John W Anderson Foundation

VALPARAISO, IN EIN: 35-6070695

The John W. Anderson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1967 by John W. Anderson, a manufacturing executive and inventor who served as president of the Anderson Company, which produced windshield wiper parts and other automotive accessories. Based in Valparaiso, Indiana, the foundation is one of the most significant philanthropic organizations in Northwest Indiana, with substantial assets and consistent annual giving.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$325.3M

+7.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$13.0M

-2.5% YoY

Grant Count

218

-2.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$60K

+0.2% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation was created to support charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the United States. Its mission emphasizes promoting the mental, moral, intellectual, and physical improvement, assistance, and relief of inhabitants of all races and creeds, with particular focus on youth who reside in and near Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana.

Primary funding areas include:

  • Youth programs
  • Higher education
  • Human services and social services
  • Arts and culture
  • Health services
  • Community development
  • Care for needy, handicapped, disabled, or abused persons
  • Disease-specific research and prevention

Grantmaking

Awards are restricted to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations that are not classified as private foundations under section 509(a). Funding is limited primarily to organizations serving Lake and Porter Counties of Northwest Indiana.

Grant Range

$1,000 to $4,380,000

Average Grant

$56,000

Review Cycle

; applications reviewed on a rolling basis

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation concentrates its grantmaking primarily in Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana. Approximately 96% of grants stay in Indiana. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 11 states, with primary focus on Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota, which account for 97% of all grants.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AtlantaBloomingtonBourbonnaisCarmelCedar LakeChestertonChicagoCorunnaCronw PointCrown PointDenverEast ChicagoFort WayneFranklinGarrettGaryGlenwoodGriffithHagerstownHammond

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total assets: $325,303,807
  • Total revenue: $43,819,647
  • Total expenses: $15,970,336
  • Total giving: $13,608,500 to $14,926,000

Historical Growth:

  • Total assets have grown from $205.5 million in 2011 to $325.3 million in 2024
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$12M$24M$36M$48M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$325,303,807$301,988,160$270,012,661
Revenue$43,819,647$14,156,902$12,851,167
Expenses$15,970,336$16,141,716$17,347,804
Qualifying Distributions$14,374,563$14,159,531$15,782,529
Net Investment Income$42,433,685$12,801,439$11,478,508
Distributable Amount$15,085,760$13,803,144$14,185,349

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$7M$11M$15M249 grants2020238 grants2021229 grants2022224 grants2023218 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GR…$4.4MCATHOLIC CHARITIES GARY$400KBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF MI…$210KCROSSROADS YMCA$200KBALL STATE UNIVERSITY FO…$150KCEREBRAL PALSY OF NORTHW…$150KCRISIS CENTER INC$115KBOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA PA…$100KBROTHERS KEEPER INCORPOR…$100KCENTER OF WORKFORCE INNO…$100K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

182<$50K22$50–100K36$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M5$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Principal Officer: William Vinovich (also listed as William N Vinovich)
  • Trustees: Bruce W Wargo, Charles W Conover
  • Staff: 4 employees (as of 2024)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

WILLIAM N VINOVICHCHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE$176KCLYDE D COMPTONVICE CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE$167KJOHN J DIEDERICHSECRETARY AND TRUSTEE$139KTAMARA LYNCHTRUSTEE$50KSCOTT K STEINWARTTRUSTEE$44K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
WILLIAM N VINOVICHCHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE20$175,694
SCOTT K STEINWARTTRUSTEE20$44,367
CLYDE D COMPTONVICE CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE20$166,976
JOHN J DIEDERICHSECRETARY AND TRUSTEE20$139,301
TAMARA LYNCHTRUSTEE20$50,400

Recent Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has supported 360 unique organizations across its history, with 467 grants totaling $26.3 million on record. The Boys and Girls Clubs have been one of the principal recipients of foundation funds since the foundation's inception, with several local branches receiving substantial support. The foundation maintains consistent annual giving levels between $13-15 million, demonstrating stable and sustained philanthropic commitment to its priority areas.

John W Anderson Foundation - Grantmakers.io Profile

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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