About Defiance Area Foundation
The Defiance Area Foundation strengthens the quality of life in Defiance County by connecting donors with causes that matter, stewarding charitable funds, supporting meaningful grants, and partnering with community members to address local needs.
Focus Areas
educationsocial servicesphysical and mental healthcommunity affairsanimal welfareartsscholarships
Who They Fund
scholarship recipients / studentsmeal/dining hall patrons (people receiving food services)individuals receiving clothing/basic-needs itemsprogram participants / organizational clients
Funding Style
About Defiance Area Foundation
A defining feature of Defiance Area Foundation Inc is its local scholarship infrastructure: the foundation administers more than 25 scholarship funds for Defiance County students, with applications typically due March 31 each year. That education work sits alongside grantmaking that supports local organizations serving children, families, and broader community needs in Defiance County. Recent awards show the foundation funding both institutions and targeted programs, including a $326,957 operating grant to Defiance Area YMCA and a $194,186 support grant to Village of Hicksville. The grant record also shows support for schools, community organizations, libraries, and service providers, along with recurring scholarship-related activity through managed funds and named scholarships. In the recent grant list, the foundation backed Defiance City Schools, Defiance Development and Visitor's, United Way of Defiance County, and Defiance Community Cultural Council, indicating a mix of education, civic, and social-service priorities. Its work is organized through donor-advised and foundation-managed funds that direct dollars into locally focused programs across Defiance County.
What Defiance Area Foundation Funds
Education is central to the foundation’s grantmaking. Through its scholarship programs, it administers more than 25 scholarship funds for Defiance County students pursuing higher education, and it also manages school-linked scholarship activity such as the Defiance City Schools Foundation Mini-Grants & Scholarships. Community support extends beyond tuition aid: a $374,948 grant to Northeastern Local School District was marked for clothing support, and a $24,763 grant to Defiance Elementary School Pto was also designated for clothing. The foundation also backs civic and family-serving organizations. It gave $111,456 to Defiance Development and Visitor's for support, $39,731 to United Way of Defiance County for operating and programs, and $39,000 to Defiance Community Cultural Council for support. Those awards point to a portfolio that includes schools, family assistance, and local cultural or community infrastructure.
How Defiance Area Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around a mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $14,400, and a p75 of $19,808. The recent record also includes several larger awards, which pushes the average above the median. The foundation appears to give through a mix of recurring programs and one-time support: scholarship funds recur annually, the Community Grants and Community Fund Grantmaking programs accept unsolicited requests, and the Women’s Giving Circle pools local giving for grantmaking. It is a local funder, and the recent grants list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Defiance Area YMCA, Lily Creek Farms, United Way of Defiance County, and Northeastern Local School District.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$17.5M
Total Revenue
$2.1M
Total Expenses
$1.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$20K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
CHRISTINE YODER
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Defiance Area Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime