Nisource Charitable Foundation
Nisource Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1990, the foundation operates as a corporate charitable entity supporting community development and social impact initiatives across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.0M
+13.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.5M
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
683
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nisource Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to promote:
- Community vitality and development
- Environmental and energy sustainability
- Learning and science education
- Public safety and human services
Grantmaking
The foundation has launched specialized grant initiatives in partnership with Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO):
Grant Range
$3,000
Average Grant
award: $10,000
Review Cycle
and procedures are referenced in the foundation's mission statement and administrative guidelines.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states:
- Primary funding regions: Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia
- States with significant grantmaking: Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio account for 57% of all grants
- Overall reach: Grantmaking extends to organizations across 22 states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $43 million (as of 2024)
- Annual Income: $18.5 million
- Asset Growth: Increased from $11.2 million in 2011 to $43 million in 2024
- Annual Giving Trend: Grew from $7.5 million in 2020 to $14 million in 2022
- Tax Status: Tax-exempt since July 1990; contributions are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,988,496 | $38,030,086 | $41,409,131 |
| Revenue | $12,445,310 | $1,763,220 | $1,991,131 |
| Expenses | $7,829,904 | $7,859,233 | $7,412,471 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,487,235 | $7,647,661 | $7,010,630 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,437,072 | $1,615,757 | $1,844,939 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,400,081 | $1,863,469 | $2,288,089 |
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 2 Hype Foundation ($78,000), American Red Cross ($66,440), American Red Cross ($55,420).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 CLUB OF LAKE AND PORTER COUNTIES INC CEDAR LAKE, IN | CORPORATE DONATION | $1,000 |
| 2 HYPE FOUNDATION PETERSBURG, VA | CORPORATE DONATION | $78,000 |
| 2 X 2 RESCUE CORPORATION MERRILLVILLE, IN | CORPORATE DONATION | $500 |
| 412 FOSTER PROJECT ALLISON PARK, PA | CORPORATE DONATION | $1,000 |
| A KID AGAIN INC COLUMBUS, OH | CORPORATE DONATION | $80 |
| ABOITE CLAYS ROANOKE, IN | CORPORATE DONATION | $500 |
| ACRES INC HUNTERTOWN, IN | CORPORATE DONATION | $5,000 |
| ADAMS COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL GETTYSBURG, PA | CORPORATE DONATION | $4,500 |
| ADOPTION CONNECTION PA BEAVER, PA | CORPORATE DONATION | $1,200 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVERS YOUTH GARY, IN | CORPORATE DONATION | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Eric Messick
- Governance: The foundation is governed by 18 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIMRA COLE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DANIEL A CREEKMUR | TRUSTEE - ENDED 4/30/24 | 0.5 | — |
| MARK KEMPIC | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| VINCE PARISI | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL W HOOPER | TRUSTEE - ENDED 3/15/24 | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL KOCHER | CONTROLLER - ENDED 12/31/23 | 1 | — |
| MELODY BIRMINGHAM | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| REGINALD FIELDS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHNATHAN WHITE | TREASURER | 0.75 | — |
| ASHLEY BANCROFT | CORPORATE SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| TODD LANICH | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER V MONTAGUE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| NICHOLAS BLY | CONTROLLER - JOINED 1/1/24 | 1 | — |
| ROBERT HEIDORN | TRUSTEE - JOINED 3/15/24 | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In October 2024, NIPSCO and NiSource Charitable Foundation announced the launch of the Bridging Our Energy Grant, a new $200,000 bi-annual endowment supporting northern Indiana non-profit organizations focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and economic inclusion programs.
NIPSCO, NiSource Charitable Foundation launch Lake Village Relief Fund |The foundation also administers Environmental Action Grants, accepting applications from northern Indiana organizations for environmental initiatives.
NIPSCO accepting applications for its Environmental Action Grants throughFrequently Asked Questions
What does Nisource Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to promote: • Community vitality and development • Environmental and energy sustainability • Learning and science education • Public safety and human services
How do I apply for a grant from Nisource Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total grants made: 2,059 grants totaling $21.6 million • Median grant size: $3,000 • Average grant award: $10,000 • Individual grants have ranged up to $2.1 million • Supported 1,143 unique organizations **Recent Grant Programs:** The foundation has launched specialized grant initiatives in partnership with Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO): • **Bridging Our Energy Grant**: A bi-annual endowment totaling $200,000, divided into two annual installments of $50,…
Where does Nisource Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation distributes funding across multiple states: • **Primary funding regions**: Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia • **States with significant grantmaking**: Massachusetts, Indiana, and Ohio account for 57% of all grants • **Overall reach**: Grantmaking extends to organizations across 22 states
What size grants does Nisource Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Nisource Charitable Foundation awarded 683 grants totaling $7.5M — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Nisource Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Nisource Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Nisource Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Nisource Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0324200. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nisource Charitable 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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