Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation
The Hamer D. and Phyllis C. Shafer Foundation is a private foundation based in Muncie, Indiana. It supports charitable programs and organizations, with a stated emphasis on measurably improving communities—especially Muncie—and on education and the welfare of children.
Key facts about Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation
In short: Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation gave $432K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in Indiana. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 35-1997098
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $432,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $25,412
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (2 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $8,802,510
- Primary geography
- Indiana (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit the foundation’s grant application with the requested organizational and grant information. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The published schedule lists deadlines of December 1, March 1, June 1, and September 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.8M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$432K
-3.9% YoY
Grant Count
17
-5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $538K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 17 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to continue Hamer and Phyllis Shafer’s legacy by supporting programs that measurably better their communities, especially Muncie, and promote their charitable and cultural interests, particularly education and children’s welfare.
Its stated focus areas include arts and culture, education, environment, health and independence, human services, community affairs and benefit, and community improvement and development. The foundation says it considers requests for specific programs or projects, seed funding for new programs or endowments, annual operating support, and capital campaigns. Its guidelines exclude requests from organizations that are not IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s, applicants outside Indiana or Michigan, direct assistance to individuals, scholarships, booster organizations, and capital building projects.
Recent recipients illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. The Muncie Children’s Museum describes its work as operating a children’s museum, offering hands-on experiences, and complementing classroom learning. Greater Muncie Indiana Habitat for Humanity describes its mission as bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Cornerstone Center for the Arts says it promotes the arts and provides diverse programs in a safe learning environment, while Muncie Civic Theatre describes its work as promoting appreciation of theatre through productions and workshops.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $432,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $50,000 to Ball State University Foundation for “Payment 3 of 5 Performing Arts” and $50,000 to YMCA of Muncie for a capital campaign. Other notable grants included $45,000 to Shafer Leadership Academy, $40,000 to Greater Muncie Indiana Habitat for Humanity for its 2024 housing program, and $40,000 to Muncie Children’s Museum for a capital campaign and fourth-quarter holiday programming.
Review Cycle
The published schedule lists deadlines of December 1, March 1, June 1, and September 1. As of September 28, 2026, the March 1, June 1, and September 1, 2026 deadlines have passed; the next listed deadline is December 1.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its grants are generally awarded in Delaware County, Indiana, and the Traverse City, Michigan, area. Its 2024 filing states that awards are limited to organizations primarily in those areas. In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 5% to recipients in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $410K (2022) to $464K (2021). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $432K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ball State University Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $345K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 88 (84%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ball State University Foundation Muncie, IN | Payment 3 of 5 Performing Arts | $50,000 |
| YMCA of Muncie Muncie, IN | Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Shafer Leadership Academy Muncie, IN | Payment 3 of 3 | $45,000 |
| Greater Muncie Indiana Habitat for Humanity Muncie, IN | 2024 Housing Program | $40,000 |
| Muncie Children's Museum Muncie, IN | Capital CAMPAIGN4TH Quarter Holiday Programming | $40,000 |
| Cornerstone Center for the Arts Muncie, IN | Operations/Staffing | $30,000 |
| Muncie Civic Theatre Muncie, IN | Page to Stage Program | $30,000 |
| Cardinal Greenway Muncie, IN | Operations | $20,000 |
| Heart of Indiana United Way Muncie, IN | Road to Reading | $20,000 |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts Interlochen, MI | Endowment Phyllis C Shafer & Virginia B Ball | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,802,510 | $653,689 | $496,656 | $432,000 | 17 |
| 2023 | $8,647,930 | $416,333 | $508,338 | $449,400 | 18 |
| 2022 | $8,737,482 | $242,018 | $457,559 | $410,200 | 18 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,802,510 | $8,647,930 | $8,737,482 |
| Revenue | $653,689 | $416,333 | $242,018 |
| Expenses | $496,656 | $508,338 | $457,559 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $441,052 | $458,812 | $417,116 |
| Net Investment Income | $606,516 | $377,934 | $200,317 |
| Distributable Amount | $538,247 | $488,971 | $513,200 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Terry L. Walker as trustee, chairman and president; Christopher D. Fancher as trustee and secretary; Kenneth R. Briner as trustee and treasurer; Ray L. Chambers as trustee and second vice president; Jon H. Moll as trustee and vice president; and Andrew Dawson and Kevin Woehler as trustees.
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation is led by Terry L. Walker, Trustee, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Terry L. Walker
Trustee, Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher D. Fancher
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon H. Moll
Trustee & Vice President
Trustee → Trustee & Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth R. Briner
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ray L. Chambers
Trustee & Second Vice President
Trustee & Vice President → Trustee & Second Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Dawson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Woehler
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: Tammy Phillips
Mailing address: PO Box 1408, Muncie, IN 47308
Phone: (765) 741-5506
Email: tphillips@shaferfoundation.org
Website: https://www.shaferfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation
How much does Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation give each year?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation gave $432K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $449K across 18 grants.
What is Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's typical grant size?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,412, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation give grants?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Muncie, IN (16 grants).
Does Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's largest grantees?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ball State University Foundation ($50,000), YMCA of Muncie ($50,000) and Shafer Leadership Academy ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $441K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $538K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to continue Hamer and Phyllis Shafer’s legacy by supporting programs that measurably better their communities, especially Muncie, and promote their charitable and cultural interests, particularly education and children’s welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation?
Submit the foundation’s grant application with the requested organizational and grant information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's EIN?
Hamer D & Phyllis C Shafer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1997098. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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