Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation
The Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Its 2021 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation has terminated or is winding down; its future grantmaking and application process should not be assumed to be active.
Key facts about Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation
In short: Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation gave $20.8M across 44 grants in 2021 (avg $472K), mostly in Indiana. 22% of 2021 grantees were new. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 31-1097946
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021
- Annual giving (2021)
- $20,753,913
- Grants made (2021)
- 44
- Average grant
- $471,680
- Median grant
- $164,467
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (8 of 36, 2021)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing says the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing listed January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; 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 2021 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$20.8M
+1238.4% YoY
Grant Count
44
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$472K
+1147.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2021
In 2021, 8 of 36 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $465K; repeat grants $608K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $125K repeat.
- 72% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2021). 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for a range of Fort Wayne organizations. For example, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art says its mission is to collect, preserve, and present American and related art to engage and educate audiences; Science Central describes itself as a regional resource for hands-on science education; and the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre says it aims to enrich the community through live theatre. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $20,753,913. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,461,989, with a median of $164,467. Notable awards included $2,461,989 to Purdue University Fort Wayne, $2,430,113 to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, $2,382,557 to the Fort Wayne Zoological Society, $1,981,676 to Arts United Agency, and $1,671,849 to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The listed purposes for these largest awards were program support.
Review Cycle
The filing listed January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. These cycles are past as of September 28, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2021 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana. The filing’s application restrictions specified that applicant organizations must serve the Fort Wayne metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 44 itemized 2021 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2020) to $20.8M (2021). In 2021 it made 44 grants totaling $20.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Fort Wayne Philharmonic ($3.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $18.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 144 (69%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $2,461,989 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $2,430,113 |
| Fort Wayne Zoological Society Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $2,382,557 |
| Arts United Agency Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $1,981,676 |
| Fort Wayne Museum of Art Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $1,671,849 |
| Science Central Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $941,875 |
| Fort Wayne Civic Theatre Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $813,967 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ne Indiana Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $794,186 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic Fort Wayne, IN | Endowment Grant | $686,802 |
| Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $600,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,918,800 | $20,961,713 | $20,753,913 | 44 | Not provided |
| 2020 | $485,365 | $1,723,645 | $1,550,600 | 41 | $10,184,023 |
| 2019 | Not provided | Not provided | $2,117,318 | 59 | Not provided |
| Metric | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $10,184,023 | — |
| Revenue | $1,918,800 | $485,365 | — |
| Expenses | $20,961,713 | $1,723,645 | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | $20,819,266 | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,796,353 | $349,778 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $726,946 | $855,592 | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2021
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists David Meyer, identified with a footnote, and Lake City Bank as co-trustees.
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's 2021 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Lake City Bank
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$45K (2019) → $50K (2021)
David Meyer - See Footnote
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $50K, to Lake City Bank (Co-Trustee).
Contact
Application contact: Co Monarch Capital Management
Mailing address: 127 West Berry Street Ste 402, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 422-2765
Website: https://auerfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation
How much does Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation give each year?
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation gave $20.8M across 44 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $1.6M across 41 grants.
What is Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's typical grant size?
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $164,467, and its average grant was $471,680, across 44 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation that year got $465K on average.
Where does Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation give grants?
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (43 grants).
Does Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (35 grants).
Who are Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's largest grantees?
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Fort Wayne Philharmonic ($3,116,915 across 2 grants), Purdue University Fort Wayne ($3,058,792 across 2 grants) and Fort Wayne Zoological Society ($2,979,360 across 2 grants), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for a range of Fort Wayne organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation?
The filing says the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $727K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's EIN?
Edward D & Ione Auer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1097946. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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