I Car Education Foundation
I Car Education Foundation is a public charity based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Formed in 1990, it supports collision repair education programs, schools, and students, with the stated aim of helping prepare qualified entry-level employees and connecting them with career opportunities.
I Car Education Foundation at a glance
In short: I Car Education Foundation gave $11.0M across 283 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), top state Pennsylvania. 9% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,966,988
- -5.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 283
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,753
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,304
- Total assets
- $5,742,778
- -14.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (25 of 281, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (12% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to I Car Education Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 5125 Trillium Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
Phone: (847) 590-1198
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who I Car Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Texas State Tech College ($203K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($53,566), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,699 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,396 grants of 1,699 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2026 Benchmark Awards and Student Scholarships descriptions specify a United States scope. The 2024 grants were distributed across multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Texas and Pennsylvania, at 9% each, followed by Tennessee at 6%, and Missouri and New York at 5% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 283 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is I Car Education Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 281 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $29K first-time, $32K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $8.1M (2021) to $18.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 283 grants totaling $11.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Tech College Waco, TX | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $181,218 |
| Kennedy King College Chicago, IL | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $139,915 |
| Vanguard High School (Formerly Mesquite High School) Mesquite, TX | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $138,098 |
| Thaddeus Stevens College Lancaster, PA | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $127,700 |
| Bay Path Regional Vocational HS Charlton, MA | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $120,436 |
| College of Lake County Grayslake, IL | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $114,963 |
| Oakland Community College Auburn Hills, MI | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $114,368 |
| Forbes Road Career and Technology Center Monroeville, PA | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $108,396 |
| John D Rockefeller Career Center New Cumberland, WV | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $106,485 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Plains Township, PA | To support secondary and post secondary collision repair training programs. | $103,864 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,742,778 | $11,929,853 | $13,089,539 | $10,966,988 | 283 | $242,499 |
| 2024 | $6,724,233 | $14,675,878 | $13,915,904 | $11,540,016 | 333 | $209,890 |
| 2023 | $6,098,366 | $20,210,264 | $21,218,022 | $18,258,094 | 431 | $128,395 |
| 2022 | $6,430,479 | $11,863,252 | $10,167,396 | $8,816,946 | 342 | $75,468 |
| 2021 | $4,904,924 | $10,474,233 | $9,533,036 | $8,087,803 | 310 | $167,263 |
| 2020 | $3,655,215 | $13,811,244 | $13,527,319 | $10,325,570 | 473 | $73,280 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with career opportunities.
Its filing describes three program areas: scholarships for students in career and technical education programs focused on collision repair; School Benchmark Awards that help career and technical education programs purchase equipment and support enrollment and employment programs; and in-kind donations to schools, including vehicles, software licenses, tools, and equipment for body repair and refinishing.
Grants in 2024 included support for secondary and postsecondary collision repair training programs. One supported organization, Meridian Technology Center, describes its own mission as awarding scholarships to its students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 333 grants totaling $11,540,016. Grant amounts ranged from $5,016 to $163,152, with a median of $28,104. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 283 grants totaling $11 million.
Among the largest reported grants were $163,152 to Texas State Tech College, $137,781 to Lake Washington Tech College, $137,460 to Universal Technical Institute, and $128,034 to Forbes Road Career and Technology Center. The stated purpose for each was to support secondary and postsecondary collision repair training programs.
The foundation’s 2026 Benchmark Awards program listed support for high school and college collision repair programs, with awards of $5,000–$25,000 for tools and equipment, educational supplies, program enhancements, curriculum advancement, and related learning materials. Its 2026 Student Scholarships program listed tuition assistance, tool grants, and other education costs for high school and college collision repair students. Both listed application cycles are past: the Benchmark Awards deadline was June 30, 2026, and the Student Scholarships deadline was March 6, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and trustees listed on the 2024 filing are Andreas Hecht, trustee; Stacy Bartnik, trustee at large; Paul Folino, trustee; Mark Allen, trustee; Mark Verbois, treasurer; Mike Croker, trustee; Brenda Hogen, chair; Ty Gammill, trustee; Mark Helvenston, vice chair; and Doug Irish, trustee.
I Car Education Foundation is led by Brandon Eckenrode, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 3 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brandon Eckenrode
Executive Director
Managing Director → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$111K (2021) → $136K (2025)
Brenda Hogen
Chair
Trustee at Large → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amber Ritter
Director of Mktg & Proje
Director of Mktg & Project Mgt → Director of Mktg & Proje, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $101K (2025)
Mark Helvenston
Trustee
Trustee at Large → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Croker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Folino
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andreas Hecht
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Eck
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Krentz
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Bell
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristle Bollans
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Dewes
Trustee at Large
Trustee → Trustee at Large, 2025
On filings since 2024
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Pickering
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather McMahon
Trustee
On filings since 2024
0.7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kayla Clark
Trustee at Large
Trustee → Trustee at Large, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.9 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Allen
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Jackson
Accountant
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$101K (2025)
Sandee Lindorfer
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.9 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Bartnik
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Trustee at Large, 2024
Trustee at Large → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Schmidt
Immediate Past Chair
Trustee at Large → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Verbois
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.9 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Doug Irish (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ryan West (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ty Gammill (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Don Mikrut (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Jay Sharp (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kevin Burnett (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sean Huurman (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Tom Brown (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Tom Wolf (2020–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Jeanne Silver (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Mahoney (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ken Hudson (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Scott Kohl (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Clark Plucinski (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Kyle Holt (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Mike Brey (2020–2021) — Controller
- Former: Casey Rodriguez (2020) — Trustee
- Former: James Spears (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Mary Jo Prigge (2020) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $136K, to Brandon Eckenrode (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about I Car Education Foundation
How much does I Car Education Foundation give each year?
I Car Education Foundation gave $11.0M across 283 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $11.5M across 333 grants.
What is I Car Education Foundation's typical grant size?
I Car Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $31,304, and its average grant was $38,753, across 283 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from I Car Education Foundation that year got $35K on average.
Where does I Car Education Foundation give grants?
I Car Education Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Texas (9%) and Tennessee (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (3 grants), Jamaica, NY (2 grants), Jackson, TN (2 grants) and Eden Prairie, MN (2 grants).
Does I Car Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 283 grants with a stated purpose on I Car Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are I Car Education Foundation's largest grantees?
I Car Education Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Texas State Tech College ($203,130 across 2 grants), Kennedy King College ($139,915) and Vanguard High School (Formerly Mesquite High School) ($138,098), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($53,566), which are not listed by name. Together they received 4% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is I Car Education Foundation?
I Car Education Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.9M.
What does I Car Education Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with career opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from I Car Education Foundation?
I Car Education Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is I Car Education Foundation's EIN?
I Car Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3768028. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work I Car Education Foundation funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in I Car Education Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). I Car Education Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/i-car-education-foundation-morg_0f9d3ad7656542e0a54e5bc8322f0c49
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363768028_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{I Car Education Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/i-car-education-foundation-morg_0f9d3ad7656542e0a54e5bc8322f0c49},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-06. 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 I Car Education Foundation'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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