Indiana Bar Foundation
The Indiana Bar Foundation is a public charity based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1950, it supports civic education and civil legal assistance for Indiana residents.
Indiana Bar Foundation at a glance
In short: Indiana Bar Foundation gave $9.1M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $535K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,093,905
- +22.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $534,936
- +15.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $90,000
- Total assets
- $24,609,960
- +21.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Indiana Bar Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 615 N Alabama St Ste 426, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 269-2415
Website: https://inbf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Indiana Bar Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Indiana Legal Services Inc ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $8.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 71 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Indianapolis, and all reported 2025 grant dollars went to Indiana recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
How Indiana Bar Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $9.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $9.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana Legal Services Inc Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $2,607,089 |
| Pro Bono Indiana Inc Evansville, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $2,524,414 |
| Lawrence Township Small Claims Cour Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $1,492,890 |
| Indianapolis Legal Aid Society Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $1,083,281 |
| Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $597,251 |
| Volunteer Lawyer Program of Ne Indi Fort Wayne, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $170,000 |
| Ability Allies Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $120,000 |
| Legal Aid Society of Evansville Evansville, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $98,449 |
| Center for Victim and Human Rights Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $90,000 |
| Child Advocates Indianapolis, IN | Pro Bono Legal Asst | $90,000 |
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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 | $24,609,960 | $15,480,440 | $11,607,444 | $9,093,905 | 17 | $832,135 |
| 2024 | $20,190,407 | $14,076,300 | $9,769,248 | $7,402,935 | 16 | $582,339 |
| 2023 | $14,460,844 | $10,479,501 | $8,988,085 | $5,335,243 | 18 | $-70,732 |
| 2022 | $10,665,424 | $4,352,887 | $4,582,354 | $2,684,182 | 17 | $843,869 |
| 2021 | $13,709,803 | $5,891,851 | $5,587,006 | $1,265,000 | 3 | $967,241 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen access to justice and appreciation for the rule of law in Indiana. Its website says it aims to improve civic education and legal assistance for Hoosiers. Its 2023 filing describes its program activities as grants, scholarships and allocations, filing fees, and a loan repayment assistance program.
The 2025 grants include support for legal services organizations. For example, Indiana Legal Services says its mission is to use the law to fight poverty and racism, empower clients, and improve access to justice. Pro Bono Indiana says it promotes equal access to justice for Indiana residents regardless of economic status. The Indianapolis Legal Aid Society says it provides free legal assistance to people in need.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 17 grants totaling $9,093,905. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $2,607,089, with a median of $90,000. The reported purposes were pro bono legal assistance.
The largest reported grants included $2,607,089 to Indiana Legal Services Inc., $2,524,414 to Pro Bono Indiana Inc., $1,492,890 to Lawrence Township Small Claims Court, $1,083,281 to Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, and $597,251 to Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. The filing also lists grants of $170,000 to Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana, $90,000 to Center for Victim and Human Rights, and $90,000 to Child Advocates. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Charles Dunlap as Executive Di and Abbie Bush as Director of. It lists Timothy Abeska, Jenny Buchheit, Hon Terrence Cody, Dr Robert Dion, Lucy Dollens, Justin Forkner, David C Van Gilder, and Dr Laura Hammack as directors. The Foundation’s website identifies Chuck Dunlap as its President & CEO.
Indiana Bar Foundation is led by Alexander Orlowski, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Alexander Orlowski
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abbie Bush
Director of
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024) → $111K (2025)
Elizabeth Tavitas
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Sweeney
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Okenfuss
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Slaughter
Director
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terrence Cody
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Abeska
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Hammack
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Dollens
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David C. Van Gilder
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jimmie McMillian
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Forkner
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Dion
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Jackson
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drew Soshnick
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Buchheit
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Maley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Jackson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Dunlap
Executive Di
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$182K (2021) → $195K (2025)
Andrew Hock
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacquelyn Pillar
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Caryn Glawe (2021–2024) — Chair
- Former: Nancy Gettinger (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Drew Hock (2023–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Marilyn J. Smith (2023–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Michael Jasaitis (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Potts (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Richard Young (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Janet Chandler (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mike Potts (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Beasley (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott Barnhart (2021–2022) — Chair
- Former: Scott Wylie (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Amy Dudas (2022) — Director
- Former: Steven David (2022) — Ex-Officio
- Former: Anthony Stites (2021) — Director
- Former: Clayton Miller (2021) — Director
- Former: David Guerrettaz (2021) — Director
- Former: Justice Steven David (2021) — Ex-Officio
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $195K, to Charles Dunlap (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Indiana Bar Foundation
How much does Indiana Bar Foundation give each year?
Indiana Bar Foundation gave $9.1M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.4M across 16 grants.
What is Indiana Bar Foundation's typical grant size?
Indiana Bar Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $90,000, and its average grant was $534,936, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Indiana Bar Foundation give grants?
Indiana Bar Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (9 grants) and Evansville, IN (2 grants).
Does Indiana Bar Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Indiana Bar Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pro Bono Legal Asst" (17 grants).
Who are Indiana Bar Foundation's largest grantees?
Indiana Bar Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Indiana Legal Services Inc ($2,607,089), Pro Bono Indiana Inc ($2,524,414) and Lawrence Township Small Claims Cour ($1,492,890), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Indiana Bar Foundation?
Indiana Bar Foundation reported $24.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $15.5M.
What does Indiana Bar Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen access to justice and appreciation for the rule of law in Indiana. Its website says it aims to improve civic education and legal assistance for Hoosiers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Indiana Bar Foundation?
Indiana Bar Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check inbf.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Indiana Bar Foundation's EIN?
Indiana Bar Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6032377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 19, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Indiana Bar Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Indiana Bar Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/indiana-bar-foundation-morg_3abd46c6da734445872846f2c9036bab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356032377_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Indiana Bar Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/indiana-bar-foundation-morg_3abd46c6da734445872846f2c9036bab},
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 Indiana Bar 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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