Irions Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1997 and based in Elkhart, Indiana. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization focused on supporting charitable causes within the Michiana community, with particular emphasis on education and youth development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.6M
+6.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$537K
+15.4% YoY
Grant Count
26
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+19.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Irions Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $589K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To promote the education, development and welfare of the Michiana community with a focus on youth.
Vision: To fund causes in the Michiana area in perpetuity while responsibly managing and deploying resources entrusted to the foundation through careful vetting of supported charities and causes. The foundation corpus is managed to optimize returns and minimize expenses.
Core Values:
- Integrity: Honesty, professionalism, humility, and respect
- Perseverance: Continued movement towards the greater good
- Excellence: In every worthwhile endeavor
- Education: Recognized as the most powerful weapon to change the world
Primary Funding Focus: Education, with secondary interests in human services and philanthropy/voluntarism. The foundation has supported grants for after-school programs, mentoring programs, tutoring, academic success enrichment, and public health initiatives.
Grantmaking
1. Receipt of application
Average Grant
amount: approximately $14,800–$19,830
Review Cycle
August 1st for consideration
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on the greater Michiana area, which encompasses northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,614,364
- Total Revenue: $624,634
- Total Expenses: $616,397
- Net Income: $8,237
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $537,048
- Investment Income and Dividends: $269,403
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and generates revenue primarily through investment income.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,614,364 | $8,058,957 | $7,497,572 |
| Revenue | $624,634 | $1,078,903 | $3,174,024 |
| Expenses | $616,397 | $523,507 | $498,672 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $537,048 | $465,351 | $443,325 |
| Net Investment Income | $545,285 | $1,020,747 | $1,121,164 |
| Distributable Amount | $588,771 | $478,844 | $468,611 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cultivate Food Rescue ($100,000), School City of Mishawaka ($100,000), Community Foundation Elkhart County ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SERV ELK COUNTY ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| CAPS ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| ELKHART HUMANE SOCIETY ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER BRISTOL, IN | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| RETA ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| BASHOR CHILDREN'S HOME GOSHEN, IN | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| WOMAN'S CARE CENTER ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| EHS DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| 5 STAR LIFE ELKHART, IN | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Thomas E Irions – President, Secretary, Treasurer
- Jennifer Hernandez-Irions – Director
- Julia Willis – Director
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing, relying primarily on board members who contribute volunteer hours.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS E IRIONS | PRES/SECY/TR | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER HERNANDEZ-IRIONS | DIRECTOR | 6 | — |
| JULIA WILLIS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to actively distribute grants to organizations serving the Michiana community. Recent 2024 grants demonstrate ongoing commitment to food security, community foundations, and animal welfare organizations. The foundation maintains an open application process and regularly reviews grant requests throughout the year.
IRONMAN Foundation Awards Second Round of IRONAID COVID-19 Support Fund GrantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Irions Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To promote the education, development and welfare of the Michiana community with a focus on youth. **Vision:** To fund causes in the Michiana area in perpetuity while responsibly managing and deploying resources entrusted to the foundation through careful vetting of supported charities and causes. The foundation corpus is managed to optimize returns and minimize expenses. **Core Values:** • Integrity: Honesty, professionalism, humility, and respect • Perseverance: Continued movemen…
How do I apply for a grant from Irions Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$100,000 • Median grant amount: $7,500 • Average grant amount: approximately $14,800–$19,830 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • 21–26 grants distributed • Total giving: $537,048 • Notable recent recipients include Cultivate Food Rescue ($100,000), Community Foundation of Elkhart County ($50,000), and The Humane Society of Elkhart County ($25,000) **Application Process:** • Grant applications are reviewed regularly throughout the year as …
Where does Irions Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on the greater Michiana area, which encompasses northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
What size grants does Irions Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Irions Foundation Inc awarded 26 grants totaling $537K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Irions Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Irions Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $589K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Irions Foundation Inc's EIN?
Irions Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2022821. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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