Foundations that fund organizations in Franklin, Indiana

Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.

Funding landscape for Franklin nonprofits

66 private foundations gave $6.5M to Franklin organizations in their latest filings; 32 of the 66 that say either way accept applications.

121 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Franklin around $3,000. 32 of these funders are based in Indiana; the rest give here from elsewhere.

Foundations giving here
66
Accept applications
32
of 66 that state a policy
Dollars to Franklin
$6.5M
latest filings
Grants
121
Typical median grant
$3,000
Based in IN
48%
of funders listed

Funders, by dollars given to Franklin organizations

FoundationBased inGrants hereDollars hereMedianAccepts applicationsTypical purposes
Lilly Endowment IncIndianapolis, IN10$4.8M$113KYesEmployee matching gift(s); Capital proj-resdntl camp for in yth; Supporting hoosier churches init
Lincoln Legacy Foundation IncPlainfield, IN6$553K$36KYesOperating
Elba L and Gene Portteus Branigin FoundationFranklin, IN20$333K$10KYesRecruitretain volunteers conduct forums etc; Support of the Holiday Lighting Endowment Fund; Support of literary program in Johnson County
David E Simon & Jacqueline S Simon Charitable FoundationIndianapolis, IN1$200K$200KYesContribution to general operating support
White Oak Foundation IncIndianapolis, IN1$100K$100KYesGeneral
George and Marie Buckner Pitcher Charitable TrustLouisville, KY3$77K$33KPreselected onlyCharitable contribution; Charitable contributions
The Haughey Family Foundation Inc C/O Burt Blee Dixon Sutton & BloomFort Wayne, IN1$48K$48KYesCharitable grant
Ada Ramsey Trust Xxx-Xx-XxxxEvansville, IN1$40K$40KPreselected onlyProgram support
Floyd Kresge Tr UW Xxxxx2009Chicago, IL2$21K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral
Voland James a Scholarship PfdnBrooklyn, OH1$21K$21KYesScholarships
Ogle Scholarship Irrev TuwErie, PA2$20K$10KPreselected onlyScholarship
Niel C & Karen M Ellerbrook Family Foundation IncIndianapolis, IN1$20K$20KPreselected onlyUnrestricted
Payne Carl F TwBrooklyn, OH3$19K$1,590Preselected onlyGeneral operating
Peanut and Sandy Paws and Claws CharitableMichigan City, IN2$19K$9,250Preselected onlyScholarship; General purpose
Oneamerica Foundation IncIndianapolis, IN1$18K$18KYesEducation
The Scripps Howard FoundationCincinnati, OH1$15K$15KYesVolunteer Gift
Kilbourne Eh Res Char Tr-MainSt Louis, MO1$14K$14KYesGeneral operating
Mothershead FoundationIndianapolis, IN1$11K$11KPreselected onlyGeneral operations
Lumina Foundation for Education IncIndianapolis, IN1$10K$10KYesTo support the 2024 Indiana High School Press Association a…
FIRST Bank Richmond Inc Community FoundationRichmond, IN1$10K$10KPreselected onlyFirst tee/youth partner program
George and Mary Lee Duthie Charitable Foundation IncLouisville, KY1$10K$10KPreselected onlyGeneral operations
Walter C Doebling Trust B Xxx-Xx-XxxxEvansville, IN1$9,812$9,812Preselected onlyProgram support
Centra Foundation IncColumbus, IN4$9,343$2,421Preselected onlyCharitable
William M Keller Trust Xxxxx4007Chicago, IL2$8,800$4,400YesScholarship
Gilgour Albert D Fund TrustsPittsburgh, PA1$8,506$8,506Preselected onlyGeneral support
Schwardtmann Emmy OchrBrooklyn, OH1$8,301$8,301Preselected onlyGeneral operating purposes
Shaw-Burckhardt-Brenner FoundationIndianapolis, IN1$6,500$6,500YesYouth counseling/assistance
The Michael & Jody Petrie Foundation IncCarmel, IN1$6,000$6,000Preselected onlyTo the indiana high school golf coaches association offsett…
The Papa John's Foundation IncWilmington, DE1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyKic-it
Ball Brothers FoundationMuncie, IN1$5,000$5,000Yes3rd annual national trauma journalism symposium
Burks Family Foundation Inc Co Keith W BurksNaples, FL1$5,000$5,000Preselected onlyGeneral
