John W Anderson Foundation
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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John W Anderson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
States
Cities
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
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana Inc ($4,380,000), Catholic Charities Gary ($400,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Michigan City ($210,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVERS YOUTH CORPS INC GARY, IN | CAPITAL | $5,000 |
| ALPHA CHI CH- KAPPA ALPHA THETA EDUC FDN WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | SCHOLARSHIPS/OPERATING | $5,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | OPERATING | $7,500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | OPERATING | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION MERRIFIELD, VA | OPERATING | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | OPERATING | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA MERRILLVILLE, IN | OPERATING | $75,000 |
| ANDREAN HIGH SCHOOL MERRILLVILLE, IN | SCHOLARSHIPS/OPERATING | $10,000 |
| ANSWER FOR PREGNANCY AID INC HOBART, IN | OPERATING | $5,000 |
| ARC OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, IN | OPERATING | $10,000 |
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
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM N VINOVICH | CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE | 20 | $175,694 |
| SCOTT K STEINWART | TRUSTEE | 20 | $44,367 |
| CLYDE D COMPTON | VICE CHAIRMAN AND TRUSTEE | 20 | $166,976 |
| JOHN J DIEDERICH | SECRETARY AND TRUSTEE | 20 | $139,301 |
| TAMARA LYNCH | TRUSTEE | 20 | $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 ProfileFrequently Asked Questions
What does John W Anderson Foundation fund?
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…
How do I apply for a grant from John W Anderson Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Grant range: $1,000 to $4,380,000 • Typical grant: $10,000 • Median grant: $15,000 • Average grant: $56,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $13.4 to $14.9 million • Recent grant activity: 249 grants made in 2024; 224 awards in 2023 **Notable Recent Grants (2024):** • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana: $4,380,000 • Indiana University Foundation: $520,000 • United Way of Northwest Indiana: $500,000 **Application Process:** • No submission deadlines; …
Where does John W Anderson Foundation make 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.
What size grants does John W Anderson Foundation award?
In 2024, John W Anderson Foundation awarded 218 grants totaling $13.0M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John W Anderson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John W Anderson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John W Anderson Foundation's EIN?
John W Anderson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6070695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John W Anderson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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