The Ove W. Jorgensen Foundation focuses on conservation, wildlife and animal welfare, and regional heritage/culture. Their grants combine support for local community organizations in Fort Wayne (animal shelter, nature park) with larger conservation groups (WWF, regional forest watch) and cultural heritage work. They make a small number of relatively large, general-purpose gifts rather than many small awards.
A $50,000 general grant to Northern Plains Heritage Foundation sits alongside an equally large gift to World Wildlife Fund, which captures the Ove W Jorgensen Foundation Inc C/o Susan Jorgensen’s pattern: a small number of comparatively large awards aimed at conservation, wildlife, heritage, and select Fort Wayne community groups. Their recent grants include support for humane services, forest watchdog work, nature parks, and cultural preservation, with general-purpose funding used across most awards. The foundation’s portfolio mixes local and national recipients. In Fort Wayne, grants have gone to Humane Fort Wayne, Bridge of Grace Inc, Super Shot, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, YMCA of Greater Ft Wayne, and Wellspring Interfaith Social Services. Outside Indiana, the foundation has backed environmental organizations such as Los Padres Forest Watch, Environmental Defense Center, Ducks Unlimited, and Trout Unlimited, as well as heritage-oriented groups like Northern Plains Heritage Foundation and Sicangu Co. The grant list also shows one named internship award through Indiana University Foundation, suggesting some support for student or training activity in addition to operating gifts. Across the recent grants, the foundation appears to favor general support over restricted project funding, while keeping its portfolio focused on a few recurring themes rather than a broad spread of causes.
In conservation and wildlife work, the foundation funded World Wildlife Fund with $50,000 in 2024 and Ducks Unlimited with $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025. It also supported Trout Unlimited with a $5,000 general grant in 2024. These gifts point to a consistent environmental giving lane that includes both national and regional organizations. Local animal welfare and community-serving institutions also appear in the grant list. Humane Fort Wayne received $35,000 in 2025, while Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo received $13,000 in 2024 and $7,500 in 2025. Bridge of Grace Inc was awarded $20,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and Super Shot received $15,000 in 2024 and $7,750 in 2025. For heritage and preservation, the foundation gave $50,000 to Northern Plains Heritage Foundation in 2025 and $5,000 to Sicangu Co in 2024. The list also includes $5,000 to San Francisco Symphony in 2024, showing that cultural support is part of the mix.
$337K
$3.9M
$258K
$357K
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated giving: a small portfolio of mid-to-large single-year general operating grants that mix local Fort Wayne beneficiaries with select national and regional conservation organizations; no sign of many repeat micro-grants.
Notable grantees: Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Humane Fort Wayne, Los Padres Forest Watch, LC Nature Park
Typical grant size is modestly concentrated around mid-sized awards: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $8,875, and the p75 is $15,000. The recent list shows a concentrated portfolio rather than many small grants, with several repeat awards to the same organizations across 2024 and 2025. Most gifts are listed as general grants, including the named internship award through Indiana University Foundation. The foundation funds individuals: false, and the grant list reflects institutional support only.
The grant list is entirely U.S.-based, with 40 grants to recipients in the United States. Indiana receives the largest share of awards by count, and Fort Wayne appears frequently in the recipient list through organizations such as Humane Fort Wayne, Bridge of Grace Inc, Super Shot, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, YMCA of Greater Ft Wayne, and Wellspring Interfaith Social Services. Outside Indiana, grants reach Washington, DC, Santa Barbara, CA, Memphis, TN, and Bismarck, ND.
The recent grants show support for conservation and wildlife groups, heritage and cultural organizations, and Fort Wayne community nonprofits. Examples include a $50,000 grant to Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, a $50,000 grant to World Wildlife Fund, and a $35,000 grant to Humane Fort Wayne.
Yes. The grant list is dominated by GENERAL awards, with most recent recipients receiving unrestricted support rather than project-specific funding. The only named exception in the list is the $5,000 Jorgensen Internship grant through Indiana University Foundation.
Yes. Several organizations appear in both 2024 and 2025. Bridge of Grace Inc received $20,000 in each year, Environmental Defense Center received $20,000 in each year, Ducks Unlimited received $15,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025, and Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation received $10,000 in each year.
The reported grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized gifts: p25 is $5,000, median is $8,875, and p75 is $15,000. That matches a portfolio with a few larger awards and many grants in the $5,000 to $20,000 range.
The grants are all U.S.-based, and Indiana receives the most by count. Fort Wayne is especially prominent, but the foundation also gives to organizations in Washington, DC, Santa Barbara, CA, Memphis, TN, and Bismarck, ND.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUNN SCHOOL | LOS OLIVOS, CA | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGE OF GRACE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $60,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $55,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION | SYRACUSE, IN | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WELLSPRING INTERFAITH SOCIAL SERVIC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $12,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SUPER SHOT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| TROUT UNLIMITED | ARLINGTON, VA | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SYRACUSE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT | SYRACUSE, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LC NATURE PARK | ROANOKE, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CANTERBURY SCHOOL | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NIWRC | LAME DEER, MT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| OUT OF THE BOX THEATRE COMPANY | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LATINOS COUNT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CAMP POTAWOTAMI | WOLCOTTVILLE, IN | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $2,000 | 2026 | CINEMA |
| JUNIOR ACHEIVEMENT OF NORTHERN IN | FORT WAYNE, IN | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION | EDGEFIELD, SC | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NORTHERN PLAINS HERITAGE FOUNDATION | BISMARCK, ND | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HUMANE FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGE OF GRACE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INDIANA NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATIO | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MOTHERS FOR PEACE | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION | SYRACUSE, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WORLD WOMEN WORK | SANTA FE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SUPER SHOT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $7,750 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO | FORT WAYNE, IN | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | CINEMA |
| WELLSPRING INTERFAITH SOCIAL SERVIC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| LOS PADRES FOREST WATCH | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| LC NATURE PARK | ROANOKE, IN | $22,833 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BRIDGE OF GRACE INC | FORT WAYNE, IN | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE CENTER | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SUPER SHOT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO | FORT WAYNE, IN | $13,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $11,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION | SYRACUSE, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WOMENS BUILDING | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CALISTOGA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT | CALISTOGA, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
BRIDGE OF GRACE INC
$60,000GENERAL
WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$20,000GENERAL
SYRACUSE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT
$5,000GENERAL
CANTERBURY SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL
FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO
$5,000GENERAL
NIWRC
$5,000GENERAL
OUT OF THE BOX THEATRE COMPANY
$5,000GENERAL
LATINOS COUNT
$5,000GENERAL
CAMP POTAWOTAMI
$2,500GENERAL
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
$2,000CINEMA
JUNIOR ACHEIVEMENT OF NORTHERN IN
$2,000GENERAL
YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE
$1,000GENERAL
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
$1,000GENERAL
NORTHERN PLAINS HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
BRIDGE OF GRACE INC
$20,000GENERAL
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$10,000GENERAL
INDIANA NATURAL RESOURCES FOUNDATIO
$10,000GENERAL
MOTHERS FOR PEACE
$10,000GENERAL
WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
WORLD WOMEN WORK
$10,000GENERAL
FORT WAYNE CHILDREN'S ZOO
$7,500GENERAL
YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE
$4,000GENERAL
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
$3,000CINEMA
BRIDGE OF GRACE INC
$20,000GENERAL
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$15,000GENERAL
YMCA OF GREATER FT WAYNE
$11,500GENERAL
WAWASEE AREA CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
WOMENS BUILDING
$5,000GENERAL
CALISTOGA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
$5,000GENERAL