The Brave Heart Foundation Inc
The Brave Heart Foundation is a private foundation based in Fishers, Indiana (located in the Indianapolis area). Founded in 2009, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes. The foundation supports small programs and nonprofits working to change the lives of children and families in underserved populations, with a particular focus on organizations operating within Indiana.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.0M
+6.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$795K
+20.8% YoY
Grant Count
167
+10.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+9.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Brave Heart Foundation exists to assist and support programs that help underserved populations with special emphasis on children and families through education, health and wellness and grassroots community action programs and services.
Vision: Offer support and resources to the community helping those in need.
The foundation's philosophy centers on celebrating and supporting "caring spirits" and individuals and organizations who "stick their necks out for others, driving impact through generous acts that support our greater community."
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education (organizations directly focused on education initiatives or special projects supporting educational opportunities)
- Health & Wellness (organizations and projects making a direct impact on the health of neighbors and overall community)
- Grassroots Community Development (supporting changemakers and big picture thinkers doing good)
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $43,799. The foundation also operates an invitation-only Big Heart grant program that awards $25,000 for capacity building projects.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts applications through their website at www.thebraveheartfoundation.com.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and projects within the state of Indiana, with a particular emphasis on the Indianapolis area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $4,721,563
- Total Revenue: $606,095
- Total Expenses: $735,836
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Distribution:
- 2009: $179,000 distributed
- 2012: $257,750 distributed
- 2013: $211,120 distributed
- 2014: $150,000 distributed
- 2015: $298,286 distributed
- 2016: $310,000 distributed
- 2017: $286,320 distributed
- 2018: $390,320 distributed
- 2019: $374,000 distributed
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,045,338 | $4,721,563 | $5,133,309 |
| Revenue | $903,614 | $606,095 | $1,231,362 |
| Expenses | $861,856 | $735,836 | $810,463 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $831,230 | $689,541 | $770,373 |
| Net Investment Income | $548,877 | $279,804 | $904,944 |
| Distributable Amount | $336,002 | $307,818 | $314,632 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Brave Heart Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Bill Griffith – Chair
- Gerry Griffith – Vice Chair
- Lara Chandler – Executive Director (designated in 2018)
- Katie Hagerty – Board Member
- Kevin Hampton – Board Member
- Carmen Hansen-Rivera – Board Member
- Kim Walton – Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM GRIFFITH | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| GERRY GRIFFITH | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| JAMES MULHOLLAND | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KIM WALTON | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID MCDANIEL | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATIE HAGERTY | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEVIN HAMPTON | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CARMEN HANSEN RIVERA | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LARA CHANDLER-BELSLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 5 | $26,375 |
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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