The Rex and Alice A Martin Foundation concentrates its giving in the arts, cultural institutions, and local civic life in the Elkhart/Michiana region, while also making targeted investments in higher-education facilities. They favor a small number of sizable grants—often repeat awards—to regional institutions that support public media, performing arts, and university projects. The foundation’s giving signals a preference for place-based cultural infrastructure and campus-community partnerships over broad, national grantmaking.
A $1,000,000 grant to the University of Notre Dame anchors the Rex and Alice A Martin Foundation Inc’s recent giving and shows how closely its philanthropy is tied to institutions in and around Elkhart and Michiana. The foundation’s largest awards tend to support campus projects, arts infrastructure, and local cultural organizations, with repeat funding appearing across multiple years for some recipients. That pattern is visible in its support for Elkhart AMP Group, which received $600,000 in 2023 and $390,000 in 2024, and for Premier Arts, which received both operating and event support across several grants. The foundation also backs public media, community arts, and place-based projects that shape the local civic environment. Its grants include support for Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT, Wellfield Botanic Garden, and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, alongside targeted awards for university programs and facilities beyond the immediate region. The result is a portfolio centered on institutions that combine cultural programming, education, and community-facing infrastructure rather than broad thematic or national grantmaking. Recent awards also show smaller grants alongside major commitments, including support for scholarships, food rescue, and restoration projects.
Arts and cultural institutions are a core thread in the foundation’s giving. In Elkhart, Premier Arts received $80,000 in 2023, $60,000 in 2024, and $36,500 in 2025 for a women’s luncheon table and underwriting the 2025 season, while Wellfield Botanic Garden received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023. The foundation also funds public media and local communications infrastructure. Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT received $125,000 in 2024 and $24,000 in 2023, both listed for exempt-purpose support. Education shows up through capital, scholarships, and student access. The University of Notre Dame received $100,000 in 2025 for the Hesburgh Women of Impact Fund, and Culver Educational Foundation received $50,000 in 2025 for the Martin Family Scholarship. Community-facing learning and youth development also appear in grants to The E3 Robotics Center for summer camp scholarships and sponsorships.
$997K
$7.6M
$1.7M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $15K and $65K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$65K
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Concentrated, large grants to a small set of repeat regional and higher-education institutions; primarily place-based arts and cultural investments with occasional campus facility gifts.
Notable grantees: University of Notre Dame, Elkhart AMP Group, Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation (WNIT), Premier Arts, University of Illinois Foundation
Typical grant sizes cluster in the mid-five figures, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $33,000, and a p75 of $65,000. The recent record also shows several seven-figure and six-figure awards, indicating a mix of major institutional support and smaller project grants. Repeat awards are common: multiple recipients appear in consecutive years, including Elkhart AMP Group, Premier Arts, Wellfield Botanic Garden, Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT, and Community Foundation of Elkhart County. The foundation is structured as a private foundation that also funds individuals, and its recent grants are entirely program- or project-oriented rather than program-related investments.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Indiana, with 96% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Elkhart appears repeatedly as a recipient city, joined by South Bend and Notre Dame within the same regional footprint. Outside Indiana, the recent list includes University of Illinois Foundation in Champaign, Illinois, and Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Recent grants point to arts and cultural institutions, public media, universities, and community infrastructure. Examples include support for Elkhart AMP Group, Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT, the University of Notre Dame, and Wellfield Botanic Garden, showing a strong place-based focus in the Elkhart/Michiana region.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Elkhart AMP Group in 2023 and 2024, Premier Arts in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Wellfield Botanic Garden in 2023 and 2024, and Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT in 2023 and 2024.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers in the five figures: p25 is $15,000, the median is $33,000, and p75 is $65,000. At the same time, the recent record includes larger commitments such as $1,000,000 and $600,000.
