McMillen Foundation Inc
McMillen Foundation Inc is a private charitable foundation established in 1947 by Dale W. and Agnes S. McMillen. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the foundation awards grants for charitable purposes to qualifying organizations, with a particular emphasis on recreation associations, youth agencies, education, and health associations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$29.2M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-23.4% YoY
Grant Count
22
-15.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$65K
-9.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, McMillen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation makes grants for capital expenditures that benefit the greatest number of individuals over the longest period of time. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Recreation associations and youth agencies
- Education
- Health associations
- Arts and cultural organizations
The foundation has a long-standing commitment to supporting the Wildcat Athletic Association, which receives annual support as an exception to the foundation's typical grantmaking approach, stemming from Dale W. McMillen's establishment of the League.
Grantmaking
Capital expenditures with a normal life expectancy of 3 years or more, including:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- $29.1–$36 million (varies by reporting source and year)
Annual Giving:
- 2023: $2.0 million in distributions across 29 grants
- 2022: $2.1 million across 19 grants
- 2021: $1.6 million across 15 grants
- 2020: $1.8 million across 23 grants
- 2019: $1.5 million across 23 grants
Revenue:
- 2023: $740,000
Expenses:
- 2023: $2.37 million
Liabilities:
- 2023: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $29,161,554 | $28,527,200 | $30,097,914 |
| Revenue | $2,439,548 | $739,998 | $501,691 |
| Expenses | $1,926,562 | $2,374,655 | $2,437,886 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,602,521 | $2,015,537 | $2,118,337 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,023,458 | $303,098 | $258,643 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,871,730 | $1,732,291 | $1,840,830 |
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
111 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from McMillen Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fort Wayne Park Foundation ($250,000), Arts United Greater Fw ($200,000), Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FORT WAYNE CIVIC THEATRE FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| MISS D FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK INC FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| FORT WAYNE CHILDRENS ZOO FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| VINCENT VILLAGE INC FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES ROANOKE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| HEALTHIER MOMS AND BABIES FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $22,967 |
| URBAN LEAGUE FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| WELLSPRING FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ERIN'S HOUSE FORT WAYNE, IN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John F. McMillen – President (20 hours/week, $60,000 compensation)
- Kristin Giant – Secretary/Treasurer (25 hours/week, $50,000 compensation)
- Thomas A. Irmscher – Director
- N. Reed Silliman – Director
- Jason McMillen – Director
- Kraig Cabe – Director
- Kathleen J. Silliman – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent Grant Recipients
Recent developments and announcements
Notable recent grants (2022) include:
Wildcat Recreation Association – $300,000 (program support)
Fort Wayne Park Foundation – $250,000 (program support)
Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne – $200,000 (program support)
Boys and Girls Club of Fort Wayne – $150,000 (program support)
YWCA Northeast Indiana – $135,000 (program support)
Bridge of Grace – $125,000 (program support)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does McMillen Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation makes grants for capital expenditures that benefit the greatest number of individuals over the longest period of time. Primary funding focus areas include: • Recreation associations and youth agencies • Education • Health associations • Arts and cultural organizations The foundation has a long-standing commitment to supporting the Wildcat Athletic Association, which receives annual support as an exception to the foundation's typical grantmaking approach, stemming from Dale W. McM…
How do I apply for a grant from McMillen Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $2,300–$400,000 • Median grant amount: $30,000–$50,000 • Recent annual grant distribution: 15–29 grants per year • Total annual giving: approximately $1.4–$2.1 million **Eligible Uses:** Capital expenditures with a normal life expectancy of 3 years or more, including: • Equipment • Building renovation • Land and buildings (capital campaigns) **Application Process:** 1. Submit a concept letter to the foundation via email 2. If favorable response …
Where does McMillen Foundation Inc make grants?
Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana
What size grants does McMillen Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, McMillen Foundation Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $65K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is McMillen Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, McMillen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is McMillen Foundation Inc's EIN?
McMillen Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6021003. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in McMillen Foundation Inc'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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