The Polly Horton Foundation concentrates its giving on wildlife conservation delivered through zoo institutions and specialized conservation nonprofits. Nearly all grants are aimed at supporting the Indianapolis Zoo (including its Lowell Nussbaum programs and prize functions) and direct support for cheetah conservation, indicating a clear preference for species-focused conservation and zoo-led initiatives. Grants are uniform in size and purpose (general support) and target a small set of related beneficiaries rather than a broad set of causes.
Concentrated giving: a small number of repeat, equal-sized grants (~$25K each) to a narrow set of related recipients (Indianapolis Zoo entities and Cheetah Conservation Fund), focused on general support rather than many small or one-off gifts.
Polly Horton Foundation C/o James R Hellige gives in a narrow, repeated pattern: $25,000 grants to a small group of conservation-related beneficiaries, especially the Indianapolis Zoological Society and the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The clearest thread in the recent record is zoo-linked wildlife work, with support directed to the Indianapolis Zoological Society for the Conservation Prize Function and for Lowell Nussbaum-related programs, alongside direct backing for cheetah conservation. That mix shows a funder that favors species-focused conservation and institutional partners rather than a broad portfolio of causes. The grant list also shows continuity across years. The same general-purpose support appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the Indianapolis zoo-related grants recur in multiple forms. The Cheetah Conservation Fund appears both as a direct recipient in Alexandria, Virginia, and as a beneficiary routed through the Indianapolis Zoological Society, which suggests a consistent interest in cheetah-related work. With annual grants of $175,000 and a small asset base of $211,878, the foundation’s giving is concentrated and highly uniform.
A defining theme is wildlife conservation through zoo institutions. In 2024, Polly Horton Foundation C/o James R Hellige gave $25,000 to the Indianapolis Zoological Society for the Conservation Prize Function, tying its support to zoo-led conservation programming rather than broad environmental grantmaking. Cheetah work is another clear focus. The foundation gave $25,000 to the Cheetah Conservation Fund in 2023 and again in 2025, both for general purpose support. It also made a 2024 grant of $25,000 to the Indianapolis Zoological Society for the Cheetah Conservation Fund, showing that cheetah conservation appears both as a direct grantee relationship and through a partner institution. The Lowell Nussbaum-related grants form a third pattern. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, the Indianapolis Zoological Society received $25,000 grants for Lowell Nussbaum Foundation or Lowell Nussbaum Society support.
The foundation’s recent grants are uniform: the p25, median, and p75 are all $25,000. That indicates a fixed-grant approach rather than a wide range of award sizes. The recent record also shows repeat funding across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with the same beneficiaries appearing more than once. Grants are listed as general-purpose support and the foundation does not fund individuals. The structure in the record points to a small, closely managed grantmaker with consistent annual awards rather than a high-volume program funder.
$175K
$212K
$28K
$53K
Most grants fall between $25K and $25K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in IN.
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Notable grantees: Indianapolis Zoological Society (Lowell Nussbaum Society/Foundation), Indianapolis Zoological Society – Conservation Prize Function, The Cheetah Conservation Fund
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with 7 grants and 100% of grants going to U.S. organizations. The strongest concentration is in Indiana, where the foundation gives most often. Indianapolis appears repeatedly in the recent grants list through the Indianapolis Zoological Society. Outside Indiana, Alexandria, Virginia appears as the location for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. No grants in the recent list go to Illinois recipients, despite the foundation’s Chicago headquarters.
The recent record centers on wildlife conservation delivered through zoo institutions and conservation nonprofits. Grants go to the Indianapolis Zoological Society for the Conservation Prize Function and Lowell Nussbaum-related support, plus direct support for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is flat: p25, median, and p75 are all $25,000. Every recent grant listed is for the same amount.
Yes. The Cheetah Conservation Fund appears in both 2023 and 2025, and the Indianapolis Zoological Society appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 through several related purposes. The record shows repeated support rather than one-time awards.
Most grants go to Indiana recipients, with Indianapolis showing up repeatedly in the recent grant list. The only other recipient city visible in the recent data is Alexandria, Virginia, for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
It is highly concentrated and uniform. The foundation gives general-purpose grants, does not fund individuals, and has a recent pattern of $25,000 awards to a small set of conservation-related recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - TAX ID 31-1726923 | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR LOWELL NUSSBAUM SOC-TAX ID 35-1074747 | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION PRIZE FUNCTION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | GFENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE LOWELL NUSSBAUM SOCIETY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE LOWELL NUSSBAUM FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND - TAX ID 31-1726923
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR LOWELL NUSSBAUM SOC-TAX ID 35-1074747
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION PRIZE FUNCTION
$25,000GFENERAL PURPOSE
INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE LOWELL NUSSBAUM SOCIETY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INDIANAPOLIS ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOR THE LOWELL NUSSBAUM FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE