NINETWELVE INSTITUTE primarily funds applied research and product development for advanced manufacturing, defense, and energy/semiconductor technologies, directing capital to private companies and select university R&D. Their portfolio favors commercial-stage engineering firms and technology startups (with occasional support to Purdue University), indicating a focus on translational research that moves inventions toward market or defense applications. Grants are often sizable and project-specific rather than small community grants, suggesting the foundation acts like a strategic R&D investor. Repeated awards to several private firms show a willingness to make follow-on investments in promising engineering partners.
Ninetwelve Institute Inc directs large research grants to applied technology work that sits close to commercialization, especially advanced manufacturing, defense, and energy or semiconductor development. Its largest recent award in the dataset was $1,000,000 to Nhanced Semiconductors Inc for research, a signal of the scale it uses when backing semiconductor work. The foundation also supported Dallara USA Holdings Inc with $450,000 for research, and Bila Solar Inc with $300,000 for research, showing that it backs engineering projects across multiple technology lanes rather than a single niche. The grant record points to a funder that works with private companies and selected university partners on translational R&D. Purdue University received $501,976 for research, while Convergence Discovery Park received $406,447 for research. Several awards go to commercial-stage firms in Indiana and beyond, including performance engineering, manufacturing, and solar technology. The result is a portfolio centered on moving inventions toward practical use in industry, defense, and energy applications.
Applied semiconductor and materials research is a clear theme. Ninetwelve Institute Inc gave $1,000,000 to Nhanced Semiconductors Inc for research, and also funded Reelement Technologies LLC with $200,000 for research. Both grants fit a pattern of supporting technical development rather than general operating work. Advanced manufacturing and prototyping appear in multiple awards. The foundation gave $450,000 to Dallara USA Holdings Inc for research and $200,000 to Smoker Craft Inc for research, indicating interest in product development for engineered vehicles and related manufacturing. University-linked translational research is another strand. Purdue University received $501,976 for research, and Convergence Discovery Park received $406,447 for research. Those grants show support for research environments that connect academic work with industry-facing application. Clean energy is also present through a $300,000 research grant to Bila Solar Inc.
Typical grants cluster in a mid-six-figure to low-six-figure range, with p25 at $47,149, a median of $82,123, and p75 at $149,670. The recent record also includes repeated $200,000 awards, which suggests a fairly standardized project-grant approach for many recipients. Grantmaking appears recurring rather than one-off: several organizations in the broader recent-grant list receive follow-on support across years. The foundation is structured as an institute rather than a family foundation or donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$27.3M
$26.1M
$32.8M
$16.9M
Most grants fall between $47K and $150K, with a median of $82K.
25th Percentile
$47K
Median
$82K
75th Percentile
$150K
CHAD PITTMAN
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Concentrated, project-focused grants of moderate to large size to a relatively small set of private companies and a few research institutions; several repeat grantees indicate follow-on funding for successful projects rather than broadly distributed small grants.
Notable grantees: NHANCED SEMICONDUCTORS INC, PERFORMANCE DEFENSE LLC, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, DALLARA USA HOLDINGS INC, BILA SOLAR INC
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, and 95% of grants go to recipients in Indiana. The top state by grant count is Kansas, though many named recipients are in Indiana cities such as Speedway, Indianapolis, New Paris, and Elkhart. Outside Indiana, recent grants also land in Chicago, Phoenix, Detroit, and Dayton. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the provided data.
The foundation funds applied research and product development in advanced manufacturing, defense, and energy or semiconductor technologies. Recent grants include research support for semiconductor work, performance engineering, university-linked translational research, and solar technology development.
The grant-size distribution is p25 $47,149, median $82,123, and p75 $149,670. Recent awards also include multiple $200,000 grants, along with larger research grants such as $501,976 and $1,000,000.
It supports both. The recent record includes Purdue University at $501,976 and Convergence Discovery Park at $406,447, alongside private companies such as Nhanced Semiconductors Inc, Dallara USA Holdings Inc, and Bila Solar Inc.
The foundation gives locally, with 95% of grants to recipients in Indiana. The top state by grant count is Kansas, while recent recipients also appear in Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, and Ohio.