Indiana is the primary giving state, with 96% of grants going to recipients in IN. The recent list is concentrated in Elkhart, South Bend, Notre Dame, and other Indiana locations, with only a small number of grants outside the state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Foundation | Champaign, IL | $400,000 | 2025 | Softball Center |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | Hesburgh Women of Impact Fund |
| Middlesex School | Concord, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | The Field House |
| Logan Community Resources Inc | South Bend, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | Phase 3 - Logan & CAPS Growth Opportunity |
| Wellfield Botanic Garden Inc | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | Visitor Center Garden |
| Culver Educational Foundation | Culver, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | Martin Family Scholarship |
| Hubbard Hill Estates Inc | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | Early Learning Center |
| ADEC Inc | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | Platinum Sponsor - Resource Center |
| Premier Arts | Elkhart, IN | $36,500 | 2025 | Women's Luncheon Table; Underwriting 2025 Season |
| Elkhart Festivals Inc | Elkhart, IN | $35,000 | 2025 | Downtown Elkhart Lighting Project |
| The E3 Robotics Center | Elkhart, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | Summer Camps Scholarships/Sponsorships |
| Cultivate Food Rescue | Elkhart, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | Weekend Backpack Program |
| Community Foundation of Elkhart County Inc | Elkhart, IN | $20,000 | 2025 | Lifeline Capital Campaign |
| Friends of the New York Central Railroad Museum Inc | Elkhart, IN | $18,000 | 2025 | NIBCO Century Flyer Train Restoration Project |
| Stanley Clark School | South Bend, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | Kaleidoscope Gala - Presenting Sponsorship |
| YWCA North Central Indiana | South Bend, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | SOS Dinner & Auction - Ambassador Sponsor |
| Owls Club | Elkhart, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | Growth Opportunity - Elkhart County |
| Elkhart High School | Elkhart, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | Dollars for Scholars |
| Concord High School | Elkhart, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | Dollars for Scholars |
| Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation | Edwardsburg, MI | $200 | 2025 | Edwardsbury NHS - Operation Christmas |
| Elkhart AMP Group | Elkhart, IN | $390,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT | South Bend, IN | $125,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Premier Arts | Elkhart, IN | $60,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Wellfield Botanic Garden | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Community Foundation of Elkhart County Inc | Elkhart, IN | $45,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Middlesex School | Concord, MA | $33,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Logan Community Resources Inc | South Bend, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Humane Society of Elkhart County | Bristol, IN | $15,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of Indiana-Michiana Inc dba RMHC Michiana | South Bend, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Elkhart Chapter Indiana Black Expo | Elkhart, IN | $2,500 | 2024 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | $1,000,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Elkhart AMP Group | Elkhart, IN | $600,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Premier Arts | Elkhart, IN | $80,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Stanley Clark School | South Bend, IN | $70,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Wellfield Botanic Garden | Elkhart, IN | $50,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Community Foundation of Elkhart County Inc | Elkhart, IN | $45,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| O'Hana Heritage Foundation Inc (A Rosie Place) | South Bend, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| JA Biztown Elkhart County | Fort Wayne, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation WNIT | South Bend, IN | $24,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| All 4 Animals Rescue | Mishawaka, IN | $23,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Elkhart Festivals Inc | Elkhart, IN | $10,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| LoveWay Inc | Middlebury, IN | $5,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
| Oaklawn Foundation for Mental Health | Elkhart, IN | $5,000 | 2023 | Exempt purpose of organization |
University of Notre Dame
$100,000Hesburgh Women of Impact Fund
Wellfield Botanic Garden Inc
$50,000Visitor Center Garden
Martin Family Scholarship
Hubbard Hill Estates Inc
$50,000Early Learning Center
ADEC Inc
$50,000Platinum Sponsor - Resource Center
Premier Arts
$36,500Women's Luncheon Table; Underwriting 2025 Season
Elkhart Festivals Inc
$35,000Downtown Elkhart Lighting Project
The E3 Robotics Center
$25,000Summer Camps Scholarships/Sponsorships
Cultivate Food Rescue
$25,000Weekend Backpack Program
Friends of the New York Central Railroad Museum Inc
$18,000NIBCO Century Flyer Train Restoration Project
Owls Club
$10,000Growth Opportunity - Elkhart County
Elkhart High School
$1,000Dollars for Scholars
Concord High School
$1,000Dollars for Scholars
Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation
$200Edwardsbury NHS - Operation Christmas
Elkhart AMP Group
$390,000Exempt purpose of organization
Exempt purpose of organization
Premier Arts
$60,000Exempt purpose of organization
Wellfield Botanic Garden
$50,000Exempt purpose of organization
Humane Society of Elkhart County
$15,000Exempt purpose of organization
Exempt purpose of organization
Elkhart Chapter Indiana Black Expo
$2,500Exempt purpose of organization
University of Notre Dame
$1,000,000Exempt purpose of organization
Elkhart AMP Group
$600,000Exempt purpose of organization
Premier Arts
$80,000Exempt purpose of organization
Wellfield Botanic Garden
$50,000Exempt purpose of organization
Exempt purpose of organization
JA Biztown Elkhart County
$25,000Exempt purpose of organization
Exempt purpose of organization
All 4 Animals Rescue
$23,000Exempt purpose of organization
Elkhart Festivals Inc
$10,000Exempt purpose of organization
LoveWay Inc
$5,000Exempt purpose of organization
Oaklawn Foundation for Mental Health
$5,000Exempt purpose of organization