Judd Leighton Foundation Inc
The Judd Leighton Foundation Inc. is a private, independent grantmaking foundation established in 2000 and based in South Bend, Indiana. The foundation provides grant assistance to tax-exempt organizations addressing community problems and needs, with a primary focus on St. Joseph County, Indiana.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$149.6M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.7M
+27.5% YoY
Grant Count
49
+6.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$138K
+19.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to perpetuating the vision of its founder—to improve the quality of life in the community through intelligent investment in three core areas:
- Healthcare - Improving community health
- Education - Increasing opportunities in education
- Economic Development - Promoting economic development
The foundation prioritizes proposals for capital projects and program support that demonstrate the greatest impact on the community while showing sustainability over the long term.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 42 grants in 2024, with total giving of $6,738,585. Recent notable grants include:
Average Grant
amount: $173,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in St. Joseph County, Indiana, with preference given to local impact. Grantmaking is concentrated in Indiana, though the foundation has supported organizations across five states, including Minnesota and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $149,593,378
- Total Revenues: $11,031,966
- Total Expenses: $13,259,990
- Total Liabilities: $9,690,000
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $87.3 million in 2011 to $149.6 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $149,593,378 | $138,477,363 | $129,484,465 |
| Revenue | $11,031,966 | $5,233,904 | $5,190,871 |
| Expenses | $13,259,990 | $5,842,143 | $9,248,825 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,067,450 | $5,577,716 | $7,596,024 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,591,303 | $4,044,316 | $4,896,152 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,138,829 | $6,434,182 | $6,692,498 |
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
225 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Keenan - President
- Charles Nelson - Executive Director
- Trustees: John Pycik, Jerry French, Donald F. Walter
The foundation maintains a staff of 5 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant recipients and initiatives highlighted by the foundation include:
Leighty grant funding announced for 2025 recipients | News, Sports, Jobs**Mishawaka Troop Town** - A non-profit founded in 2019 addressing veteran homelessness through tiny house construction
**Reins of Life** - An organization providing equine-assisted therapy for children and adults with disabilities, expanding services to meet South Bend community needs
**Studebaker Museum** - 2025 Leighton Award recipient
Studebaker Museum Wins Leighton Award - Community Foundation of St. Joseph**La Casa** - 2025 Leighton Award recipient
Studebaker Museum Wins Leighton Award - Community Foundation of St. Joseph**Boys & Girls Clubs** - 2023 Leighton Award recipient
Studebaker Museum Wins Leighton Award - Community Foundation of St. JosephContact Information
- Website: www.juddleightonfoundation.org
- Address: 202 S Michigan St Ste 910, South Bend, IN 46601-2031
- Phone: 574-232-5970
- EIN: 35-2120550
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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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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