Jean and Bernas Downing
Jean and Bernas Downing is a private foundation, based in Indianapolis, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $16.9M. Net investment income was $2.4M.
Jean and Bernas Downing at a glance
In short: Jean and Bernas Downing gave $16.9M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $3.4M), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $16,853,615
- +25.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,370,723
- +50.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,253,615
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Jean and Bernas Downing funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Conner Prairie ($10.5M). Together the top 5 received $16.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 34 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Jean and Bernas Downing gives
- Giving grew 953% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF 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 $50K (2020) to $16.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $16.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conner Prairie Fishers, IN | Charitable | $10,500,000 |
| Purdue Research Foundation West Lafayette, IN | Charitable | $5,000,000 |
| Central Indiana Land Trust Indianapolis, IN | Charitable | $1,253,615 |
| Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Indianapolis, IN | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Midwest Food Bank Indianapolis, IN | Charitable | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $2,531,485 | $17,050,982 | $16,853,615 | 5 | $16,853,615 | $2,418,566 | $287,548 |
| 2024 | $14,633,974 | $5,259,759 | $13,671,913 | $13,420,000 | 6 | $13,420,000 | $5,031,864 | $1,102,452 |
| 2023 | $23,037,058 | $1,111,637 | $1,203,330 | $950,801 | 8 | $950,801 | $896,637 | $1,301,196 |
| 2022 | $23,120,004 | $1,141,025 | $1,867,960 | $1,600,000 | 11 | $1,600,000 | $933,358 | $1,319,099 |
| 2021 | $23,850,582 | $24,231,378 | $381,316 | $150,000 | 4 | $150,000 | $988,216 | $997,204 |
| 2020 | $520 | $50,000 | $50,000 | $50,000 | 2 | — | — | $26 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jean and Bernas Downing reported a distributable amount of $288K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Jean and Bernas Downing's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael A. Rasor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert W. Elzer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Jean and Bernas Downing
How much does Jean and Bernas Downing give each year?
Jean and Bernas Downing gave $16.9M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13.4M across 6 grants.
What is Jean and Bernas Downing's typical grant size?
Jean and Bernas Downing's median grant in 2025 was $1,253,615, and its average grant was $3,370,723, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Jean and Bernas Downing give grants?
Jean and Bernas Downing gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (3 grants).
Does Jean and Bernas Downing give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Jean and Bernas Downing's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (5 grants).
Who are Jean and Bernas Downing's largest grantees?
Jean and Bernas Downing's largest 2025 grantees include Conner Prairie ($10,500,000), Purdue Research Foundation ($5,000,000) and Central Indiana Land Trust ($1,253,615), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How much is Jean and Bernas Downing required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Jean and Bernas Downing reported a distributable amount of $288K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jean and Bernas Downing's EIN?
Jean and Bernas Downing's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-7134032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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