The Roy Whistler Foundation concentrates its giving on local land conservation, historic site preservation, and public parks in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area of Indiana. It funds capital and stewardship projects—building and maintaining facilities, preserve upkeep, and prairie/ecosystem restoration—often through repeat awards to local land trusts and park organizations. Grants are sizable and targeted to specific projects rather than broad operating support, indicating a preference for tangible, place-based improvements.
Roy Whistler Foundation Inc puts most of its capital into place-based conservation work in central Indiana, with recent awards centered on land acquisition, preserve expansion, stewardship facilities, and habitat restoration. The largest listed grant, $155,500 to Ouiatenon Preserve Inc in Lafayette for the purchase of a 91.3-acre tract, shows a clear preference for permanent conservation outcomes rather than general support. That pattern continues in other awards to local land managers, including $100,000 to Niches Land Trust Inc for a stewardship and maintenance facility and $100,000 the prior year for the Kohnke Little Pine purchase expansion. The foundation’s giving also reaches public-facing park projects. West Lafayette Parks & Recreation received $150,000 for a head house, while Tippecanoe Parks & Recreation Foundation was funded for invasive species removal and restoration. Across the recent grants list, the emphasis is on tangible improvements to land, habitat, and visitor use in the Lafayette and West Lafayette area, with repeated support for organizations managing preserves, parks, and natural areas.
Land acquisition is a recurring theme in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $155,500 to Ouiatenon Preserve Inc for the purchase of a 91.3-acre tract, and $100,000 plus $78,000 to Niches Land Trust Inc for expansion and acquisition work tied to Kohnke Little Pine, Sugar Creek, and Williams Woods. Stewardship and restoration are another major thread. The foundation awarded $100,000 to Niches Land Trust Inc for a stewardship and maintenance facility, and $38,419 to Ouiatenon Preserve Inc for restoration and invasive species removal. It also supported prairie work with $66,000 to the Indiana Dept of Natural Resources for Willow Slough Prairie restoration. Public park amenities appear as well. West Lafayette Parks & Recreation received $150,000 for a head house, and Streets of Monitcello Assn got $21,000 for a display at Monticello Parks & Recreation.
Recent grants cluster around five- and six-figure awards, with a typical size between $35,189 and $100,000; the median listed grant is $72,000. The foundation’s pattern is project-specific rather than broad operating support, with awards tied to acquisitions, facilities, restoration, and site improvements. Repeat recipients are common in the recent list, especially Niches Land Trust Inc and Ouiatenon Preserve Inc, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. The program accepts unsolicited applications, and the foundation does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$559K
$13M
$6.2M
$654K
Most grants fall between $35K and $100K, with a median of $72K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$72K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, large project-based grants to a small set of local recipients; repeated multi-grant support for core conservation and parks organizations rather than many small or geographically dispersed awards.
Notable grantees: NICHES LAND TRUST INC, OUIATENON PRESERVE INC, WEST LAFAYETTE PARKS & RECREATION FOUNDATION, INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Grantmaking is fully in-state: 100% of the recent grants went to recipients in Indiana. Lafayette and West Lafayette account for the largest share of named recipient cities in the recent list, including Ouiatenon Preserve Inc, Niches Land Trust Inc, West Lafayette Parks & Recreation, and Tippecanoe Parks & Recreation Foundation. Indianapolis appears through the Indiana Dept of Natural Resources, and Monticello appears through Streets of Monitcello Assn. The active programs also point to central Indiana and the 10-county West Lafayette region as the main geography for funding.
The recent grants favor land acquisition, habitat restoration, stewardship facilities, invasive species removal, and park infrastructure. Examples in the list include a 91.3-acre tract purchase for Ouiatenon Preserve Inc, a stewardship and maintenance facility for Niches Land Trust Inc, and a head house project for West Lafayette Parks & Recreation.
Yes. The active grant programs listed for the foundation all note that they accept unsolicited applications, including competitive grants for preservation, restoration, acquisition, maintenance, and stewardship in Central Indiana and the 10-county area around West Lafayette.
The listed grant-size distribution is p25 $35,189, median $72,000, and p75 $100,000. Recent awards also include larger project grants such as $155,500 and $150,000, which fit the foundation’s capital-and-stewardship pattern.
Its recent grants are all to Indiana recipients, with 100% of grants going to the HQ state. The named recipient cities in the recent list include Lafayette, West Lafayette, Indianapolis, and Monticello, and the active programs focus on Central Indiana, especially the West Lafayette area.
There is a recurring pattern with some grantees. Niches Land Trust Inc appears multiple times with awards for stewardship, acquisition, and expansion, and Ouiatenon Preserve Inc appears more than once as well, suggesting repeat support for ongoing local conservation projects.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Roy Whistler Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The foundation states that it supports appropriate organizations and is dedicated primarily to the protection and preservation of nature and wildlife in Indiana. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided in the scraped content.
