The Dean & Barbara White Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Merrillville, Indiana. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes. The foundation is supported by the Dean V White Trust and maintains offices at White Lodging's corporate headquarters in Merrillville.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$766.3M
-6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$71.8M
-2.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3.3M
-20.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to contribute to the sustainable economic and social wellbeing of Northwest Indiana and the surrounding area. Primary funding focuses include:
- Education (particularly K-12 schools and charter schools)
- Community and social services
- Health and wellness initiatives
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1.6 million
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Indiana, Illinois, and New York, with particular emphasis on Northwest Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $766,258,876
- Total giving: $71,790,961
- Total revenue: $26,707,204
- Total expenses: $76,489,452
Staffing:
- 2 employees (as of 2024)
Tax-Exempt Status:
- Tax-exempt since August 1998
- EIN: 35-2015808
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $766,258,876 | $816,041,124 | $866,435,013 |
| Revenue | $26,707,204 | $28,351,686 | $105,867,538 |
| Expenses | $76,489,452 | $78,745,575 | $32,297,959 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $72,455,939 | $74,260,189 | $28,400,535 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,481,242 | $24,166,300 | $33,989,739 |
| Distributable Amount | $39,932,920 | $41,358,643 | $41,440,946 |
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
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Craig White – President & Secretary
- Elizabeth E White – Vice President & Treasurer
- Dennis Kackos – Assistant Secretary
- William Hanna – Executive Director (appointed March 2021; compensation $475,000-$519,961)
William Hanna previously served as President and CEO of the Regional Development Authority and was selected to support the foundation's mission of contributing to sustainable economic and social wellbeing in Northwest Indiana.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH E WHITE | VP & TREAS | 1 | — |
| CRAIG WHITE | PRES & SEC | 1 | — |
| DENNIS KACKOS | ASST. SEC | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several significant commitments in recent years:
**$150 Million Catholic Education Initiative**: Committed $150 million over 10 years to the Big Shoulders Fund to benefit Catholic Diocese of Gary schools, representing a record-breaking donation for the foundation.
Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to award $150M for Catholic education\**Cancer Center Support**: Provided $10 million to Franciscan Health Foundation for the Dean & Barbara White Cancer Center in Crown Point.
The Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation Commits Record $150M to Big\**YMCA Expansion**: Committed $33 million to Crossroads YMCA for regional expansion and capital projects throughout Northwest Indiana.
**Educational Infrastructure**: Supported playground improvements at Catholic elementary schools and expansion projects at regional schools.
The foundation continues to focus on legacy projects that support health, wellness, and economic sustainability in the Northwest Indiana region.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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—
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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