Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc
The Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Hope, Indiana. Its stated mission is to provide scholarship opportunities for people under 27 pursuing higher education, trade programs, job training, certifications, or job-specific tools, and to support nonprofits that directly benefit students in its local community.
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc gave $77K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $76,683
- -11.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +4.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,486
- -15.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $1,199,445
- +1.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says 2027 scholarship applications open November 1, 2026, and directs applicants to complete an application and include all requested documents. The 2024 filing lists a completed paper application, a high school transcript or GED completion, and the first page of the FAFSA form as required materials. It lists Indiana residency, ages 17–27, and preference for Bartholomew County and Hope residents as restrictions. The website also lists preferences for Hauser current or past graduates, trade or service industries, landscape or horticulture interests, descendants of donors’ families, and children of or employees or vendors of the business the donors founded.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 15, 2027, as the scholarship deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 15, 2027, as the scholarship deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Estes Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 161, Hope, IN 47246
Phone: (812) 546-6181
Email: rikki@estesmaterialsales.com
Website: https://estesfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vincennes University ($15K). Together the top 10 received $49K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 individual scholarships ($24,433), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Hope, Indiana. Its website specifies Indiana residency for scholarship applicants and gives preference to residents of Bartholomew County, especially Hope. In the 2025 filing, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 18% to recipients in Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
How Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc gives
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 324% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 138% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2022) to $86K (2024). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $77K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $24,433 |
| Vincennes University Vincennes, IN | Scholarship | $15,000 |
| Wyotech Laramie, WY | Scholarship | $14,000 |
| Students' Fund of Hope Hope, IN | Scholarship | $4,500 |
| Grooming School of Indiana Greenwood, IN | Scholarship | $4,500 |
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN | Scholarship | $3,000 |
| Hope Elementary Hope, IN | STEM Lab | $2,250 |
| Future Jets Biddy Basketball Travel Team Hope, IN | Program Support | $1,500 |
| Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN | Scholarship | $1,500 |
| University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | Scholarship | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,199,445 | $52,290 | $104,477 | $76,683 | 22 | $80,811 | $37,979 | $58,453 |
| 2024 | $1,179,765 | $47,085 | $109,868 | $86,331 | 21 | $88,681 | $29,822 | $57,869 |
| 2023 | $1,152,654 | $35,509 | $87,941 | $56,114 | 14 | $58,392 | $15,920 | $54,692 |
| 2022 | $1,129,645 | $1,136,121 | $21,862 | $18,088 | 3 | $19,061 | $1,716 | $47,851 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $58K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it aims to ease the costs of higher education, trade programs, job training, certifications, and job-specific tools for individuals under 27. Its website describes scholarship opportunities for trade and service careers, short accredited programs, and bachelor’s or graduate-level study. It also offers grants to nonprofits that directly benefit students in the local community.
Among its 2025 recipients, the University of Indianapolis describes its mission as championing lifelong learning through relevant and innovative education. Indiana Wesleyan University describes itself as a Christ-centered academic community committed to developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership. Hanover College says it is committed to providing a liberal arts education, while Oakland City University describes its mission as providing higher education in a Christian-based learning environment. Taylor University describes its mission as developing servant-leaders.
Grantmaking
In its 2025 filing, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $76,683. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $17,173, with a median of $1,500. The largest awards included $17,173 to an individual recipient Community College for a scholarship, $15,000 to Vincennes University for a scholarship, and $14,000 to WyoTech for a scholarship. Other awards included $4,500 to Students’ Fund of Hope for scholarships, $4,500 to Grooming School of Indiana for scholarships, and $2,250 to Hope Elementary for a STEM lab.
The foundation’s website reports that it awarded $103,000 to 36 students in 2025. The filing lists grants to organizations and individual recipients; these figures are reported separately.
The website says scholarship applicants may reapply annually and that award amounts vary based on the number of applications, available funds, and fit with the foundation’s mission. It says incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rikki Hege as president, Brenton McKinney as vice president, Andrea Hatton as secretary and treasurer, and Rex Baxter as director.
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc is led by Rikki Hege, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rikki Hege
President
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rex Baxter
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Hatton
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenton McKinney
Vice President
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc
How much does Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc give each year?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc gave $77K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $86K across 21 grants.
What is Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,486, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc give grants?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wyoming (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hope, IN (3 grants).
Does Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (20 grants).
Who are Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Vincennes University ($15,000), Wyotech ($14,000) and Students' Fund of Hope ($4,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 individual scholarships ($24,433), which are not listed by name. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $81K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $58K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation says it aims to ease the costs of higher education, trade programs, job training, certifications, and job-specific tools for individuals under 27. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s website says 2027 scholarship applications open November 1, 2026, and directs applicants to complete an application and include all requested documents. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's EIN?
Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-3061439. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/garry-and-mary-lou-estes-foundation-inc-morg_223b4ac5d4ba4c92904da7f22f78593a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_883061439_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Garry and Mary Lou Estes Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/garry-and-mary-lou-estes-foundation-inc-morg_223b4ac5d4ba4c92904da7f22f78593a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Garry and Mary Lou Estes 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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