The Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation concentrates its giving on postsecondary and career-focused education in northern Indiana, providing large unrestricted/general gifts to community colleges, university programs, high schools, scholarship funds, and career academies. Grants frequently support workforce development and vocational training (including culinary job training) and the foundation prefers multi-year or repeat commitments to a small set of regional partners. Its giving is pragmatic and institution-focused, aimed at expanding local educational access and job-readiness rather than narrow program pilots.
Concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a small number of regional education and workforce organizations, with several repeat/multi-grant relationships and a preference for general operating or unrestricted support.
The Garatoni-smith Family Foundation’s most distinctive feature is its repeated large general gifts to regional education and workforce institutions in northern Indiana, especially Ivy Tech and Career Academy. The foundation has made seven-figure support visible in its recent giving, including a $1.7 million general gift to Ivy Tech in South Bend in 2023 and a $1.329 million general charitable gift to Career Academy in South Bend in 2025. That pattern is reinforced by continued support for related partners such as Ivy Tech Foundation, Cultivate Culinary, Rise, and the Garatoni Smith Scholarship. Its recent grants show a funder that backs postsecondary access, career pathways, and student support through broad gifts rather than tightly restricted project funding. Marian High School and Marian University also appear among the larger recipients, alongside regional partnerships and church-linked education support in the area. The foundation’s grantmaking is institution-centered and local, with much of the activity concentrated among a small set of organizations in northern Indiana. Across the file, the foundation’s giving reads as sustained support for education-to-employment pathways, scholarship aid, and regional capacity building.
In postsecondary education, the foundation gave $1.7 million to Ivy Tech in South Bend for a general gift and later $273,500 to Ivy Tech Foundation for general charitable support. Career-focused education is another clear theme: Career Academy received $1.329 million in 2025, reflecting a substantial commitment to vocational and career preparation. Workforce training also appears through culinary education. Cultivate Culinary in South Bend received $250,000 in 2023 and $230,000 in 2025, both as general charitable gifts. Scholarship support is visible as well, with the Garatoni Smith Scholarship receiving $251,500 in 2025. The foundation also supports Catholic education in the region, including Marian High School and Marian University, both listed among its larger grants.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $10,000, with the 25th percentile at $3,024 and the 75th percentile at $50,000, but the recent file also includes several much larger institutional gifts. The pattern is repeat-oriented: multiple recipients appear in both 2023 and 2025, including Ivy Tech Foundation, Cultivate Culinary, Rise, and the Annual Bishop Appeal. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Grants are often described as general, general charitable, or general charitable gifts, suggesting flexible support rather than tightly designated project funding.
$3.2M
$51.9M
$12.4M
$3.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $50K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$50K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Notable grantees: Ivy Tech (and Ivy Tech Foundation), Career Academy, Cultivate Culinary, Marian University / Marian High School, Garatoni Smith Scholarship Fund
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Indiana, with 87% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. South Bend appears often, including Ivy Tech, Career Academy, Cultivate Culinary, and the South Bend Elkhart Regional Partnership Foundation. Mishawaka also recurs through Rise, the Garatoni Smith Scholarship, Regional Sector Pship, and Wbl Hub Corp. Other Indiana recipients include Indianapolis, Granger, Fort Wayne, and Plainfield. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants center on postsecondary education, career and technical training, scholarships, and regional education partnerships. Named recipients include Ivy Tech, Career Academy, Cultivate Culinary, the Garatoni Smith Scholarship, Marian High School, and Marian University.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Ivy Tech Foundation in 2023 and 2025, Cultivate Culinary in 2023 and 2025, Rise in 2023 and 2025, and the Annual Bishop Appeal in 2023 and 2025.
The typical grant size is $3,024 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent giving also includes larger institutional grants such as $1.7 million to Ivy Tech and $1.329 million to Career Academy.