Yes, the pattern suggests recurring support for selected partners. The recent-grants list shows multiple years of awards across the portfolio, including several 2023, 2024, and 2025 grants, which points to follow-on project funding rather than isolated awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NHANCED SEMICONDUCTORS INC | BATAVIA, IL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PERFORMANCE DEFENSE LLC | PHOENIX, AZ | $650,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| DALLARA USA HOLDINGS INC | SPEEDWAY, IN | $450,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| BILA SOLAR INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $300,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| GSSIC | ZIONSVILLE, IN | $255,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| POLYGON COMPANY | WALKETON, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| HOOSIER CRANE SERVICE COMPANY | ELKHART, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| POSEIDON BARGE LTD | BERNE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| MCLAREN INDY LLC DBA ARROW MCLARERN | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| ROBERTS GLASS AND SERVICE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| TRINITY GUARDION LLC | BATESVILLE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| ANCHOR TRANSLOAD LLC | FARGO, ND | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| BW FUSION LLC | FONDA, IA | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| WINNDEAVOR LLC | LA PORTE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| FRED SMITH STONE FIXTURES | DEPAUW, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| COLBERT PACKAGING CORPORATION | ELKHART, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| LENEX STEEL | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| SMOKER CRAFT INC | NEW PARIS, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| ENTEK TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC | LEBANON, OR | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| FEHRENBACHER CABINETS INC | EVANSVILLE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| 24M TECHNOLOGIES INC | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| LIBERTY INDUSTRIES | FILLMORE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| FISHER PACKING COMPANY | PORTLAND, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| BUCHAN LOGGING INC | DECATUR, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| WAGLER COMPETITION PRODUCTS LLC | ODON, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| APPLIED LABORATORIES INC | COLUMBUS, IN | $191,255 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| DIVERSIFIED METAL SPECIALTIES INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $187,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| DIMENSIONAL METAL PRODUCTS LLC | ELKHART, IN | $184,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| SOIL-MAX INC | TERRE HAUTE, IN | $184,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| BERTRAND PRODUCTS INC | SOUTH BEND, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| TYLER TRUSS LLC | PENDLETON, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| L&W ENGINEERING INC | MIDDLEBURY, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MACH MEDICAL | COLUMBIA CITY, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| NIX COMPANIES INC | POSEYVILLE, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| VESTILL MFG CO | ANGOLA, IN | $175,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| LOCK JOINT TUBE LLC | SOUTH BEND, IN | $170,205 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MSP AVIATION INC | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $168,954 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| ALUMINUM INSIGHTS LLC | GOSHEN, IN | $168,750 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| CLOSET PRO LLC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $165,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| DITTO SALES INC VERSTEEL | JASPER, IN | $162,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MARSON INTERNATIONAL LLC | ELKHART, IN | $162,500 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| HY FLEX CORPORATION | KNIGHTSTOWN, IN | $162,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| FLEETWOOD HOMES INC | PHOENIX, AZ | $162,500 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| SOUTHLAKE AUTOMATION INC | MERRILLVILLE, IN | $160,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| PRODIGY MOLD & TOOL INC | HAUBSTADT, IN | $160,000 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| CATALYST PDG INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $158,541 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| PRECISE TOOLING SOLUTIONS | COLUMBUS, IN | $158,466 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT |
| MERKLEY & SONS INC | JASPER, IN | $155,062 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MITCHELL D HAWKINS - APEX DOORS PLU | MIDDLEBURY, IN | $155,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| MILLERS WOOD SPECIALTIES INC | CAMBRIDGE CITY, IN | $155,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
NHANCED SEMICONDUCTORS INC
$1,000,000RESEARCH
PERFORMANCE DEFENSE LLC
$650,000EQUIPMENT
DALLARA USA HOLDINGS INC
$450,000RESEARCH
BILA SOLAR INC
$300,000RESEARCH
GSSIC
$255,000EQUIPMENT
POLYGON COMPANY
$200,000EQUIPMENT
HOOSIER CRANE SERVICE COMPANY
RESEARCH
POSEIDON BARGE LTD
$200,000EQUIPMENT
MCLAREN INDY LLC DBA ARROW MCLARERN
$200,000RESEARCH
ROBERTS GLASS AND SERVICE
$200,000EQUIPMENT
TRINITY GUARDION LLC
$200,000EQUIPMENT
ANCHOR TRANSLOAD LLC
$200,000RESEARCH
BW FUSION LLC
$200,000RESEARCH
WINNDEAVOR LLC
$200,000RESEARCH
FRED SMITH STONE FIXTURES
$200,000EQUIPMENT
COLBERT PACKAGING CORPORATION
$200,000RESEARCH
LENEX STEEL
$200,000RESEARCH
SMOKER CRAFT INC
$200,000EQUIPMENT
ENTEK TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
$200,000RESEARCH
FEHRENBACHER CABINETS INC
$200,000RESEARCH
24M TECHNOLOGIES INC
$200,000RESEARCH
LIBERTY INDUSTRIES
$200,000EQUIPMENT
FISHER PACKING COMPANY
$200,000RESEARCH
BUCHAN LOGGING INC
$200,000EQUIPMENT
WAGLER COMPETITION PRODUCTS LLC
$200,000RESEARCH
APPLIED LABORATORIES INC
$191,255RESEARCH
DIVERSIFIED METAL SPECIALTIES INC
$187,500RESEARCH
DIMENSIONAL METAL PRODUCTS LLC
$184,500RESEARCH
SOIL-MAX INC
$184,000EQUIPMENT
BERTRAND PRODUCTS INC
$175,000RESEARCH
TYLER TRUSS LLC
$175,000RESEARCH
L&W ENGINEERING INC
$175,000RESEARCH
MACH MEDICAL
$175,000EQUIPMENT
NIX COMPANIES INC
$175,000RESEARCH
VESTILL MFG CO
$175,000EQUIPMENT
LOCK JOINT TUBE LLC
$170,205RESEARCH
MSP AVIATION INC
$168,954EQUIPMENT
ALUMINUM INSIGHTS LLC
$168,750EQUIPMENT
CLOSET PRO LLC
$165,000EQUIPMENT
DITTO SALES INC VERSTEEL
$162,500RESEARCH
MARSON INTERNATIONAL LLC
$162,500EQUIPMENT
HY FLEX CORPORATION
$162,500RESEARCH
FLEETWOOD HOMES INC
$162,500RESEARCH
SOUTHLAKE AUTOMATION INC
$160,000RESEARCH
PRODIGY MOLD & TOOL INC
$160,000EQUIPMENT
CATALYST PDG INC
$158,541EQUIPMENT
PRECISE TOOLING SOLUTIONS
$158,466EQUIPMENT
MERKLEY & SONS INC
$155,062RESEARCH
MITCHELL D HAWKINS - APEX DOORS PLU
$155,000RESEARCH
MILLERS WOOD SPECIALTIES INC
$155,000RESEARCH