James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association
Riley children's endowment raises funds to sustain and advance the life-saving and life-changing care provided by riley hospital for children, to spur research discoveries that will lead to new treatments and cures for devastating childhood illnesses and injuries, and to perpetuate the memory of our namesake, beloved hoosier poet james whitcomb riley.
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association at a glance
In short: James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association gave $48.7M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $12.2M), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $48,661,652
- +18.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,165,413
- +48.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,898,701
- Total assets
- $558,205,733
- +10.2% 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 September 2026.
Who James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Indiana University ($31.8M). Together the top 4 received $48.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 10 grants of 22 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association gives
- Giving grew 64% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $28.6M (2020) to $48.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $48.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Indianapolis, IN | Hospital Programs | $31,783,285 |
| Indiana University Health Indianapolis, IN | Hospital Programs | $14,547,402 |
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN | Nutritional Research | $1,250,000 |
| IU Foundation Bradford Woods Bloomington, IN | Camp Riley | $1,080,965 |
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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 | $558,205,733 | $72,810,348 | $65,891,897 | $48,661,652 | 4 | $23,158,661 |
| 2024 | $506,758,930 | $73,770,218 | $57,522,269 | $41,008,300 | 5 | $18,664,886 |
| 2023 | $459,217,404 | $48,169,497 | $48,724,140 | $34,445,828 | 5 | $9,812,713 |
| 2022 | $429,029,854 | $68,543,198 | $45,852,346 | $29,628,511 | 4 | $20,913,409 |
| 2021 | $468,556,555 | $48,925,083 | $46,874,411 | $29,694,631 | 4 | $14,951,964 |
| 2020 | $387,543,963 | $19,574,216 | $47,783,133 | $28,609,002 | 12 | $-11,424,090 |
About James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association
Based on IRS filings
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association is a public charity, based in Indianapolis, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $558.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $48.7M. Net investment income was $23.2M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association is led by Elizabeth A Elkas, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 46 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth A Elkas
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$142K (2020) → $584K (2025)
J Murray Clark
Chairman
Board Member → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leah Corinne Martinson MD
Chairman
Vice Chair & Secretary → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2022
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Hale
Vice President & People
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $179K (2025)
Billy Jo Cripe
Vice President & Finance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$148K (2020) → $189K (2025)
Cara Lathrop
Vice President & Community Giving
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$170K (2020) → $214K (2025)
Meghan Miller
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$260K (2020) → $281K (2025)
Alane Helmer
Vice President, Corporate & Foundation
Assistant Vice President, Corporate & Foundation → Vice President, Corporate & Foundation, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$100K (2021) → $139K (2025)
Karen Spataro
Chief Campaign Strategy & Communications Officer
Chief Comms Officer → Chief Communications Officer, 2022
Chief Communications Officer → Chief Campaign Strategy & Communications Officer, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$175K (2021) → $256K (2025)
Meghan Freeman
Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$140K (2025)
Alan L Schwartz
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
C Perry Griffith Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis M Murphy
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward A Malloy
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Georgette A. Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Holcomb
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jay L. Hess
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerome F. Henry Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Burns McRobbie
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Boelke
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael L Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Otto N Frenzel IV
Vice Chair & Secretary
Board Member → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Regina Cross
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert G Jones
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faraz Abbasi
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Dillon III
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Whitten
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alonzo Weems
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Balcius
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Casey Crouse
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Hann
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabriel Alejandro
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jana Hageman
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Owens
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Rogers
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Eskenazi
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristian Stricklen
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Ackerman
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marisol Sanchez
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marta Birge
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Dawson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Ricks
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Smith
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Pruitt
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Lechleiter
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Craig Svennson (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Glenn Scolnik (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jerry D. Semler (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kathryn Brinkerhoff (2020–2024) — Vice President & Leadership Giving
- Former: Syam Nair (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Aaron Carroll (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jerry Henry (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cynthia Simon Skjodt (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: David A. Ricks (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Eugene R. Tempel (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Karen Ferguson Fuson (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kelly Huntington (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Ronald F. Remak (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Rebecca Espinoza-Kubacki (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: L. Corinne Martinson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jennett Hill (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Christina Kite (2020) — Board Member
- Former: James Austin (2020) — Chief Mrktng Officer
- Former: John Thompson (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Kevin O'Keefe (2020) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Rebecca Espinoza-Kubac (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Sarena Lin (2020) — Board Member
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 $584K, to Elizabeth A Elkas (President and CEO (End 12/2024)). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association
How much does James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association give each year?
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association gave $48.7M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $41.0M across 5 grants.
What is James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association's typical grant size?
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association's median grant in 2025 was $7,898,701, and its average grant was $12,165,413, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association give grants?
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association 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 (2 grants).
Does James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association?
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association reported $558.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $72.8M.
What is James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association's EIN?
James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-0868147. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 31, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 29, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association down — hundreds of funders to go?