Its giving is local, and 87% of grants go to recipients in Indiana. South Bend and Mishawaka appear frequently among recent recipients, alongside other Indiana cities such as Indianapolis, Granger, Fort Wayne, and Plainfield.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAREER ACADEMY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $1,329,142 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| RISE | MISHAWAKA, IN | $546,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| IVY TECH FDN | SOUTH BEND, IN | $273,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| GARATONI SMITH SCHOLARSHIP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $251,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| CULTIVATE CULINARY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $230,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SOUTH BEND ELKHART REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION | SOUTH BEND, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ANNUAL BISHOP APPEAL | FORT WAYNE, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WBL HUB CORP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $54,300 | 2025 | GENERAL GIFT |
| QUEEN OF PEACE | MISHAWAKA, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST PIUS CHURCH | GRANGER, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | SOUTH BEND, IN | $31,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| REGIONAL SECTOR PSHIP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $25,600 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FOOD BANK OF NORTHERN INDIANA | SOUTH BEND, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| THE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS | SOUTH BEND, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL GIFT |
| HOLY CROSS COLLEGE | NOTRE DAME, IN | $13,150 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| KROC CENTER | SOUTH BEND, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| TEAM HOPE IN MOTION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WOUNDER WARRIOR PROJECT | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MISHAWAKA PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION | MISHAWAKA, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| PURDUE TRIANGLE FRAT | LAFAYETTE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST MARGARETS HOUSE | SOUTH BEND, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNCOMMON GRIT FOUNDATION | MANAKIN SABOT, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| MISHAWAKA FOOD PANTRY | MISHAWAKA, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ST ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH | CASSOPOLIS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENARAL GIFT |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | SOUTH BEND, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S CENTER | SOUTH BEND, IN | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| UNITY GARDEN | SOUTH BEND, IN | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| E3 ROBOTICS | ELKHART, IN | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| GREATER HOLY TEMPLE | SOUTH BEND, IN | $600 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| REINS OF LIFE | SOUTH BEND, IN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| GENTLEMEN AND SCHOLARS | SOUTH BEND, IN | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WNIT | SOUTH BEND, IN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SOUTH BEND FIREFIGHTERS | SOUTH BEND, IN | $250 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| FOP LODGE 155 | SOUTH BEND, IN | $250 | 2025 | GIFT |
| NATIONAL CHILD SAFETY COUNCIL | JACKSON, MI | $150 | 2025 | GIFT |
| EDWARD W MOOSE KRAUSE CHAPTER | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $100 | 2025 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| IVY TECH FDN | SOUTH BEND, IN | $280,200 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| RISE | MISHAWAKA, IN | $217,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| CULTIVATE CULINARY | SOUTH BEND, IN | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| TRIANGLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | PLAINFIELD, IN | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| WBL HUB CORP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $105,000 | 2024 | GENERAL GIFT |
| ST PIUS CHURCH | GRANGER, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| SOUTH BEND ELKHART REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION | SOUTH BEND, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| ANNUAL BISHOP APPEAL | FORT WAYNE, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| GARATONI SMITH SCHOLARSHIP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $66,180 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| REGIONAL SECTOR PSHIP | MISHAWAKA, IN | $34,800 | 2024 | GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT |
| THE HOMESCHOOL SOURCE | GRANGER, IN | $31,000 | 2024 | GENERAL GIFT |
CAREER ACADEMY
$1,329,142GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
RISE
$546,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
IVY TECH FDN
$273,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
GARATONI SMITH SCHOLARSHIP
$251,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
CULTIVATE CULINARY
$230,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
SOUTH BEND ELKHART REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
ANNUAL BISHOP APPEAL
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
WBL HUB CORP
$54,300GENERAL GIFT
QUEEN OF PEACE
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
ST PIUS CHURCH
$50,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$31,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
REGIONAL SECTOR PSHIP
$25,600GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
$13,150GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
KROC CENTER
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
TEAM HOPE IN MOTION
$10,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
MISHAWAKA PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
PURDUE TRIANGLE FRAT
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
UNCOMMON GRIT FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
MISHAWAKA FOOD PANTRY
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
ST ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH
$5,000GENARAL GIFT
HOPE MINISTRIES
$5,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S CENTER
$2,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
UNITY GARDEN
$2,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
E3 ROBOTICS
$1,500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
GREATER HOLY TEMPLE
$600GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
GENTLEMEN AND SCHOLARS
$500GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
WNIT
$250GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
SOUTH BEND FIREFIGHTERS
$250GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
FOP LODGE 155
$250GIFT
NATIONAL CHILD SAFETY COUNCIL
$150GIFT
EDWARD W MOOSE KRAUSE CHAPTER
$100GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
IVY TECH FDN
$280,200GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
RISE
$217,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
WBL HUB CORP
$105,000GENERAL GIFT
ST PIUS CHURCH
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
SOUTH BEND ELKHART REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOUNDATION
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
ANNUAL BISHOP APPEAL
$100,000GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
GARATONI SMITH SCHOLARSHIP
$66,180GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
REGIONAL SECTOR PSHIP
$34,800GENERAL CHARITABLE GIFT
THE HOMESCHOOL SOURCE
$31,000GENERAL GIFT