The Bruggen Foundation concentrates large, purposeful gifts to Catholic institutions in the Granger/South Bend region, with the bulk of funding going to higher education and parish support. Its giving is highly targeted — multi‑hundred-thousand to multi‑million dollar grants that support Notre Dame University and local Catholic church ministry, suggesting a strong interest in sustaining faith‑based education and religious life in its home community.
Highly concentrated: very few grants overall, large dollar amounts, repeat major support to a flagship local university and one or two regional Catholic parishes.
Bruggen Foundation Inc. makes large, targeted grants that often support Catholic institutions in the South Bend area. Two of the clearest examples are a $3,750,000 grant to Notre Dame University in 2024 and a $1,000,000 grant to Christ the King Church in 2024, showing a strong emphasis on faith-based education and parish life. The foundation also continued that relationship with another $587,500 grant to Notre Dame University in 2025. Beyond those flagship awards, its recent giving includes support for the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend, the Potawatomi Zoological Society, and Dismas House of Indiana Inc., indicating a mix of religious, educational, and community-oriented grants. The overall pattern is one of concentrated institutional support rather than broad, dispersed giving. Grants appear to be purposeful and often substantial, with several awards reaching into six- and seven-figure territory. Recent recipients also include organizations in health, humanitarian relief, and local services, but the clearest throughline is sustained investment in Catholic higher education and church-related institutions in Northern Indiana.
Catholic education is a central theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. A $3,750,000 grant to Notre Dame University in 2024 and a follow-on $587,500 grant in 2025 show repeated support for the same institution. Parish and diocesan work is another visible area: the foundation gave $1,000,000 to Christ the King Church in 2024 and $75,000 to the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend in 2023. The portfolio also reaches into broader charitable and service work. Recent examples include $325,000 to Catholic Relief Services in 2023 and $317,455 in 2025, along with $160,000 to Strategies to End Homelessness in 2025. These grants suggest a funding approach that combines faith-based priorities with select humanitarian and local service organizations.
Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $23,750, the median is $87,500, and the 75th percentile is $209,562. That spread shows a mix of mid-sized awards and much larger commitments at the top end. Several organizations appear more than once across the recent grants list, including Notre Dame University, Catholic Relief Services, Love Without Boundaries, Kenya Works Inc, Andean Health and Development, and Edesia Inc., indicating repeat support rather than one-off giving. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The pattern points to institutional grantmaking with recurring relationships.
$2.4M
$90.2M
$8M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $24K and $210K, with a median of $88K.
25th Percentile
$24K
Median
$88K
75th Percentile
$210K
About 29% of grants go to recipients in OH.
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Notable grantees: NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY, CHRIST THE KING CHURCH
Grant activity is regional, with 40% of grants going to recipients in Indiana. South Bend appears repeatedly through recipients such as Notre Dame University, Christ the King Church, Dismas House of Indiana Inc, and the Boys and Girls Club. Cincinnati is another frequent recipient city, with grants to Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio, Strategies to End Homelessness, People Working Cooperatively, Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, Clovernook Center for the Blind, Changing Gears, and Happen Inc. Outside Indiana, grants also land in Baltimore, North Kingstown, Edmond, and Appleton.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on Catholic higher education and parish support, including repeated funding for Notre Dame University, Christ the King Church, and the Diocese of Fort Wayne South Bend. The foundation also backs selected charitable, medical, and community-service organizations.
Yes. Several organizations appear more than once in the recent grants list, including Notre Dame University, Catholic Relief Services, Love Without Boundaries, Kenya Works Inc, Andean Health and Development, and Edesia Inc.
The median recent grant is $87,500. The middle half of grants falls between $23,750 at the 25th percentile and $209,562 at the 75th percentile, showing that the foundation often gives mid-sized awards but also makes much larger grants.
Indiana receives 40% of the foundation’s grants, and South Bend shows up frequently among recipient locations. Cincinnati is another recurring city in the grant list, alongside recipients in Baltimore, North Kingstown, Edmond, and Appleton.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $587,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $317,455 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST OHIO | CINCINNATI, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES | EDMOND, OK | $232,435 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $170,147 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| STRATEGIES TO END HOMELESSNESS | CINCINNATI, OH | $160,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ANDEAN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT | MADISON, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| EDESIA INC | NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI | $100,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| ONESKY | BERKELEY, CA | $90,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| DISMAS HOUSE OF INDIANA INC | SOUTH BEND, IN | $57,250 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| COMBONI MISSIONARIES OF THE HEART OF JESUS | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY | CINCINNATI, OH | $40,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CLOVERNOOK CENTER FOR THE BLIND | CINCINNATI, OH | $36,500 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHANGING GEARS | CINCINNATI, OH | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| HAPPEN INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $27,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| CHURCHES ACTIVE IN NORTHSIDE - CAIN | CINCINNATI, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| VILLAGE TO VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL | SOUTH BEND, IN | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $3,750,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CHRIST THE KING CHURCH | SOUTH BEND, IN | $1,000,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| EDESIA INC | NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI | $300,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $223,250 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $205,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANDEAN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT | MADISON, WI | $150,000 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES | EDMOND, OK | $128,800 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE METANOIA PROJECT | CLEVELAND, OH | $34,960 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CHURCHES ACTIVE IN NORTHSIDE | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| CHANGING GEARS | CINCINNATI, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| VILLAGE TO VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL | SOUTH BEND, IN | $18,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| PROTEUS INC | DES MOINES, IA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $325,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ANDEAN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT | MADISON, WI | $100,000 | 2023 | MEDICAL |
| POTAWATOMI ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE SOUTH BEND | FORT WAYNE, IN | $75,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES | EDMOND, OK | $50,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | SOUTH BEND, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| HOLY CROSS FOREIGN MISSION INC | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS | GOLDEN, CO | $20,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY
$587,500EDUCATIONAL
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$317,455CHARITABLE
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST OHIO
$250,000CHARITABLE
LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
$232,435CHARITABLE
KENYA WORKS INC
$170,147CHARITABLE
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION
$100,000CHARITABLE
DISMAS HOUSE OF INDIANA INC
$57,250CHARITABLE
COMBONI MISSIONARIES OF THE HEART OF JESUS
$40,000CHARITABLE
PEOPLE WORKING COOPERATIVELY
$40,000CHARITABLE
CLOVERNOOK CENTER FOR THE BLIND
$36,500CHARITABLE
HAPPEN INC
$27,000CHARITABLE
CHURCHES ACTIVE IN NORTHSIDE - CAIN
$25,000RELIGIOUS
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL
$12,000CHARITABLE
NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY
$3,750,000EDUCATIONAL
CHRIST THE KING CHURCH
$1,000,000RELIGIOUS
KENYA WORKS INC
$223,250CHARITABLE
LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
$128,800CHARITABLE
THE METANOIA PROJECT
$34,960CHARITABLE
CHURCHES ACTIVE IN NORTHSIDE
$20,000RELIGIOUS
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL
$18,000CHARITABLE
PROTEUS INC
$10,000CHARITABLE
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$325,000CHARITABLE
DIOCESE OF FORT WAYNE SOUTH BEND
$75,000RELIGIOUS
LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES
$50,000CHARITABLE
HOLY CROSS FOREIGN MISSION INC
$25,000RELIGIOUS
FELLOWSHIP OF CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
$20,000RELIGIOUS