY |
| ADAMS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | DECATUR, IN | $125,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HUNTINGTON | HUNTINGTON, IN | $125,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NOBLE COUNT | LIGONIER, IN | $125,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WABASH COUN | NORTH MANCHESTER, IN | $125,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDAT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $122,213 | 2025 | ACPL MAKER STUDIOS: READY, SET, LAUN |
| NORTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY SCHOOLS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $113,430 | 2025 | CAREER EXPLORATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT | MARION, IN | $113,400 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| WHITLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA CITY, IN | $110,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| THE ARK CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES | CONVERSE, IN | $105,000 | 2025 | STEM & OUTDOOR EDUCATION |
| WHITLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA CITY, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | MANUFACTURING YOUR FUTURE SCHOLARSHI |
| NEARSPACE EDUCATION INC | UPLAND, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | BUILDING EXPANSION & MAKERSPACE |
| STARTEDUP FOUNDATION INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | NORTHEAST INDIANA INNOVATION EDUCATO |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DEKALB COUN | AUBURN, IN | $99,934 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT | MARION, IN | $96,036 | 2025 | WIRED |
| WOMEN'S FUND OF GREATER FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $90,000 | 2025 | WOMEN'S FUND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| FREEDOM ACADEMY INC | KENDALLVILLE, IN | $85,069 | 2025 | TEEN TRADES PROGRAM |
| MSD OF STEUBEN COUNTY | ANGOLA, IN | $76,270 | 2025 | ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PATHWAY AT AN |
| THE WELLS COUNTY FOUNDATION INC | BLUFFTON, IN | $75,000 | 2025 | IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM |
| BRIGHTPOINT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $75,000 | 2025 | MAPPING CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DEKALB COUN | AUBURN, IN | $60,000 | 2025 | TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES: A NONPROFI |
| VISIT FORT WAYNE FOUNDATION INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $60,000 | 2025 | MUSIC ECONOMY STRATEGY & ASSESSMENT |
| SCHOOLS CARE INCORPORATED | FORT WAYNE, IN | $53,408 | 2025 | AMP LAB LEADERSHIP PILOT |
| TEENWORKS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | CONEXUS CATAPULT & TEENWORKS PARTNER |
| EASTERSEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIAN | FORT WAYNE, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | PRE-MANUFACTURING ACADEMY 2024 |
| THE STEM CONNECTION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $48,000 | 2025 | OUT-OF-SCHOOL STEM EDUCATION - NE IN |
| INSPIRE SUCCESS INC | ZIONSVILLE, IN | $45,000 | 2025 | CTE EXCELLENCE NETWORK |
| URBAN ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION DBA | FORT WAYNE, IN | $40,100 | 2025 | 40,100 PLUS UP TO 10,000 TO REIMBU |
| HEALTHIER MOMS AND BABIES | FORT WAYNE, IN | $35,000 | 2025 | HMB DOULA COLLECTIVE & ENTREPRENEURS |
| BE NOBLE INC | KENDALLVILLE, IN | $30,000 | 2025 | ENGAGE NOBLE |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDI | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | JA JOBSPARK & JA CAREER IGNITE |
| EASTERSEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIAN | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | PR-MANUFACTURING ACADEMY 2024 |
| QUESTA FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION IN | FORT WAYNE, IN | $24,000 | 2025 | YEAR 2 OF CAPACITY SUPPORT |
| EXPERIENCE THE HEART OF KENDALLVILL | KENDALLVILLE, IN | $23,375 | 2025 | INCUBATOR SPACE |
| TROY SCHOOLS | COLUMBIA CITY, IN | $15,563 | 2025 | TROY ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CTE SCHO |
