The James Foundation Inc
Historical FunderAuburn, Indiana · EIN 45-2195649 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$8.9M
Organizations funded59
Typical grant$20,000
Total assets$20.4M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $7,500 and $100,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | THE JAMES FOUNDATION INC |
|---|---|
| Address | PO BOX 606, AUBURN IN 46706 |
| Phone | 2603330068 |
| Form and materials | PLEASE VISIT WWW.THEJAMESFOUNDATION.ORG TO DOWNLOAD AND FILL OUT THE JAMES FOUNDATION PRELIMINARY GRANT APPLICATION. |
| Deadlines | N/A |
| Restrictions | STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM A DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA, HIGH SCHOOL ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR ONE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY THE JAMES FOUNDATION. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE ONE FOUR-YEAR AND ONE TWO-YEAR, RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIP IS AVAILABLE TO EACH HIGH SCHOOL WITH A VALUE OF $5,000 PER YEAR ($2,500 PER SEMESTER). SCHOLARS MUST MAINTAIN A 3.2 ON A 4.0 SCALE IN THE MAJOR COURSE OF STUDY, AND AN OVERALL GPA EQUIVALENT TO 3.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE BY THE END OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR. SCHOLARS MUST SUBMIT GRADES AND UPCOMING SEMESTER SCHEDULED EACH SEMESTER. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
6% of grants went outside Indiana.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Parks Foundation | Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $3,000,000 |
| Canterbury School | Fort Wayne, IN | Fine arts campaign | $1,000,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | College health professions | $1,000,000 |
| Vincent Village | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $500,000 |
| Dekalb Central Foundation | Waterloo, IN | Dekalb central early learning - preschool programming | $425,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarships | $300,000 |
| Dekalb County Courthouse | Auburn, IN | Courthouse barrier wall | $246,600 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Indianapolis, IN | Operational support | $200,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic | Fort Wayne, IN | Music is fundemental | $200,000 |
| Neighborhood Health | Washington, DC | Oxford street project | $200,000 |
| Growing Lives Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | General operation | $125,000 |
| National Parks Foundation | Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| The Arc of Northeast Indiana (Easterseals Rise) | Fort Wayne, IN | Esports / trine collaboration | $120,000 |
| Questa Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | Scholarship support | $110,000 |
| Arts United | Fort Wayne, IN | Arts resiliency fund | $100,000 |
| Bridge of Grace | Fort Wayne, IN | Hope unleased capital campaign | $100,000 |
| Kendallville Restoration Inc | Kendallville, IN | Programming / operations support | $100,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation Indiana | Indianapolis, IN | Wish support - indiana | $100,000 |
| The Brandon Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $100,000 |
| YWCA Northeast Indiana | Fort Wayne, IN | Domestic violence programming | $85,000 |
| Early Childhood Alliance | Fort Wayne, IN | Spark a future sponsorship | $77,707 |
| Summit Equestrian Center | Fort Wayne, IN | Cavalry program for veterans | $75,000 |
| The Rescue Mission | Fort Wayne, IN | Operational and programming support for charis house | $75,000 |
| Bridge of Grace | Fort Wayne, IN | Early learning center operations | $50,000 |
| Community Harvest Food Bank | Fort Wayne, IN | Program and operations support | $50,000 |
| Scan | Fort Wayne, IN | Programming support | $50,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic | Fort Wayne, IN | Sponsorship support | $37,700 |
| Fort Wayne Children's Choir | Fort Wayne, IN | Scholarship support for participants | $25,000 |
| Garrett Museum of Art | Garrett, IN | Special exhibit / traveling exhibit fund | $25,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Roanoke, IN | Annual programming support | $20,000 |
| Kate's Kart | Fort Wayne, IN | Book support | $15,000 |
| Community Foundation of Dekalb | Auburn, IN | Funding for transforming communities / lilly endowment match | $10,000 |
| Euell a Wilson Center | Fort Wayne, IN | Programming support | $10,000 |
| Humane Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $10,000 |
| Mad Anthony Foundation Red Jacket | Fort Wayne, IN | Operation support | $10,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation Indiana | Indianapolis, IN | Approved future grant | $10,000 |
| Mlk Montessori | Fort Wayne, IN | Programming support | $10,000 |
| Pbs | Fort Wayne, IN | Matching challenge | $10,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Golf outing | $8,500 |
| Alex Leon - Indiana University Bloo | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Taylor University | Upland, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Elmeria Stutzman - Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Emma Welbaum - University of Saint | Fort Wayne, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $7,500 |
| Dekalb County Community Orchestra | Auburn, IN | Program support | $7,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Fort Wayne History Center | Fort Wayne, IN | K-12 school admissions | $5,000 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic | Fort Wayne, IN | General operations | $4,000 |
| Hope College | Holland, MI | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Dekalb High School Foundation | Waterloo, IN | Professional development | $2,000 |
| Auburn Community Band | Auburn, IN | Expenses for music and venues for 2023 season | $1,000 |
| Auburn Fire Fighters Association | Auburn, IN | Firefighter scholarship fund | $1,000 |
| Sexual Assault Treatment Center | Fort Wayne, IN | Warm & cozy sponsorship | $1,000 |
| Tri Kappa | Auburn, IN | Triathalon | $500 |
The return also lists 12 grants to individuals ($50,000). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questa Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $5,000,000 |
| National Parks Foundation | Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $3,000,000 |
| Canterbury School | Fort Wayne, IN | Fine arts campaign | $2,000,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | College health professions | $2,000,000 |
| YMCA Dekalb County | Auburn, IN | Operations | $2,000,000 |
| Dekalb Central Foundation | Waterloo, IN | Dekalb central early learning - preschool programming | $1,700,000 |
| Vincent Village | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $1,500,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Indianapolis, IN | Operational support | $800,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic | Fort Wayne, IN | Music is fundemental | $600,000 |
| Neighborhood Health | Washington, DC | Oxford street project | $600,000 |
| Art's United | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital expansion / rennovation | $400,000 |
| Bridge of Grace | Fort Wayne, IN | Housing project | $400,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation Indiana | Indianapolis, IN | Wish support - indiana | $300,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Books and beyond scholarship | $300,000 |
| Oak Farm Montessori | Avilla, IN | Operations | $250,000 |
| The Arc of Northeast Indiana (Easterseals Rise) | Fort Wayne, IN | Esports / trine collaboration | $240,000 |
| The Brandon Foundation | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $200,000 |
| National Parks Foundation | Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $125,000 |
| Community Harvest Food Bank | Fort Wayne, IN | Program and operations support | $100,000 |
| Kendallville Restoration Inc | Kendallville, IN | Programming / operations support | $100,000 |
| Bridge of Grace | Fort Wayne, IN | Early learning operational support | $50,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes | Roanoke, IN | Annual programming support | $40,000 |
| Garrett Museum of Art | Garrett, IN | Special exhibit / traveling exhibit fund | $25,000 |
| Humane Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, IN | Capital campaign support | $20,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Alex Leon - Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Alex Leon - Indiana University Bloo | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Taylor University | Upland, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Taylor University | Upland, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Elmeria Stutzman - Trine University | Angola, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Emma Welbaum - University of Saint | Fort Wayne, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
| Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $2,500 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,862,007 | 115 |
| 2024 | $11,691,680 | 113 |
| 2023 | $11,458,872 | 485 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Apr 28, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202621179349101907
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 45-2195649
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.