The Cohen Family Foundation concentrates its giving locally in the Indianapolis/Carmel area, prioritizing community-facing organizations that serve children and families and cultural institutions. Grants are predominantly unrestricted operating support and skew toward organizations that provide youth services, family assistance, and a major regional cultural anchor. The foundation appears to favor repeat, substantial gifts to a small set of grantees rather than many small or one-off awards.
Concentrated, high-dollar operating support to a few local organizations with multiple repeat grants; funding is largely unrestricted and locally focused rather than widely distributed.
The Cohen Family Foundation Inc C/o Lauren (cohen) Edmundson gives repeated operating support to a small circle of Indianapolis- and Carmel-area organizations, with the Indianapolis Zoo standing out as the largest recipient in the recent record at $280,436 in 2023 and another $155,000 in 2024. That pattern points to a foundation that backs established local institutions over time rather than making many isolated awards. Its recent grants also include sizable operating gifts to Carmel Youth Assistance Inc and Make-a-wish Foundation, showing a consistent interest in children, families, and youth-facing services. The foundation’s portfolio also includes cultural and civic organizations such as Newfields, United Way of Central Indiana, and Conner Prairie Museum Inc, alongside faith-based and school-related recipients. The giving profile is not built around project-specific grants; the stated purposes are overwhelmingly to fund operating expenses. Repeat support appears across multiple years for several recipients, which suggests ongoing relationships and a preference for sustaining core budgets. The overall picture is of a locally oriented family foundation using unrestricted support to help a limited set of community institutions maintain their day-to-day work.
Children and family services are a clear thread in the recent grants. In 2025, the foundation gave $134,000 to Carmel Youth Assistance Inc for operating expenses, and it also awarded $97,000 to Make-a-wish Foundation for operating expenses the same year. Earlier gifts to Make-a-wish Foundation in 2024 and 2023 show that this is not a single-year relationship. Cultural institutions are another important area. The foundation gave $26,200 to Newfields in 2025 for operating expenses, and it previously supported Conner Prairie Museum Inc with $17,000 in 2023. It also backed Beth El Zedeck Congregation with three operating grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including $9,920 in 2025. The foundation also supports educational and youth-development organizations. Examples include $5,000 to Kipp Indianapolis Inc in 2024 and $5,000 to Finish Line Youth Foundation in 2025.
Typical grants are small to mid-sized, with a p25 of $750, a median of $1,720, and a p75 of $9,770. The recent record shows a mix of modest grants and a few much larger operating awards, including six-figure support to longstanding recipients. Repeat grants are common: several organizations appear in multiple years, often with renewed operating support rather than one-time project funding. The foundation is a family foundation and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. The available records show a local grantmaking pattern.
$414K
$4.5M
$836K
$629K
Most grants fall between $750 and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$750
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Notable grantees: Indianapolis Zoo, Carmel Youth Assistance Inc, Make‑A‑Wish Foundation, 91 Place Incorporated
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly in Indiana, with 90% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Indianapolis is the main recipient city, and Carmel and Fishers also appear in the recent grants list. Outside Indiana, the recent record includes Bloomington, where several university-related grants were made, and one gift to Montverde, Florida. By country, every recent grant in the provided data went to a U.S. recipient.