| CARDINAL SERVICES INC | WARSAW, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | ROBOTICS CLUB |
WARSAW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$778,760FUTURE WELDING & ADVANCED MANUFACTUR
J KRUSE EDUCATION CENTER INC
$712,000MANUFACTURING PATHWAY - CAREER EXPLO
INDIANA WESLEYAN
$571,473IWU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT
$561,579WIRED 2.0 - GRANT REGIONAL CAREER CE
OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY
$525,000DON WOOD FOUNDATION MACHINE
TAYLOR UNIVERSITY
$498,351BS IN MECH. ENGINEERING W/ CERTIFCAT
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS - CELL
$402,366INDIANA PATHWAYS TO CAREERS & POSTSE
ORTHOPEDICS CAPITAL FOUNDATION INC
$360,394IXPLORE CTE CAREER EXPLORATION W/VIR
NEARSPACE EDUCATION INC
$335,000DREAM BIG
DEKALB COUNTY CENTRAL UNITED SCHOOL
$300,000BARON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROGRAM
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HUNTINGTON COU
$250,000ENTREPRENUERSHIP & WORKFORCE READINE
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FORT WAYNE IN
$249,650LIFE & CAREER READINESS
QUESTA EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$220,000MANUFACTURING AND ENTREPRENUERIAL SC
BLUE JACKET INC
$179,065STRENGTHENING BLUE JACKET'S WORKFORC
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDI
$159,870JA ENTREPRENUERSHIP PATHWAY
ADAMS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$125,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HUNTINGTON
$125,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NOBLE COUNT
$125,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WABASH COUN
$125,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDAT
$122,213ACPL MAKER STUDIOS: READY, SET, LAUN
NORTHWEST ALLEN COUNTY SCHOOLS
$113,430CAREER EXPLORATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT
$113,400IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
WHITLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$110,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
THE ARK CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
$105,000STEM & OUTDOOR EDUCATION
WHITLEY COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000MANUFACTURING YOUR FUTURE SCHOLARSHI
NEARSPACE EDUCATION INC
$100,000BUILDING EXPANSION & MAKERSPACE
STARTEDUP FOUNDATION INC
$100,000NORTHEAST INDIANA INNOVATION EDUCATO
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DEKALB COUN
$99,934IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRANT COUNT
$96,036WIRED
WOMEN'S FUND OF GREATER FORT WAYNE
$90,000WOMEN'S FUND INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
FREEDOM ACADEMY INC
$85,069TEEN TRADES PROGRAM
MSD OF STEUBEN COUNTY
$76,270ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PATHWAY AT AN
THE WELLS COUNTY FOUNDATION INC
$75,000IGNITE YOUR FUTURE PILOT PROGRAM
BRIGHTPOINT
$75,000MAPPING CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF DEKALB COUN
$60,000TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES: A NONPROFI
VISIT FORT WAYNE FOUNDATION INC
$60,000MUSIC ECONOMY STRATEGY & ASSESSMENT
SCHOOLS CARE INCORPORATED
$53,408AMP LAB LEADERSHIP PILOT
TEENWORKS
$50,000CONEXUS CATAPULT & TEENWORKS PARTNER
EASTERSEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIAN
$50,000PRE-MANUFACTURING ACADEMY 2024
THE STEM CONNECTION
$48,000OUT-OF-SCHOOL STEM EDUCATION - NE IN
INSPIRE SUCCESS INC
$45,000CTE EXCELLENCE NETWORK
URBAN ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATION DBA
$40,10040,100 PLUS UP TO 10,000 TO REIMBU
HEALTHIER MOMS AND BABIES
$35,000HMB DOULA COLLECTIVE & ENTREPRENEURS
BE NOBLE INC
$30,000ENGAGE NOBLE
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHERN INDI
$25,000JA JOBSPARK & JA CAREER IGNITE
EASTERSEALS ARC OF NORTHEAST INDIAN
$25,000PR-MANUFACTURING ACADEMY 2024
QUESTA FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION IN
$24,000YEAR 2 OF CAPACITY SUPPORT
EXPERIENCE THE HEART OF KENDALLVILL
$23,375INCUBATOR SPACE
TROY SCHOOLS
$15,563TROY ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CTE SCHO
CARDINAL SERVICES INC
$15,000ROBOTICS CLUB