Chaffee Family Foundation Inc
CHAFFEE FAMILY FOUNDATION INC is a private foundation based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Its website describes a mission of supporting educational initiatives that enrich lives through learning opportunities; its 2025 filing reports grants primarily to Indiana recipients, including organizations working in education, housing, health, food assistance, and other community services.
Key facts about Chaffee Family Foundation Inc
In short: Chaffee Family Foundation Inc gave $283K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Indiana. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 45-4835368
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $283,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- Average grant
- $10,107
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (10 of 28, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,837,192
- Primary geography
- Indiana (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website says eligible applicants are notified each June about whether their project will be funded; it does not…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$283K
-21.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-32.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chaffee Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $349K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Chaffee Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 28 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 83% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it supports educational initiatives of charitable organizations to promote learning, knowledge, and growth for individuals and families. It describes “teaching people to fish” as a guiding principle and says it looks for organizations with experience delivering programs and projects with detailed plans and budgets.
The 2025 filing also shows support for a range of Indiana organizations. For example, Vincent Village describes its work as providing shelter, advocacy, affordable housing, and supportive services to homeless families. Early Childhood Alliance says it promotes and provides early childhood care and education; Matthew 25 describes providing free primary health care to uninsured, low-income residents; and Community Harvest Food Bank says it distributes food to people and families in need. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $283,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Review Cycle
The website says eligible applicants are notified each June about whether their project will be funded; it does not specify an application deadline.
How to Apply
for eligible organizations: applicants must be Ohio-based 501(c)(3) public charities or qualifying tax-exempt educational entities, provide proof of status, and propose an Ohio project that promotes learning. The website says eligible applications are reviewed against factors including intended outcomes, number of beneficiaries, long-term impact, feasibility, and probability of success; funding may be full or partial, and a new application is required for each request. The website also says athletic facilities or equipment and political initiatives are not supported.
Ready to take the next step with Chaffee Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports only Ohio organizations and learning-opportunity projects within Ohio, and that organizations and projects outside Ohio are ineligible. However, the 2025 filing reports that 96% of grant dollars went to Indiana recipients, 2% to California recipients, and 2% to Tennessee recipients. The filing lists grants to Fort Wayne and other Indiana organizations, as well as a $5,000 grant to Prager University in Sherman Oaks, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $257K (2020) to $361K (2024). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $283K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Erins House ($50K). Together the top 10 received $220K.
Grant Size Distribution
129 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 119 grants of 129 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Erins House Fort Wayne, IN | Support for children, teens, and their families who have suffered the death of a loved one. | $50,000 |
| Vincent Village Fort Wayne, IN | Provides a unique array of services that meet the needs of families who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness with the ultimate goal of gaining permanent housing. | $50,000 |
| Turnstone Fort Wayne, IN | To provide therapeutic, educational, wellness and recreational programs to empower people with disabilities. | $35,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana Fort Wayne, IN | Mentoring programs to guide youth to their own economic success. | $25,000 |
| St Michael Lutheran Church Fort Wayne, IN | Connecting People to Jesus and Others. | $20,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Fort Wayne, IN | A doctors office on wheels, bringing wellness visits, vaccinations, and childhood health education into communities that need help accessing pediatric care. | $20,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN | Inspire young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. | $5,000 |
| Early Childhood Alliance Fort Wayne, IN | Foster a strong community by supporting equitable access to quality early childhood care and education. | $5,000 |
| Community Harvest Food Bank-Nei Fort Wayne, IN | Distributes millions of pounds of food to public. Individuals and families in need. | $5,000 |
| Fort Wayne Animal Control Fort Wayne, IN | To serve the community in a humane, public safety capacity whiel working to keep pets with loving families while providing education and resources. | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,837,192 | $283,805 | $349,824 | $283,000 |
| 2024 | $4,903,211 | $266,970 | $437,672 | $361,000 |
| 2023 | $5,073,913 | $519,139 | $378,314 | $313,200 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,837,192 | $4,903,211 | $5,073,913 |
| Revenue | $283,805 | $266,970 | $519,139 |
| Expenses | $349,824 | $437,672 | $378,314 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $290,991 | $368,959 | $321,030 |
| Net Investment Income | $224,972 | $209,871 | $461,855 |
| Distributable Amount | $348,595 | $320,702 | $306,660 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen J. Chaffee as president; Troy A. Chaffee and Bradley C. Chaffee as vice presidents; Scott W. Chaffee as secretary; Todd V. Chaffee as treasurer; and Charles V. Chaffee as director.
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc is led by Karen J. Chaffee, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen J. Chaffee
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles V. Chaffee
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bradley C. Chaffee
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott W. Chaffee
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Todd V. Chaffee
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Troy A. Chaffee
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Clifford W. Chaffee (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1029A West State Blvd Suite A, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Phone: (260) 203-5098
Website: https://chaffeefamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Chaffee Family Foundation Inc
How much does Chaffee Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc gave $283K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $361K across 24 grants.
What is Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,107, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chaffee Family Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does Chaffee Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (22 grants).
