Nisource Charitable Foundation
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1990, it supports nonprofit organizations in communities where NiSource employees and customers live and work through charitable grants and employee-volunteer programs.
Nisource Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Nisource Charitable Foundation gave $7.5M across 683 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), top state Massachusetts. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,487,235
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 683
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,962
- +6.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $42,988,496
- +13.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (177 of 646, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Nisource Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Reginald Fields as the contact and directs applicants to the Foundation’s mission statement and administrative guidelines for the required form and materials. The Foundation’s website lists its evaluation criteria and states that requests may be declined or awards reduced.
- Review Cycle
- The filing refers applicants to the Foundation’s mission statement and administrative guidelines for deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing refers applicants to the Foundation’s mission statement and administrative guidelines for deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Reginald Fields
Mailing address: 290 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (380) 268-3917
Email: sfifner@nisource.com
Website: https://nisource.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nisource Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Essex County Community Foundation ($2.1M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
3,486 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3,382 grants of 3,486 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes community grants across a six-state service area that includes Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. In the 2024 filing, grant dollars were distributed among recipient states as follows: Massachusetts, 28%; Ohio, 24%; Indiana, 23%; Pennsylvania, 10%; and Virginia, 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 683 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Nisource Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 177 of 646 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 535% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.9M (2021) to $7.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 683 grants totaling $7.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Essex County Community Foundation Danvers, MA | Corporate Donation | $2,100,000 |
| Indiana Economic Development Foundation Indianapolis, IN | Corporate Donation | $340,000 |
| United Way of Central Ohio Cleveland, OH | Corporate Donation | $100,000 |
| 2 Hype Foundation Petersburg, VA | Corporate Donation | $78,000 |
| Urban League of Northwest Indiana Inc Gary, IN | Corporate Donation | $74,000 |
| American Red Cross Pittsburgh, PA | Corporate Donation | $66,440 |
| Star House Foundation Columbus, OH | Corporate Donation | $60,000 |
| National Merit Scholarship Corp Chicago, IL | Corporate Donation | $58,960 |
| Lifecare Alliance Columbus, OH | Corporate Donation | $57,500 |
| American Red Cross Columbus, OH | Corporate Donation | $55,420 |
Ready to take the next step with Nisource Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $42,988,496 | $12,445,310 | $7,829,904 | $7,487,235 | 683 | $7,487,235 | $2,437,072 | $1,400,081 |
| 2023 | $38,030,086 | $1,763,220 | $7,859,233 | $7,647,661 | 740 | $7,647,661 | $1,615,757 | $1,863,469 |
| 2022 | $41,409,131 | $1,991,131 | $7,412,471 | $7,010,630 | 682 | $7,010,630 | $1,844,939 | $2,288,089 |
| 2021 | $53,933,353 | $21,322,037 | $7,051,872 | $6,921,916 | 687 | $6,921,916 | $1,258,613 | $1,733,771 |
| 2020 | $38,179,381 | $17,108,741 | $7,688,494 | $7,547,529 | 694 | — | $2,060,158 | $1,153,961 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is “to help create strong and sustainable communities where our employees and customers live and work.” Its website identifies community investments in safety, economic and workforce development, environmental stewardship, STEM and energy education, and basic needs and hardship assistance.
Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, United Way of Central Ohio says it brings communities together to help families meet basic needs and children achieve student success. LifeCare Alliance says it delivers health and nutrition services, while Children’s Hunger Alliance describes its work as addressing food insecurity among Ohio children. Ohio Energy Project says it advances energy knowledge and leadership through education, and Energy Innovation Center Institute says it supports workforce development, sustainable technology, and job creation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 683 grants totaling $7,487,235. Grant amounts ranged from $60 to $2.1 million, with a median of $3,000. The largest listed awards included $2.1 million to Essex County Community Foundation, $340,000 to Indiana Economic Development Foundation, $100,000 to United Way of Central Ohio, and $78,000 to 2 Hype Foundation. The filing lists each of these grants’ purpose as “corporate donation.”
