The Foellinger Foundation’s 2019 giving is highly concentrated: two grants totaling $15.6 million are reported together as “SEE ATTACH PART XIV,” with no public grantee names or NTEE codes provided. This pattern suggests the foundation makes large, institutional gifts (likely capital, endowment or major program support) rather than many small grants, and given the foundation’s Fort Wayne base the dollars are likely targeted to a small number of regional nonprofit institutions. Because the detailed attachment is not included, precise thematic priorities cannot be fully determined from the available records.
Foellinger Foundation Inc’s recent public record is dominated by very large institutional grants listed as “See Attach Part Xiv Grants Paid Out,” including awards of $8,032,390 in 2023, $7,550,000 in 2025, and $6,865,550 in 2025. The pattern points to a funder that works through major commitments rather than small, dispersed grants. The available records also show that its giving is fully local, with all reported grants landing in Indiana. The foundation’s grantmaking is built around Allen County and Fort Wayne community needs. Publicly named programs include invited initiatives, the Breakthrough Fund, Capacity Building Grants, the Thrive Initiative, Family Development grants, and a Community Interests Grant. Together, these point to a mix of strategic initiatives, neighborhood-focused work, nonprofit infrastructure support, and community benefit projects. Foellinger Foundation Inc also supports nonprofit capacity in practical ways beyond cash grants. It offers meeting spaces for local nonprofit staff and leaders, and it runs a board-leadership fund for learning opportunities outside Allen County or online. The grant record and program list together suggest a funder that combines large institutional awards with targeted local support for nonprofit organizations serving the Fort Wayne area.
A core thread in the foundation’s work is nonprofit capacity. Capacity Building Grants support board-driven activities such as financial sustainability, board governance, and succession planning. The Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund extends that emphasis to board members by funding conferences, workshops, webinars, and other learning experiences. Community development is another clear area. The Thrive Initiative invests in community-identified neighborhoods with the greatest economic need, including an initial focus on Southeast Fort Wayne, and supports nonprofit work tied to education, housing, jobs, and childcare. Family Development grants support Allen County organizations that help adults move from dependence to independence through family-centered programming. The foundation also backs broader local impact through the Community Interests Grant, which funds programs and projects benefiting the people of Allen County. Its Meeting Spaces for Nonprofits offering adds a non-monetary layer of support by giving local nonprofit teams a place to meet and collaborate at no cost.
$6.9M
$252.3M
$23.9M
$10M
Most grants fall between $7.7M and $7.9M, with a median of $7.8M.
25th Percentile
$7.7M
Median
$7.8M
75th Percentile
$7.9M
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Very concentrated giving: few (two) very large grants in the reporting period, likely directed to one or a small number of institutional recipients; appears oriented to one-time or large multi-year commitments rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: SEE ATTACH PART XIV — two grants totaling $15,582,390 (grantee names/purposes not provided)
Typical grant size is very high, with p25 at $7,670,598, a median of $7,791,195, and p75 at $7,911,792. That distribution matches the public record’s large, concentrated awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The available record suggests a mix of invited initiatives and open opportunities. Some programs are foundation-initiated and by invitation only, while others accept unsolicited applications, including Capacity Building Grants, Thrive Initiative, Family Development, Community Interests Grant, and the Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund. The pattern is concentrated rather than diffuse, with repeated use of structured local grant programs and major institutional commitments.
Grantmaking is entirely in Indiana, with 100% of reported grants to recipients in the HQ state. The top giving geography is Allen County and Fort Wayne, including neighborhood-level work in the city and a Southeast Fort Wayne focus within the Thrive Initiative. Public program geography also names Allen County broadly for capacity-building, family development, and community interests grants. The recipient-country distribution is wholly U.S.-based, with all reported grants going to U.S. recipients.
Its public programs focus on Allen County 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including groups working on capacity building, family development, community projects, neighborhood engagement, and innovative community initiatives. The foundation also supports invited initiatives and offers meeting space for local nonprofit staff and leaders.
Yes, for several programs. Capacity Building Grants, Thrive Initiative, Family Development, Community Interests Grant, and the Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund all accept unsolicited applications. Some foundation-initiated initiatives are by invitation only.
The reported distribution is very large: p25 is $7,670,598, median is $7,791,195, and p75 is $7,911,792. The public record also shows multi-million-dollar awards in 2023 and 2025.
Publicly named focus areas include capacity building, board governance, financial sustainability, succession planning, community development, poverty alleviation, education, housing, employment, family services, and neighborhood engagement. The foundation also supports community benefit projects for Allen County and larger strategic initiatives.
All reported grants go to Indiana recipients, and the giving is concentrated in Allen County and Fort Wayne. The Thrive Initiative specifically names Southeast Fort Wayne, while other programs serve Allen County nonprofits more broadly.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $7,550,000 | 2025 | SEE ATTACHMENT |
| SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $6,865,550 | 2025 | SEE ATTACHMENT |
| SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $8,032,390 | 2023 | SEE ATTACHMENT |
| SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $7,017,385 | 2023 | SEE ATTACHMENT |
SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT
$7,550,000SEE ATTACHMENT
SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT
$6,865,550SEE ATTACHMENT
SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT
$8,032,390SEE ATTACHMENT
SEE ATTACH PART XIV GRANTS PAID OUT
$7,017,385SEE ATTACHMENT
Current and upcoming funding from Foellinger Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Allen County nonprofit staff and leaders. Organizations must review the Foundation's Nonprofit Room Scheduling Guidelines (PDF).
Who can apply: Organizations should be mission-aligned with Foellinger Foundation and demonstrate organizational financial participation or other support. Applicants are advised to speak with Foundation staff before proceeding.
Deadline: No deadlines; review and decision may take up to 60 business days.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) organizations must benefit the people of Allen County and demonstrate community impact. New applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for at least five years.
Deadline: Application deadline: February 1, 2027
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