Cornelius Family Foundation Inc
Cornelius Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Zionsville, Indiana. Established in 1997, the foundation was founded by James M. Cornelius, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+27.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$704K
-11.6% YoY
Grant Count
18
+63.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
-46.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornelius Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $101K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on:
- Higher education
- Roman Catholic churches and organizations
- Human services and nonprofit human services
- Poverty alleviation
- Christian nonprofits
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants across its focus areas, with particular emphasis on education and human services organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Indiana
- New York
- Missouri
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $1,527,847
Annual Giving: $796,000 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,940,291 | $1,527,847 | $1,400,053 |
| Revenue | $1,121,180 | $947,241 | $1,918,941 |
| Expenses | $708,736 | $819,447 | $3,063,809 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $708,007 | $800,519 | $3,000,326 |
| Net Investment Income | $120,451 | $946,006 | $1,917,509 |
| Distributable Amount | $101,473 | $72,227 | $122,542 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land ($160,000), St Alphousus Liguori Catholic Church ($150,000), Eternal Word Television Network ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF INDIANAPOLIS INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| BISHOP SIMON BRUTE COLLEGE SEMINARY INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| ETERNAL WORD TELEVISION NETWORK IRONDALE, AL | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| MARIA LANAKILA CATHOLIC CHURCH LAHAINA, HI | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| ST ALPHOUSUS LIGUORI CATHOLIC CHURCH SAINT LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE | $150,000 |
| THE WORD AMONG US FREDERICK, MD | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| SUMMER STOCK STAGE INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
James M. Cornelius - Founder, Chairman, and Registered Agent
James M. Cornelius is the recently retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb. He previously had a 28-year career with Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, retiring from the Board of Directors and as Chief Financial Officer in 1995. He earned a BA in accounting (Magna Cum Laude) and an MBA from Michigan State University and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Finance Corps. He has received honorary Doctorate degrees from Michigan State University, the University of Indianapolis, and Marian University, and has received numerous civic and philanthropic awards. He is a long-time resident of Zionsville, Indiana.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES M CORNELIUS | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| KATHLEEN M CORNELIUS | VP/SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ANDREW JAMES CORNELIUS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LINDSAY ANNE HARMON | DIRECTOR | 9 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 5037 Zionsville, IN 46077-5037
Telephone: 317-826-7240
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cornelius Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's giving priorities focus primarily on: • Higher education • Roman Catholic churches and organizations • Human services and nonprofit human services • Poverty alleviation • Christian nonprofits • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Cornelius Family Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $796,000 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing from 2023) • Typical award range: $1,000–$1,000,000 • Average and median grant amounts are not publicly specified The foundation actively distributes grants across its focus areas, with particular emphasis on education and human services organizations.
Where does Cornelius Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Indiana • New York • Missouri
What size grants does Cornelius Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Cornelius Family Foundation Inc awarded 18 grants totaling $704K — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cornelius Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cornelius Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $101K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cornelius Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cornelius Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2030709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cornelius Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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