Other 2024 grantees included Urban League of Northwest Indiana ($74,000), American Red Cross in Pittsburgh ($66,440), Star House Foundation ($60,000), National Merit Scholarship Corporation ($58,960), LifeCare Alliance ($57,500), American Red Cross in Columbus ($55,420), Children’s Hunger Alliance ($55,000), and Serving Our Neighbors Ministries, One Columbus Foundation, Ohio Energy Project, and Energy Innovation Center Institute ($50,000 each).
The Foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its website says requests are evaluated on quality, strategic potential, community impact, public benefit, and management, and that it may decline requests, change guidelines, or reduce gifts. The filing directs applicants to contact Reginald Fields and consult the Foundation’s mission statement and administrative guidelines for application materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kimra Cole, Mark Kempic, Vince Parisi, and Melody Birmingham as trustees, and Reginald Fields as executive director. It also lists Daniel A. Creekmur and Michael W. Hooper as trustees whose terms ended during 2024; Michael Kocher as controller whose term ended December 31, 2023; Johnathan White as treasurer; and Ashley Bancroft as corporate secretary.
Nisource Charitable Foundation is led by Reginald Fields, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); none of the 14 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Reginald Fields
Executive Director
Executive Director - Joined → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel A. Creekmur
Trustee -
Trustee → Trustee -, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kimra Cole
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kempic
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vince Parisi
Trustee
Trustee - Joined → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melody Birmingham
Trustee
Trustee - Joined → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer V. Montague
Trustee
Trustee - Joined → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Hooper
Trustee -
Trustee → Trustee -, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Heidorn
Trustee - Joined
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kocher
Controller -
Controller - Joined → Controller, 2022
Controller → Controller -, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Bancroft
Corporate Secretary
Corporate Secretary - Joined → Corporate Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Johnathan White
Treasurer
Treasurer - Joined → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd M. Lanich
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer - Joined → Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Bly
Controller - Joined
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Bentley K. Archer (2020–2023) — Trustee -
- Former: Heather Grubb (2020–2023) — Treasurer -
- Former: Sophia Fifner (2021–2023) — Executive Director -
- Former: John Nassos (2022–2023) — Corporate Secretary -
- Former: Llyod Yates (2022–2023) — Member -
- Former: Chris Garland (2023) — Int. Executive Director -
- Former: Joseph Hamrock (2020–2022) — Member -
- Former: Kimberly Loies (2020–2022) — Corporate Secretary -
- Former: Mike Hooper (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Pablo A. Vegas (2020–2022) — Trustee -
- Former: Violet G. Sistovaris (2020–2022) — Trustee -
- Former: Eric Messick (2020–2021) — Controller - Termed
- Former: Jenn Moench (2020–2021) — Executive Director - Termed
- Former: Carrie Hightman (2020) — Trustee -
- Former: Joseph Mulpas (2020) — Controller -
- Former: Michael A. Huwar (2020) — Trustee -
- Former: Summa Simmons (2020) — Treasurer -
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Nisource Charitable Foundation
How much does Nisource Charitable Foundation give each year?
Nisource Charitable Foundation gave $7.5M across 683 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.6M across 740 grants.
What is Nisource Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Nisource Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $10,962, across 683 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nisource Charitable Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Nisource Charitable Foundation give grants?
Nisource Charitable Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (24%) and Indiana (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (66 grants), Lexington, KY (46 grants), Fort Wayne, IN (32 grants) and Pittsburgh, PA (30 grants).
Does Nisource Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 683 grants with a stated purpose on Nisource Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Corporate Donation" (683 grants).
Who are Nisource Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Nisource Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Essex County Community Foundation ($2,100,000), Indiana Economic Development Foundation ($340,000) and American Red Cross ($144,360 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Nisource Charitable Foundation?
Nisource Charitable Foundation reported $43.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nisource Charitable Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is “to help create strong and sustainable communities where our employees and customers live and work.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nisource Charitable Foundation?
The filing names Reginald Fields as the contact and directs applicants to the Foundation’s mission statement and administrative guidelines for the required form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nisource Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nisource-charitable-foundation-morg_cd46e402d00a4dada11923d5092919b3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510324200_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nisource Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nisource-charitable-foundation-morg_cd46e402d00a4dada11923d5092919b3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Nisource Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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