Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wabash, Indiana. In 2025, it awarded 37 grants totaling $289,800, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Indiana.
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc gave $290K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Indiana. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $289,800
- -54.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -9.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,832
- -49.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,516,498
- +19.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (5 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists no specific application form and directs applicants to contact the foundation. Giving is predominately in the area where its employees live and work.
- Contact
Application contact: Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 443, Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: (260) 563-3171
Email: mford@fordmeterbox.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Wabash County Wabash County YMCA Endowment ($100K). Together the top 10 received $250K.
Grant Size Distribution
197 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 176 grants of 197 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 1% to recipients in Alabama. The foundation states that its giving is predominately in the areas where its employees live and work.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 36 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 477% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2025) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $290K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Wabash County Wabash County YMCA Endowment North Manchester, IN | Wabash County YMCA | $100,000 |
| Learn More Center Wabash, IN | Wabash Location Furniture & Tech Equipment | $50,000 |
| Josiah Whites Wabash, IN | Music Therapy Program | $35,000 |
| Wabash County Museum Wabash, IN | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Wabash County YMCA Wabash, IN | Field of Dreams & Annual Campaign | $10,000 |
| Living Well in Wabash County COA Inc Wabash, IN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana Fort Wayne, IN | General Fund | $6,000 |
| Junior Achievement Serving Greater Wabash Wabash, IN | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Manchester Symphony Orchestra North Manchester, IN | 3RD Payment of 3 Year Pledge | $5,000 |
| The David Kunkel Foundation Inc Wabash, IN | Kunkel Cruise-in | $4,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,516,498 | $540,317 | $290,886 | $289,800 | 37 | $289,800 | $40,317 | $60,814 |
| 2024 | $1,267,067 | $553,637 | $634,146 | $633,400 | 41 | $633,400 | $53,637 | $67,513 |
| 2023 | $1,347,576 | $558,809 | $1,078,607 | $1,077,770 | 44 | $1,077,770 | $58,809 | $83,671 |
| 2022 | $1,867,374 | $511,247 | $826,506 | $826,350 | 41 | $826,350 | $11,247 | $107,431 |
| 2021 | $2,182,633 | $703,038 | $820,942 | $820,900 | 34 | $820,900 | $3,038 | $114,270 |
| 2020 | $2,300,537 | $720,853 | $858,496 | $858,200 | 45 | — | $20,853 | $119,730 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. The Learn More Center Inc describes its mission as providing educational services and a learning community for adult learners, including support related to workforce readiness, adult basic education, and literacy. Science Central Inc describes itself as a regional resource providing hands-on science education for people of all ages.
Other 2025 grantees described their work as supporting community services, families, and the performing arts. For example, Wabash County United Fund Inc says it raises donations and distributes money to community service agencies; Babe of Wabash County Inc says it connects families with educational and physical resources; and Wabash Valley Dance Theater Inc says it provides dance training and fosters appreciation of the performing arts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $289,800. Grants ranged from $250 to $100,000, with a median award of $2,000.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $100,000 to the Community Foundation of Wabash County for the Wabash County YMCA; $50,000 to the Learn More Center for furniture and technology equipment at its Wabash location; and $35,000 to Josiah Whites for a music therapy program. Other notable awards included $25,000 to the Wabash County Museum for its general fund and $10,000 each to the Wabash County YMCA and Living Well in Wabash County COA Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Mark S. Ford, chairman; Daniel H. Ford, vice chair; Lance Agness, treasurer; and Marta Gidley, secretary.
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc is led by Mark S. Ford, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark S. Ford
Chairman
Treasurer → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel H. Ford
Vice Chair
Chariman → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lance E. Agness
Treasurer
Vice Chair → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marta D. Gidley
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc
How much does Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc give each year?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc gave $290K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $633K across 41 grants.
What is Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $7,832, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc give grants?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wabash, IN (23 grants), North Manchester, IN (6 grants) and Fort Wayne, IN (3 grants).
Does Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Wabash County Wabash County YMCA Endowment ($100,000), Learn More Center ($50,000) and Josiah Whites ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $290K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1253080. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ford-meter-box-foundation-inc-morg_aa9570ca5deb431a90e58cb6b86ba705
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_351253080_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ford Meter Box Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ford-meter-box-foundation-inc-morg_aa9570ca5deb431a90e58cb6b86ba705},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Ford Meter Box 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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