The William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation concentrates its giving on Fort Wayne-area nonprofits that address basic needs, vulnerable populations, and local heritage. Major and repeat grants go to emergency shelters and rescue missions, food security providers, youth development programs, and historic preservation groups, with most awards described as general support. The foundation prioritizes community institutions that serve immediate social services and civic/cultural assets in Allen County.
The William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc has made some of its largest recent awards to Fort Wayne institutions that anchor the city’s civic and social-service landscape, including $500,000 to Historic Fort Wayne and $400,000 to the Fw YWCA. Its giving consistently supports organizations that work with people facing homelessness, food insecurity, youth-serving programs, and local heritage preservation. The foundation’s recent record also includes major support for rescue missions, food banks, child-and-youth programs, and community institutions that serve Allen County residents. A clear pattern is repeated, relationship-based support for the same local organizations over multiple years. Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, for example, appears in several grant years, and the same is true for Fw YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, and Girl Scouts of America G. The foundation also backs capital and general support, suggesting a mix of operational and project-oriented funding. Across the recent grants list, the portfolio is overwhelmingly centered on Fort Wayne and nearby Allen County nonprofits, with awards reaching both longstanding service providers and cultural institutions.
In homeless-services grantmaking, the foundation supported Rescue Mission with $400,000 in 2024 and Fort Wayne Rescue Mission B with $200,000 in 2025. It also gave $325,000 to Charis House B in 2025, another signal of emphasis on housing and emergency support. Food access is another recurring focus. Community Harvest Food Bank C received $250,000 in 2025, following earlier support for local service organizations tied to basic-needs response. Youth development appears through multiple named grantees: Boys and Girls Club received $200,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2025, while Super Shot received $169,000 in 2024. The foundation also funded Boy Scouts of America B and Girl Scouts of Fort Wayne B. Historic and cultural preservation is represented by $500,000 to Historic Fort Wayne in 2025 and $100,000 to Fort Wayne Zoo B in 2025.
Typical awards cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range, with a p25 of $5,000, a median grant of $20,000, and a p75 of $28,750. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Fw YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America B, and Girl Scouts of America G, which points to relationship-based giving rather than one-off awards. Grants are also frequently described as support, including capital campaign support in at least one case. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.5M
$20.3M
$1.6M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $5K and $29K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$29K
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Concentrated, large-dollar support to a small set of local grantees with multiple repeat grants; predominantly unrestricted/general support aimed at sustaining core operations of community service and cultural organizations.
Notable grantees: Fort Wayne YWCA, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, Historic Fort Wayne, Community Harvest Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club (Fort Wayne)
Giving is tightly local: 100% of grants in the recipient data went to organizations in Indiana, and the top state by grant count is IN. Most recipients are in Fort Wayne, with additional awards in Auburn and Wabash. Named recipient cities in the grant list include Fort Wayne, Auburn, and Wabash, showing a portfolio concentrated in Allen County and nearby Indiana communities. The pattern reflects local institutions rather than a multi-state or national spread.
The recent grants point to support for homeless services and rescue missions, food security, women’s services, youth development, and historic preservation. Named grantees include Rescue Mission, Fw YWCA, Community Harvest Food Bank C, Boys and Girls Club, and Historic Fort Wayne.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple grant years, including Fw YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts of America G, Boy Scouts of America B, and Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The distribution is centered on relatively modest awards: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $20,000, and the p75 is $28,750. At the same time, the foundation also makes larger grants, including several six-figure awards to local institutions.
Its giving is entirely in the United States in the provided data, and 100% of grants go to recipients in Indiana. Most awards go to Fort Wayne organizations, with additional grants in Auburn and Wabash.