Does Chaffee Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 28 grants with a stated purpose on Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Erins House ($50,000), Vincent Village ($50,000) and Turnstone ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chaffee Family Foundation Inc?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc reported $4.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $291K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $349K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Chaffee Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website says it supports educational initiatives of charitable organizations to promote learning, knowledge, and growth for individuals and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chaffee Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4835368. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Chaffee Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Chaffee Family Foundation Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chaffee Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Parkview Health System Inc
Fort Wayne, IN
Parkview Health System funds community health programs and events addressing needs such as health-care access, mental health, maternal and child health, substance use, and other social drivers of health, with priority for underserved populations in its Indiana and northwest Ohio service area. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $2.8 million, with a median of $35,112; its mini-grants offer up to $5,000. It accepts applications through online forms for its funding programs, though it generally does not provide responsive grantmaking.
Assets
$2.5B
Grants
23
Total Given
$5.6M
The James Foundation Inc
Auburn, IN
The James Foundation funds education and scholarships, arts and culture, and innovative projects that improve quality of life, primarily in Northeast Indiana, while also supporting some national organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $10,000. Its website says it is not accepting applications at this time; the 2025 filing describes a preliminary grant application.
Assets
$10.6M
Grants
71
Total Given
$8.9M
Lilly Endowment Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Lilly Endowment funds community development, education and youth, and religion, with a national reach—especially in religion—and a particular commitment to Indianapolis and Indiana. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$105.9B
Grants
2,285
Total Given
$3.9B
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Indianapolis, IN
The NCAA funds college sports, including member conferences and schools, championships, student-athlete programs, coaching and athletics administration, and academic initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $61.9 million, with a median of $16,228; recipients were across the United States, with the largest reported shares in Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, and Alabama. The profile does not state whether the NCAA accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
591
Total Given
$627.8M
Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc
Indianapolis, IN
CICF supports a range of charitable work through its funds and partner entities, including youth programs, housing, social services, environmental equity, and services for older adults, primarily in Central Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. CICF does not award grants directly; most competitive opportunities use its grants portal, while the Hamilton County Multi-Year Partner Grant is invitation-only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$583.5M
Grants
525
Total Given
$31.1M
University of Notre Dame du Lac
Notre Dame, IN
The University of Notre Dame supports Catholic education, student life, academics, athletics, research, and nonprofit and institutional projects; its 2025 grants had a median of $30,480, though amounts varied widely. Giving is concentrated in Florida and Indiana, with support also going to organizations elsewhere in the U.S.; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited general requests.
Assets
$29.6B
Grants
462
Total Given
$84.8M
United Way of Central Indiana Inc
Indianapolis, IN
United Way of Central Indiana funds basic needs, family opportunity, economic mobility, early learning, housing, and human-services-sector support, primarily in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, and Putnam counties. Its 2025 grants had a median of $16,238, while current Basic Needs and Family Opportunity awards range from $8,500 to $150,000; those funds accept applications from nonprofits outside its accredited partner network, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$255.2M
Grants
370
Total Given
$29.9M
Lumina Foundation for Education Inc
Indianapolis, IN
Lumina Foundation funds research, policy, technical assistance, and initiatives that expand equitable access to education and credentials beyond high school, with a national focus. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $2.51 million, with a median of $12,500. It says it does not accept unsolicited requests; funding is primarily proactive, with occasional open calls for proposals.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
357
Total Given
$30.0M
Round Room Gives Inc
Fishers, IN
Round Room Gives supports community organizations and local charitable activities, including education, family services, health, and animal welfare, with grants across about 40 states. In 2024, grants ranged from $250 to $140,000, with a median of $3,452. It accepts applications through an online form on an ongoing basis; applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations with a TCC employee sponsor.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
357
Total Given
$1.8M
Indianapolis Center for Congregations Inc
Indianapolis, IN
The Center funds Indiana congregations’ focused projects, including resource needs such as consulting, planning, software, and education, as well as eligible equity-related work. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000 (ranging from $5,077 to $100,000); Resource Grants are matching grants of up to $25,000. Applicants are directed to contact a resource consultant, but whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.
Assets
$62.6M
Grants
336
Total Given
$7.6M
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
Indianapolis, IN
The Trust funds nonprofits serving people in need, animal welfare, conservation and environmental awareness, and community enrichment, primarily in Marion County, Indiana, and Maricopa County, Arizona; environmental grants may support work across Indiana and Arizona. Most grants are under $250,000, with a median of $35,000; listed maximums are $250,000 for non-environmental requests and $10,000 for environmental requests. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$441.1M
Grants
328
Total Given
$22.7M
Nicholas H Noyes Jr Memorial
Carmel, IN
The foundation funds charitable organizations and educational institutions in arts and culture, education, health and human services, civic and community service, religion, and environmental initiatives, primarily in greater Indianapolis and central Indiana, including Indiana colleges and universities. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $300,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through a letter of intent during designated application windows; full proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$157.9M
Grants
305
Total Given
$6.4M
More Funders in Indiana
Chaffee Family Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?