Baird Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI4$4,750$375Preselected onlyCharitable operations expenses; Youth organizations; Health and human services
The Albert G and Grace Hahn Educational Foundation of the Indiana Hospital AssocIndianapolis, IN1$4,000$4,000YesDisaster relief funding for franklin
Everwise Foundation IncSouth Bend, IN1$3,500$3,500YesGeneral support
The Cream Hill Foundation C/O Rider Kenley LLCCarmel, IN1$3,000$3,000Preselected onlyCharitable
Grabe Family Foundation IncWilmington, DE1$3,000$3,000Preselected onlyGeneral & Unrestricted
Plainfield Chamber FoundationPlainfield, IN1$3,000$3,000YesUniversity scholarship
Centerpoint Energy Foundation IncHouston, TX1$3,000$3,000Preselected onlyGeneral donation
Buchanan-Clements Foundation IncColumbus, IN1$3,000$3,000YesUnrestricted
Thompson Thrift Foundation IncTerre Haute, IN1$2,500$2,500YesGeneral fund
Willardlillian Bosaw Mem Sch Fd IrrHamilton, OH1$2,250$2,250YesEducational scholarship
Lillian R Coleman Xxxxx2007Chicago, IL1$2,150$2,150YesScholarship
The Brave Heart Foundation IncFishers, IN2$2,000$1,000Preselected onlyCommunity support
Kebok Foundation AgencyDana Point, CA1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyGeneral operating
C James and Mary Lou Wilson Charitable Trust IncorporatedFishers, IN1$2,000$2,000Preselected onlyEducational
Guyneth B Webster Scholarship Fund 1045000718Hamilton, OH1$2,000$2,000YesScholarship for designated
Ora T & Dessie H Lower Memorial ScholarshipChicago, IL1$2,000$2,000YesScholarship
Wm & Gertrude Wahl Scholar Trust OptHamilton, OH1$1,700$1,700YesEducational scholarship
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable TrustIndianapolis, IN3$1,500$500YesEmployee Matching Gift Program
Koch Foundation IncEvansville, IN1$1,500$1,500YesCharitable Operations
Jpmorgan Chase FoundationNew York, NY4$1,100$150Preselected onlyMatching contribution (general operating support)
Fall Creek Valley Foundation IncVenice, FL1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyUnspecified program support
The Kirr Foundation IncColumbus, IN1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyCharitable
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation IncHope, IN1$1,000$1,000YesScholarship
International Foundation for Leadership & Vision IncCincinnati, OH1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyScholarship for student
Scellato Family FoundationBargersville, IN1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyGeneral
Repp Associates FoundationColumbus, IN1$1,000$1,000Preselected onlyEducation
The Pahwa Family FoundationSanta Monica, CA1$500$500Preselected onlyLiteracy
Tractor Supply Company FoundationBrentwood, TN2$500$250YesHometown heroes donation
Edward Jones FoundationSt Louis, MO2$400$200Preselected onlyCommunity improvement; Youth development
Schneider National Foundation IncGreen Bay, WI1$350$350YesDonation
Texas Instruments FoundationDallas, TX1$300$300YesDonations to colleges, universities and other organizations…
Regal FoundationKnoxville, TN1$282$282YesChildren & family
Csx Foundation IncJacksonville, FL1$150$150Preselected onlyVarious
Verizon FoundationBasking Ridge, NJ1$100$100Preselected onlyOther civic / community
Ge Aerospace FoundationNorwalk, CT1$50$50YesMatching gift

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 Franklin, Indiana?

Lilly Endowment Inc, Lincoln Legacy Foundation Inc, Elba L and Gene Portteus Branigin Foundation, David E Simon & Jacqueline S Simon Charitable Foundation, White Oak Foundation Inc and 61 others reported grants to Franklin 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 Franklin. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.

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