Dean & Barbara White
Dean & Barbara White is a private foundation based in Merrillville, Indiana. Its 2024 grants supported organizations and projects including YMCA expansion and capital work, a cancer center, education, community facilities, and first-responder training.
Dean & Barbara White at a glance
In short: Dean & Barbara White gave $71.8M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $3.3M), mostly in Indiana. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $71,790,961
- -2.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +22.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,263,226
- -20.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $777,742
- Total assets
- $766,258,876
- -6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (8 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dean & Barbara White
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 701 E 83Rd Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410
Phone: (219) 680-8041
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dean & Barbara White funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Crossroads YMCA ($33.8M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $71.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 22 grants of 86 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana, 6% to Kentucky, and 2% to Illinois. The filing also reports shares of 0% for New York and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dean & Barbara White open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 17 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $883K; repeat grants $7.2M. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $3.2M repeat.
- 35% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 186% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 181% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $17.3M (2020) to $73.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $71.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Crossroads YMCA Crown Point, IN | Support for YMCA Regional Expansion Throughout Northwest Indiana | $19,000,000 |
| Crossroads YMCA Crown Point, IN | Support for ymca capital projects including the triangle hills camp and the sports center. | $14,000,000 |
| Purdue for Life Foundation West Lafayette, IN | Dean v white real estate finance program, mitch daniels school of business, wls head of hospitality & tourism management endowment | $10,871,000 |
| Franciscan Health Foundation Crown Point, IN | Dean & Barbara White Cancer Center | $10,000,000 |
| Shelby Community Park Foundation Shelbyville, KY | Support for the establishment and construction of the shelby community center | $4,423,200 |
| Multi Agency Academic Coop Valparaiso, IN | Expand educational opportunities and fund training for northwest Indiana's first responders | $4,000,000 |
| NW Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Hobart, IN | General Support | $2,500,000 |
| Legacy Foundation Merrillville, IN | Dean and Barbara White Community Center | $2,000,000 |
| Legacy Foundation Merrillville, IN | Dolly parton imagination library fund, tolleston opportunity campus gift Fund, Lake county community fund | $1,248,528 |
| Boys Girls Clubs of Greater NW Indi Portage, IN | Our Community Our Club Campaign | $1,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $766,258,876 | $26,707,204 | $76,489,452 | $71,790,961 | 22 | $72,455,939 | $23,481,242 | $39,932,920 |
| 2023 | $816,041,124 | $28,351,686 | $78,745,575 | $73,595,878 | 18 | $74,260,189 | $24,166,300 | $41,358,643 |
| 2022 | $866,435,013 | $105,867,538 | $32,297,959 | $27,413,329 | 19 | $28,400,535 | $33,989,739 | $41,440,946 |
| 2021 | $792,865,434 | $81,802,743 | $29,043,164 | $25,062,550 | 12 | $26,639,379 | $68,310,619 | $39,738,963 |
| 2020 | $740,105,855 | $406,568,633 | $19,435,390 | $17,290,925 | 15 | — | $19,118,860 | $34,067,339 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dean & Barbara White reported a distributable amount of $39.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for health care, education, community facilities, youth services, and first-responder training. Among its grantees, Crossroads YMCA describes its work as building strong kids, families, and communities through programs promoting healthy lifestyles, values, leadership, and community interaction. Big Shoulders Fund says it supports underserved schools providing quality, values-based education and extended its programming to Northwest Indiana in 2020. Legacy Foundation says it distributes grants for community-enhancing projects and other charitable purposes.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $71,790,961. Grant amounts ranged from $2,750 to $19,000,000, with a median of $777,742.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $19 million and $14 million to Crossroads YMCA for Northwest Indiana expansion and capital projects, respectively; $10,871,000 to Purdue for Life Foundation for programs and an endowment at Purdue’s business school; and $10 million to Franciscan Health Foundation for the Dean & Barbara White Cancer Center. Other grants included $4,423,200 to Shelby Community Park Foundation for a community center, $4 million to Multi Agency Academic Coop for educational opportunities and first-responder training, and $2.5 million to Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth E White as vice president and treasurer, Craig White as president and secretary, and Dennis Kackos as assistant secretary.
Dean & Barbara White is led by Craig White, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Craig White
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Kackos
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth E. White
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bruce W. White (2020–2022) — Vice President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Dean & Barbara White
How much does Dean & Barbara White give each year?
Dean & Barbara White gave $71.8M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $73.6M across 18 grants.
What is Dean & Barbara White's typical grant size?
Dean & Barbara White's median grant in 2024 was $777,742, and its average grant was $3,263,226, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dean & Barbara White that year got $883K on average.
Where does Dean & Barbara White give grants?
Dean & Barbara White gives mostly in Indiana: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Crown Point, IN (6 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants), West Lafayette, IN (2 grants) and Merrillville, IN (2 grants).
Does Dean & Barbara White give general operating support?
Yes: 23% of Dean & Barbara White's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Dean & Barbara White's largest grantees?
Dean & Barbara White's largest 2024 grantees include Crossroads YMCA ($33,755,483 across 3 grants), Purdue for Life Foundation ($11,371,000 across 2 grants) and Franciscan Health Foundation ($10,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dean & Barbara White?
Dean & Barbara White reported $766.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dean & Barbara White fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for health care, education, community facilities, youth services, and first-responder training. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dean & Barbara White?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dean & Barbara White's EIN?
Dean & Barbara White's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2015808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Dean & Barbara White accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dean & Barbara White funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dean-and-barbara-white-morg_318c78878159442e9a6bae610d3ea991
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352015808_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dean \& Barbara White funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dean-and-barbara-white-morg_318c78878159442e9a6bae610d3ea991},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Dean & Barbara White'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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