McMillen Foundation Inc
McMillen Foundation Inc is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Established in 1947 by Dale W. and Agnes S. McMillen, it awards grants for charitable purposes to qualifying organizations. Its stated grant focus is capital expenditures that benefit the greatest number of people over the longest period.
Key facts about McMillen Foundation Inc
In short: McMillen Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $65K), mostly in Indiana. 57% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 35-6021003
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,424,010
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- Average grant
- $64,728
- Median grant
- $45,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (12 of 21, 2024)
- Total assets
- $29,161,554
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts concept letters by email; if a concept letter receives a favorable response, the organization may submit a full proposal. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- October 1, 2026; March 2027; June 2027.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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.
Is McMillen Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 21 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $80K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it funds capital expenditures rather than annual support. Eligible expenditures include land and buildings for capital campaigns, building renovations, equipment, and items with a normal life expectancy of at least three years. The Wildcat Athletic Association is an exception: the foundation says it annually supports the Wildcats because Dale W. McMillen established the League.
The 2024 grantees illustrate a range of community services. Fort Wayne Park Foundation says its mission is to preserve the city’s green spaces and provide free and affordable leisure opportunities. Vincent Village says it works to address homelessness through shelter, affordable housing, and supportive services. Community Transportation Network says it eases transportation burdens so people can maintain connections in the community. Fort Wayne Civic Theatre describes its mission as serving the community through live theatre, while Fort Wayne Ballet describes its work as dance performances, training, and community engagement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $1,424,010. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $45,000. Its largest reported grants included $250,000 to Fort Wayne Park Foundation, $200,000 to Arts United Greater FW, $150,000 to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, $125,000 to Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries, and $100,000 to Vincent Village. The listed purposes were generally “program support”; the Turnstone Center grant also listed therapeutic service support.
Review Cycle
October 1, 2026; March 2027; June 2027.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from McMillen Foundation Inc
Ready to take the next step with McMillen Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s application guidance says applicants should be located in and provide programs and services mainly within Fort Wayne and Allen County. Its 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2024) to $2.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fort Wayne Park Foundation ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 111 (50%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne Park Foundation Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $250,000 |
| Arts United Greater FW Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $200,000 |
| Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $150,000 |
| Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $125,000 |
| Vincent Village Inc Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Miss D Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $65,000 |
| Community Transportation Network Inc Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $60,000 |
| Fort Wayne Civic Theatre Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Erin's House Fort Wayne, IN | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Turnstone Center for Children & Adults with Disabilities Fort Wayne, IN | Therapeutic Service Support; Program Support | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $29,161,554 | $2,439,548 | $1,926,562 | $1,424,010 | 22 |
| 2023 | $28,527,200 | $739,998 | $2,374,655 | $1,858,800 | 26 |
| 2022 | $30,097,914 | $501,691 | $2,437,886 | $1,959,055 | 29 |
The filing type is 990T.
| 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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
McMillen Foundation Inc is led by John F. McMillen, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 7 officers listed in 2022 are compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
The latest filing that lists officers: our copy of the 2023–2024 filings list none.
John F. McMillen
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$27K (2020) → $60K (2022)
Jason McMillen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen J. Silliman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kraig Cabe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
N. Reed Silliman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas A. Irmscher
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Giant
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
25 hrs/week
$53K (2021) → $50K (2022)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Dorothy Robinson (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Thomas M. Shoaff (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $60K, to John F McMillen (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 7030 Pointe Inverness Way 127, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 444-3526
Website: https://mcmillenfoundationfortwayne.org
Frequently asked questions about McMillen Foundation Inc
How much does McMillen Foundation Inc give each year?
McMillen Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 26 grants.
What is McMillen Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
McMillen Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $45,000, and its average grant was $64,728, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from McMillen Foundation Inc that year got $58K on average.
Where does McMillen Foundation Inc give grants?
McMillen Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (21 grants).
Does McMillen Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on McMillen Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (19 grants).
Who are McMillen Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
McMillen Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Fort Wayne Park Foundation ($250,000), Arts United Greater FW ($200,000) and Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is McMillen Foundation Inc?
McMillen Foundation Inc reported $29.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does McMillen Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that it funds capital expenditures rather than annual support. Eligible expenditures include land and buildings for capital campaigns, building renovations, equipment, and items with a normal life expectancy of at least three years. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from McMillen Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts concept letters by email; if a concept letter receives a favorable response, the organization may submit a full proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching McMillen Foundation Inc by hand.
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