Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Columbus, Indiana. Its 2025 filing describes a range of community programs focused on entrepreneurship, economic development, and talent attraction and retention.
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc gave $188K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $188,400
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,467
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $740,481
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1390, Columbus, IN 47202-1390
Phone: (812) 379-4457
Website: https://columbusareachamber.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce ($24K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 64 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Indiana. The foundation is based in Columbus, Indiana, and its filing describes programs serving entrepreneurs in the Columbus, Indiana region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2022) to $519K (2023). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $188K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Chamber of Commerce | $24,000 |
| Greater Columbus Indiana EDC Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Local Economic Development Council | $16,000 |
| KLJ Outdoor Services Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Lemonaid Bros LLC Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Gaines Creative Expressions Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Aj's Daycare LLC Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Tacolumbus Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Irina Sorrels Academy LLC Seymour, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Roadmap Lodging Solutions Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
| Studio Shag Salon and Boutique Columbus, IN | Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses. | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $740,481 | $581,080 | $593,825 | $188,400 | 18 |
| 2024 | $724,852 | $845,908 | $601,514 | $200,200 | 22 |
| 2023 | $505,599 | $971,323 | $828,460 | $518,935 | 9 |
| 2022 | $384,306 | $236,523 | $163,885 | $13,499 | 2 |
| 2021 | $302,305 | $613,136 | $334,878 | $249,750 | 13 |
| 2020 | $240 | $93,387 | $159,891 | — | — |
| 2019 | $58,353 | $197,621 | $199,853 | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster entrepreneurship, drive economic development, and attract and retain talent. Its filing describes Columbus Propeller as a community makerspace; TIME as a program intended to build financial bridges and increase the likelihood of success for local minority entrepreneurs; and Columbus Catalyst as connecting startups, small-business owners, and aspiring founders with resources, mentorship, events, and community.
The 2025 filing reports grants to the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Columbus Indiana EDC, and grants whose stated purpose was to assist minority-owned businesses. The Chamber of Commerce describes its own mission as engaging members in economic growth and excellence by fostering an innovative business environment and a world-class community.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $188,400. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $24,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed grants were $24,000 to Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and $16,000 to Greater Columbus Indiana EDC. The filing also lists multiple $10,000 grants with the stated purpose of assisting minority-owned businesses, including awards to KLJ Outdoor Services, Lemonaid Bros LLC, Gaines Creative Expressions, and AJ’s Daycare LLC.
The foundation’s website describes no-cost business advising, mentoring, and professional services through its business-support initiatives. These program services are distinct from the grants reported in its filing; the available information does not specify an application process for the foundation’s grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cindy Frey as president and Matthew Carothers, Mandy Wyant, Kelsey DeClue, Jonas Howell, and Nick Sprague as board members.
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc is led by Cindy Frey, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cindy Frey
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mandy Wyant
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonas Howell
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Sprague
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelsey Declue
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Carothers
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Tara Board (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: John Sadtler (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael McIver (2021–2022) — Board Past Chair
- Former: Steven Engelstad (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Lisa Abendroth (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Redelman (2019–2021) — Board Past Chair
- Former: Tara James (2021) — Board Vice Chair
- Former: Karl Kissinger (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Mike McIver (2020) — Board Member
- Former: James Euler (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc
How much does Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc give each year?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc gave $188K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $200K across 22 grants.
What is Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,467, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc give grants?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, IN (14 grants) and Seymour, IN (4 grants).
Does Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Funds to Assist Minority Owned Businesses." (16 grants).
Who are Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce ($24,000), Greater Columbus Indiana EDC ($16,000) and KLJ Outdoor Services ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc reported $740K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $581K.
What does Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to foster entrepreneurship, drive economic development, and attract and retain talent. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check columbusareachamber.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's EIN?
Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7282642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- Added Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/columbus-area-chamber-foundation-inc-morg_5d874109f19f48cd88cb62b85bdbb431
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237282642_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/columbus-area-chamber-foundation-inc-morg_5d874109f19f48cd88cb62b85bdbb431},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Columbus Area Chamber Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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