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
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lilly Endowment Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 10 | $4.8M | $113K | Yes | Employee matching gift(s); Capital proj-resdntl camp for in yth; Supporting hoosier churches init |
| Lincoln Legacy Foundation Inc | Plainfield, IN | 6 | $553K | $36K | Yes | Operating |
| Elba L and Gene Portteus Branigin Foundation | Franklin, IN | 20 | $333K | $10K | Yes | Recruitretain 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 Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Contribution to general operating support |
| White Oak Foundation Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General |
| George and Marie Buckner Pitcher Charitable Trust | Louisville, KY | 3 | $77K | $33K | Preselected only | Charitable contribution; Charitable contributions |
| The Haughey Family Foundation Inc C/O Burt Blee Dixon Sutton & Bloom | Fort Wayne, IN | 1 | $48K | $48K | Yes | Charitable grant |
| Ada Ramsey Trust Xxx-Xx-Xxxx | Evansville, IN | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Floyd Kresge Tr UW Xxxxx2009 | Chicago, IL | 2 | $21K | $10K | Preselected only | General |
| Voland James a Scholarship Pfdn | Brooklyn, OH | 1 | $21K | $21K | Yes | Scholarships |
| Ogle Scholarship Irrev Tuw | Erie, PA | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| Niel C & Karen M Ellerbrook Family Foundation Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Payne Carl F Tw | Brooklyn, OH | 3 | $19K | $1,590 | Preselected only | General operating |
| Peanut and Sandy Paws and Claws Charitable | Michigan City, IN | 2 | $19K | $9,250 | Preselected only | Scholarship; General purpose |
| Oneamerica Foundation Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $18K | $18K | Yes | Education |
| The Scripps Howard Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Volunteer Gift |
| Kilbourne Eh Res Char Tr-Main | St Louis, MO | 1 | $14K | $14K | Yes | General operating |
| Mothershead Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Lumina Foundation for Education Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | To support the 2024 Indiana High School Press Association a… |
| FIRST Bank Richmond Inc Community Foundation | Richmond, IN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | First tee/youth partner program |
| George and Mary Lee Duthie Charitable Foundation Inc | Louisville, KY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Walter C Doebling Trust B Xxx-Xx-Xxxx | Evansville, IN | 1 | $9,812 | $9,812 | Preselected only | Program support |
| Centra Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 4 | $9,343 | $2,421 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| William M Keller Trust Xxxxx4007 | Chicago, IL | 2 | $8,800 | $4,400 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Gilgour Albert D Fund Trusts | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $8,506 | $8,506 | Preselected only | General support |
| Schwardtmann Emmy Ochr | Brooklyn, OH | 1 | $8,301 | $8,301 | Preselected only | General operating purposes |
| Shaw-Burckhardt-Brenner Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $6,500 | $6,500 | Yes | Youth counseling/assistance |
| The Michael & Jody Petrie Foundation Inc | Carmel, IN | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | To the indiana high school golf coaches association offsett… |
| The Papa John's Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Kic-it |
| Ball Brothers Foundation | Muncie, IN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | 3rd annual national trauma journalism symposium |
| Burks Family Foundation Inc Co Keith W Burks | Naples, FL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 4 | $4,750 | $375 | Preselected only | Charitable operations expenses; Youth organizations; Health and human services |
| The Albert G and Grace Hahn Educational Foundation of the Indiana Hospital Assoc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $4,000 | $4,000 | Yes | Disaster relief funding for franklin |
| Everwise Foundation Inc | South Bend, IN | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Yes | General support |
| The Cream Hill Foundation C/O Rider Kenley LLC | Carmel, IN | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Grabe Family Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Plainfield Chamber Foundation | Plainfield, IN | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Yes | University scholarship |
| Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General donation |
| Buchanan-Clements Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| Thompson Thrift Foundation Inc | Terre Haute, IN | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Yes | General fund |
| Willardlillian Bosaw Mem Sch Fd Irr | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $2,250 | $2,250 | Yes | Educational scholarship |
| Lillian R Coleman Xxxxx2007 | Chicago, IL | 1 | $2,150 | $2,150 | Yes | Scholarship |
| The Brave Heart Foundation Inc | Fishers, IN | 2 | $2,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Community support |
| Kebok Foundation Agency | Dana Point, CA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | General operating |
| C James and Mary Lou Wilson Charitable Trust Incorporated | Fishers, IN | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Educational |
| Guyneth B Webster Scholarship Fund 1045000718 | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Scholarship for designated |
| Ora T & Dessie H Lower Memorial Scholarship | Chicago, IL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Wm & Gertrude Wahl Scholar Trust Opt | Hamilton, OH | 1 | $1,700 | $1,700 | Yes | Educational scholarship |
| Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust | Indianapolis, IN | 3 | $1,500 | $500 | Yes | Employee Matching Gift Program |
| Koch Foundation Inc | Evansville, IN | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | Yes | Charitable Operations |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 4 | $1,100 | $150 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| Fall Creek Valley Foundation Inc | Venice, FL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Unspecified program support |
| The Kirr Foundation Inc | Columbus, IN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc | Hope, IN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Scholarship |
| International Foundation for Leadership & Vision Inc | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship for student |
| Scellato Family Foundation | Bargersville, IN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Repp Associates Foundation | Columbus, IN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Education |
| The Pahwa Family Foundation | Santa Monica, CA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Literacy |
| Tractor Supply Company Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 2 | $500 | $250 | Yes | Hometown heroes donation |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 2 | $400 | $200 | Preselected only | Community improvement; Youth development |
| Schneider National Foundation Inc | Green Bay, WI | 1 | $350 | $350 | Yes | Donation |
| Texas Instruments Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $300 | $300 | Yes | Donations to colleges, universities and other organizations… |
| Regal Foundation | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $282 | $282 | Yes | Children & family |
| Csx Foundation Inc | Jacksonville, FL | 1 | $150 | $150 | Preselected only | Various |
| Verizon Foundation | Basking Ridge, NJ | 1 | $100 | $100 | Preselected only | Other civic / community |
| Ge Aerospace Foundation | Norwalk, CT | 1 | $50 | $50 | Yes | Matching 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.