Who can apply: Organizations working to protect, restore, maintain or provide stewardship for wild properties and wildlife in the Foundation's Central Indiana focus area. Applicants should consult the Foundation's Grant Application page for details.
Who can apply: Projects are primarily limited to Indiana and should align with the Roy Whistler Foundation's mission to protect and preserve nature and wildlife. Support may be provided to other 501(c)(3) organizations whose work aligns with the Foundation's mission, including conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat. Priorities include land acquisition, natural-area stewardship, native wildlife and plant communities, public education, water resources, conservation, and relevant scientific research.
Deadline: Letters may be submitted at any time. Requests are generally reviewed at the next quarterly board meeting, usually held in March, May, September, or early December.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $213,260 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| OUIATENON PRESERVE | LAFAYETTE, IN | $150,000 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| TIPPECANOE CO PARKS & REC FOUNDATIO | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $67,008 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| CAMP TECUMSEH | BROOKSTON, IN | $29,250 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| CARROLL COUNTY | DELPHI, IN | $27,666 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| MONARCH JOINT VENTURE | ST PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| INDIANA LAND PROTECTION ALLIANCE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $17,000 | 2026 | PER GRANT AGREEMENT |
| BENTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSER | FOWLER, IN | $185,850 | 2025 | AQUISITION OF 34ACRES ALONG BIG PINE |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $150,000 | 2025 | LITTLE PINE CREEK/MULVEY POND EXPANS |
| INDIANA DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES | MOROCCO, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | WILLOW SLOUGH PURCHASE AND PLANTING |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $25,628 | 2025 | KICKAPOO MAINTENANCE/STEWARDSHIP |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $20,000 | 2025 | STEWARDSHIP ENDOWMENT FOR 10 ACRES O |
| CITY OF ATTICA | ATTICA, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | AQUISITION OF .58 ACRE LOT TO EXPAND |
| WABASH RIVER ENHANCEMENT CORP | LAFAYETTE, IN | $3,400 | 2025 | INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND CLEANUP |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | STEWARDSHIP/MAINTENANCE FACILITY AT |
| OUIATENON PRESERVE INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $78,500 | 2024 | OUIATENON PRESERVE |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $78,000 | 2024 | SUGAR CREEK 18.44 ACRES ACQUISITION |
| INDIANA DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $66,000 | 2024 | WILLOW SLOUGH PRARIE RESTORATION |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $47,824 | 2024 | WILLIAMS WOODS EXPANSION |
| OUIATENON PRESERVE INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $38,419 | 2024 | RESTORATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVA |
| STREETS OF MONITCELLO ASSN | MONTICELLO, IN | $21,000 | 2024 | DISPLAY AT MONTICELLO PARKS & RECREA |
| OUIATENON PRESERVE INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $155,500 | 2023 | PURCHASE OF 91.3 ACRE TRACT |
| WEST LAFAYETTE PARKS & RECREATION F | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $150,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR HEAD HOUSE |
| NICHES LAND TRUST INC | LAFAYETTE, IN | $100,000 | 2023 | KOHNKE LITTLE PINE PURCHASE EXPANSIO |
| TIPPECANOE PARKS & RECREATION FOUND | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $25,500 | 2023 | INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND RESTORA |
| WEST LAFAYETTE PARKS & RECREATION F | WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | $5,000 | 2023 | FUNDING FOR TREE INSIDE LILLY CENTER |
OUIATENON PRESERVE
$150,000PER GRANT AGREEMENT
TIPPECANOE CO PARKS & REC FOUNDATIO
$67,008PER GRANT AGREEMENT
CAMP TECUMSEH
$29,250PER GRANT AGREEMENT
CARROLL COUNTY
$27,666PER GRANT AGREEMENT
INDIANA LAND PROTECTION ALLIANCE
$17,000PER GRANT AGREEMENT
BENTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSER
$185,850AQUISITION OF 34ACRES ALONG BIG PINE
INDIANA DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
$50,000WILLOW SLOUGH PURCHASE AND PLANTING
CITY OF ATTICA
$15,000AQUISITION OF .58 ACRE LOT TO EXPAND
WABASH RIVER ENHANCEMENT CORP
$3,400INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND CLEANUP
OUIATENON PRESERVE INC
$78,500OUIATENON PRESERVE
INDIANA DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
$66,000WILLOW SLOUGH PRARIE RESTORATION
OUIATENON PRESERVE INC
$38,419RESTORATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVA
STREETS OF MONITCELLO ASSN
$21,000DISPLAY AT MONTICELLO PARKS & RECREA
OUIATENON PRESERVE INC
$155,500PURCHASE OF 91.3 ACRE TRACT
WEST LAFAYETTE PARKS & RECREATION F
$150,000FUNDING FOR HEAD HOUSE
TIPPECANOE PARKS & RECREATION FOUND
$25,500INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL AND RESTORA
WEST LAFAYETTE PARKS & RECREATION F
$5,000FUNDING FOR TREE INSIDE LILLY CENTER