Many recent awards are labeled support, indicating broad operating or general support use. The list also includes a capital campaign grant to Junior Acheivement, so the foundation uses both general support and project-oriented funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HISTORIC FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $500,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| FW YWCA | FORT WAYNE, IN | $400,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| CHARIS HOUSE B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $325,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| JOSIAH WHITE'S | WABASH, IN | $300,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK C | FORT WAYNE, IN | $250,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| FORT WAYNE RESCUE MISSION B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $200,000 | 2025 | B |
| FORT WAYNE ZOO B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF FORT WAYNE B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| PURDUE FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $62,900 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | FORT WAYNE, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF DEKALB COUNTY | AUBURN, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC FRIENDS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| DAVE HEFNER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT E B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| DICKS ORGANICS B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| MATHEW 25 | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| SUPERSHOT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| KATE'S KART K | FORT WAYNE, IN | $7,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| SHEPERD'S HOUSE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| HOMESTEAD BANK | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| SCIENCE CENTRAL | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| GEORGETOWN LITTLE LEAGE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL ALLIED MISSIONS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| TURNSTONE CENTER T | FORT WAYNE, IN | $3,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| VAN BUREN CEMETARY ASSO V | VAN BUREN, IN | $2,500 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| HOMEBOUND MEALS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| STAVRETI SCHOLARSHIP S | FORT WAYNE, IN | $2,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| RESCUE MISSION | FORT WAYNE, IN | $400,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FW YWCA | FORT WAYNE, IN | $400,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SUPER SHOT | FORT WAYNE, IN | $169,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA G | FORT WAYNE, IN | $65,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | FORT WAYNE, IN | $50,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA B | FORT WAYNE, IN | $35,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC FRIENDS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| HUMANE SOCIETY | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| SPECIALTY TUTORING | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF DEKALB COUNTY | AUBURN, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| G2 ROWING ASSOCIATION | FORT WAYNE, IN | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK C | FORT WAYNE, IN | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| MATHEW 25 | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION F | FORT WAYNE, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| HISTORIC FORT WAYNE | FORT WAYNE, IN | $8,050 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL ALLIED MISSIONS | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| KATE'S KART K | FORT WAYNE, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| TURNSTONE CENTER T | FORT WAYNE, IN | $3,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| VAN BUREN CEMETARY ASSO V | VAN BUREN, IN | $2,500 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
HISTORIC FORT WAYNE
$500,000SUPPORT
FW YWCA
$400,000SUPPORT
CHARIS HOUSE B
$325,000SUPPORT
JOSIAH WHITE'S
$300,000SUPPORT
COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK C
$250,000SUPPORT
FORT WAYNE RESCUE MISSION B
$200,000B
FORT WAYNE ZOO B
SUPPORT
GIRL SCOUTS OF FORT WAYNE B
$75,000SUPPORT
PURDUE FORT WAYNE
$62,900SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA B
$50,000SUPPORT
YMCA OF DEKALB COUNTY
$50,000SUPPORT
FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC FRIENDS
$25,000SUPPORT
LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS
$25,000SUPPORT
DAVE HEFNER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT E B
$25,000SUPPORT
DICKS ORGANICS B
$25,000SUPPORT
KATE'S KART K
$7,500SUPPORT
SHEPERD'S HOUSE
$5,000SUPPORT
HOMESTEAD BANK
$5,000SUPPORT
GEORGETOWN LITTLE LEAGE
$5,000SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL ALLIED MISSIONS
$5,000SUPPORT
VAN BUREN CEMETARY ASSO V
$2,500SUPPORT
HOMEBOUND MEALS
$2,000SUPPORT
STAVRETI SCHOLARSHIP S
$2,000SUPPORT
RESCUE MISSION
$400,000SUPPORT
FW YWCA
$400,000SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA B
$35,000SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$25,000SUPPORT
FORT WAYNE PHILHARMONIC FRIENDS
$25,000SUPPORT
HUMANE SOCIETY
$25,000SUPPORT
LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS
$25,000SUPPORT
YMCA OF DEKALB COUNTY
$25,000SUPPORT
G2 ROWING ASSOCIATION
$20,000SUPPORT
COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD BANK C
$20,000SUPPORT
FORT WAYNE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION F
$10,000SUPPORT
HISTORIC FORT WAYNE
$8,050SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL ALLIED MISSIONS
$5,000SUPPORT
KATE'S KART K
$5,000SUPPORT
TURNSTONE CENTER T
$3,000SUPPORT
VAN BUREN CEMETARY ASSO V
$2,500SUPPORT