The recent grants focus on local operating support for community institutions, especially children and family services, cultural organizations, and education-related groups. Examples in the record include Carmel Youth Assistance Inc, Make-a-wish Foundation, Newfields, Conner Prairie Museum Inc, Kipp Indianapolis Inc, and Finish Line Youth Foundation.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small to mid-sized: p25 is $750, median grant size is $1,720, and p75 is $9,770. The recent record also includes larger operating awards, showing that a few organizations receive much more substantial support than the typical grant.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list. Indianapolis Zoo received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Carmel Youth Assistance Inc appears in 2024 and 2025; and Beth El Zedeck Congregation received operating support in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Its giving is local, and 90% of grants go to recipients in Indiana. Indianapolis is the most common recipient city, with additional grants to Carmel, Fishers, Bloomington, and Montverde, Florida appearing in the recent record.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARMEL YOUTH ASSISTANCE INC | CARMEL, IN | $134,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $97,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOO | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $91,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| NEWFIELDS (FORMALLY THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART) | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $26,200 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $11,054 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BETH EL ZEDECK CONGREGATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $9,920 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| MONTVERDE ACADEMY | MONTVERDE, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FUN TIME EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY | NAPLES, FL | $2,600 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANAPOLIS REPERTORY THEATRE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $2,270 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| YOUTH HAVEN | RIVES JUNCTION, MI | $2,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| STXBP1 DISORDERS | LANCASTER, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| ETZ CHAIM | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,100 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| THE JULIAN CENTER | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| WFYI | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BUTLER UNIVERISTY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| GUATAMALA HEALING HANDS FOUNDATION INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $500 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CREEKSIDE ANIMAL RESCUE | ROACHDALE, IN | $200 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA WRITERS CENTER | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TRIBUTE INC | DELPHI, IN | $100 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100 | 2025 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOO | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $155,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CARMEL YOUTH ASSISTANCE INC | CARMEL, IN | $66,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| 91 PLACE INCORPORATED | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $54,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FIRST BAPTIST ATHLETICS (INDIANAPOLIS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH) | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA HEALTH FUND INC | CARMEL, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BETH EL ZEDECK CONGREGATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $9,770 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| KIPP INDIANAPOLIS INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FINISH LINE YOUTH FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW | BLOOMINGTON, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM INC | FISHERS, IN | $4,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANAPOLIS REPERTORY THEATRE | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $2,250 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA | WEST CHESTER, PA | $1,720 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| NEWFIELDS (FORMALLY THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART) | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,200 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| WFYI | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| THE JULIAN CENTER | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| TOWNE MEADOW ELEMENTARY PTO | CARMEL, IN | $750 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| ETZ CHAIM | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $750 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL FOUNDATION (IGB FOUNDATION) | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $500 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $500 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| CREEKSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO | CARMEL, IN | $200 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100 | 2024 | TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES |
CARMEL YOUTH ASSISTANCE INC
$134,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
$97,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANAPOLIS ZOO
$91,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
NEWFIELDS (FORMALLY THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART)
$26,200TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC
$11,054TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
BETH EL ZEDECK CONGREGATION
$9,920TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
MONTVERDE ACADEMY
$5,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA UNIVERSITY KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
$5,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$5,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANAPOLIS REPERTORY THEATRE
$2,270TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
YOUTH HAVEN
$2,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
STXBP1 DISORDERS
$2,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
ETZ CHAIM
$1,100TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
WFYI
$1,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$1,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
BUTLER UNIVERISTY
$1,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
GUATAMALA HEALING HANDS FOUNDATION INC
$500TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
CREEKSIDE ANIMAL RESCUE
$200TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA WRITERS CENTER
$100TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$100TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
TRIBUTE INC
$100TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL
$100TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANAPOLIS ZOO
$155,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
CARMEL YOUTH ASSISTANCE INC
$66,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
FIRST BAPTIST ATHLETICS (INDIANAPOLIS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH)
$10,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA HEALTH FUND INC
$10,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
BETH EL ZEDECK CONGREGATION
$9,770TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
FINISH LINE YOUTH FOUNDATION
$5,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
$5,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANAPOLIS REPERTORY THEATRE
$2,250TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
NEWFIELDS (FORMALLY THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART)
$1,200TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
WFYI
$1,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
TEACH FOR AMERICA
$1,000TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
TOWNE MEADOW ELEMENTARY PTO
$750TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
ETZ CHAIM
$750TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
INDIANA GIRLS BASKETBALL FOUNDATION (IGB FOUNDATION)
$500TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC
$500TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
CREEKSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO
$200TO FUND OPERATING EXPENSES