Foundations that fund organizations in Columbus, Indiana
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Columbus nonprofits
63 private foundations gave $49M to Columbus organizations in their latest filings; 27 of the 63 that say either way accept applications.
262 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Columbus around $3,500. 26 of these funders are based in Indiana; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 63
- Accept applications
- 27
- of 63 that state a policy
- Dollars to Columbus
- $49M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 262
- Typical median grant
- $3,500
- Based in IN
- 41%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Columbus organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cummins Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 1 | $44M | $44M | Preselected only | Various see attachment 1 |
| Lilly Endowment Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 10 | $3.2M | $95K | Yes | Teacher creativity fellow; Indiana community fdn init-gift; Capital proj-resdntl camp for in yth |
| Elizabeth Ruddick Nugent Foundation | Columbus, IN | 34 | $482K | $8,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| Clarence E Custer and Inez R Custer | Columbus, IN | 30 | $453K | $11K | Yes | Charitable purposes; Charitable purpose |
| Centra Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 31 | $283K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Carl Marshall Reeves and Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation Inc | Fenton, MO | 18 | $244K | $8,328 | Yes | Scholarships for students to attend local college; Exhibit at local historical society; Spay/neuter services at local animal shelter |
| Foster Orben Charitable Trust | Columbus, IN | 7 | $130K | $8,484 | Preselected only | Social Welfare; Music; Domestic Violence |
| The Namaste Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 5 | $127K | $17K | Preselected only | Operating Budget; Hispanic-Latino scholarships; Annual Campaign |
| Landmark Farm Foundation Inc | Elizabethtown, IN | 9 | $126K | $12K | Yes | Charitable contribution |
| FIRST Financial Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | 5 | $88K | $10K | Yes | Provide assistance to families in need of after school care…; Funds avenues to opportunity program which focuses on movin…; Studio 6: Empowering Music and Character (The funds will be… |
| The Drexel Fund | South Bend, IN | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | General support grant |
| The Fred and Ruth Waugh Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $69K | $69K | Preselected only | General support |
| Aiyana Foundation Inc | Wayland, MA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General |
| Mary Elizabeth Ober Foundation Inc | Nashville, IN | 6 | $47K | $9,400 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Hutch Schumaker Family Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 3 | $36K | $15K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $35K | $35K | Yes | Operations |
| William Bick Trust 1020000695 | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Charitalbe purposes |
| William M Keller Trust Xxxxx4007 | Chicago, IL | 5 | $21K | $3,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | General donation |
| Ian & Miriam Rolland Foundation | Columbus, OH | 4 | $20K | $5,500 | Yes | General support |
| Helen H Rowell Trust 1015005912 | Hamilton, OH | 4 | $19K | $4,768 | Preselected only | Genealogical section of the; Children's sunday school; Cline-keller library or |
| The Kirr Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 7 | $19K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Hazel M Teegarden Foundation Inc | Seymour, IN | 2 | $16K | $8,200 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Wr & Floy a Sauey Family Foundation | Baraboo, WI | 4 | $16K | $4,425 | Yes | Donation |
| Jameson Freedom & Education Foundation | Del Mar, CA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | To inspire generosity; gather & grow community leaders; and… |
| The Lipman Family Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | To promote arts |
| William and Alberta S Keller Charitable | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | Charitable purposes |
| Marion a & Eva Peeples Foundation | Franklin, IN | 1 | $12K | $12K | Yes | Scholarships |
| F Dwight Ogborn Charitable Unitrust | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | Charitable purposes |
| Charles R Taylor Tw 1020000711 | Hamilton, OH | 5 | $7,763 | $913 | Preselected only | General fund charitable |
| The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation | Cleveland, OH | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | General support |
| Lucille R Keller Foundation 1045000683 | Hamilton, OH | 2 | $6,160 | $3,080 | Yes | Student related expenses |
| Well Grow Foundation | San Diego, CA | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | donation |
| Repp Associates Foundation | Columbus, IN | 18 | $5,235 | $200 | Preselected only | Social services; Education; Hospitals |
| Arvin Sango Foundation | Madison, IN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Sponsor |
| Johnson Family Foundation Inc | Orleans, IN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Assist homeless |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 3 | $4,625 | $1,500 | Preselected only | Ethnic and religious |
| Bobby Buerger Scholarship Fund 1015010023 | Hamilton, OH | 3 | $4,500 | $1,500 | Yes | Educational scholarship |
| Guyneth B Webster Scholarship Fund 1045000718 | Hamilton, OH | 2 | $4,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Scholarship for designated |
| Stifel Educational Foundation Inc | St Louis, MO | 2 | $4,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| The Brave Heart Foundation Inc | Fishers, IN | 1 | $3,600 | $3,600 | Preselected only | Community support |
| Lee Ann Forster and Stanton Louis Forster Foundaton Inc | Scipio, IN | 2 | $3,000 | $1,500 | Preselected only | General operating |
| Elba L and Gene Portteus Branigin Foundation | Franklin, IN | 1 | $2,700 | $2,700 | Yes | Support of literary program in Bartholomew County |
| Samaritan Foundation | Haviland, OH | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Yes | Charity |
| Feeding the Future Inc | Chattanooga, TN | 1 | $2,441 | $2,441 | Preselected only | End Childhood Hunger |
| Jx Gives Back Family Foundation Inc C/O Mark Muskevitsch | Hartland, WI | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Program support |
| Robert E & Janice C Harpenau Founda | Troy, IN | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | For use by organization |
| The Duffield Family Foundation Dba Maddie's Fund | Pleasanton, CA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Open arms challenge 2024 |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc | Hope, IN | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| The Hale Family Foundation | Naples, FL | 2 | $1,303 | $651 | Preselected only | General assistance; General purposes |
| The Ruth L Lee Fund | East Weymouth, MA | 1 | $1,140 | $1,140 | Yes | Charitable ein 54-0761510 |
| The Bradford Todd Fleck Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | "Sidekicks" program |
| Madeira Fund Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| Sam Shine Foundation Inc | Greenville, IN | 1 | $750 | $750 | Preselected only | General |
| Land O'Lakes Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Member co-op matches |
| Csx Foundation Inc | Jacksonville, FL | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Various |
| Zerbe Family Foundation | Ann Arbor, MI | 1 | $250 | $250 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| McMillan Family Charitable Trust | Cincinnati, OH | 2 | $200 | $100 | Preselected only | Contributions to FIrst Presbyterian for education programs; General Charitable giving for programs |
| Light a Single Candle Foundation Nf | Chesterfield, MO | 1 | $200 | $200 | Yes | General support |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $125 | $125 | Preselected only | Human services - multipurpose and other |
| Curry Family Foundation Inc | Bloomington, IN | 1 | $100 | $100 | Preselected only | Assist organization |
| The Gap Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $100 | $100 | Yes | For civic & community engagement |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Columbus, Indiana?
The Cummins Foundation Inc, Lilly Endowment Inc, Elizabeth Ruddick Nugent Foundation, Clarence E Custer and Inez R Custer, Centra Foundation Inc and 58 others reported grants to Columbus organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Columbus. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.