The Leep Foundation Inc
The Leep Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Mishawaka, Indiana. Its grantmaking supports nonprofit organizations, with the foundation’s stated mission focused on the health and well-being of families and communities.
The Leep Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Leep Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), mostly in Indiana. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,094,745
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +30.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,492
- -18.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $22,043,361
- +20.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (10 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (79% 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 The Leep Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its website asks applicants to submit an electronic request with contact information and the organization’s purpose and proposed use of the grant. It may then request a sustainability plan for a new project or position, a list of officers and directors, a current financial statement and operating budget, and the IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status. The website says applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations that are not private foundations under section 509(a); organizations may apply once in a 12-month period, and funded organizations must provide quarterly updates. The website says grants are generally not made for start-up costs, endowments, deficit financing or loans, or event sponsorships. The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions or limitations on awards.
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadlines; applications are reviewed quarterly.
- Deadline
- No submission deadlines; applications are reviewed quarterly.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael R Leep Sr
Mailing address: 5201 N Grape Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545
Phone: (574) 271-4147
Website: https://gurleyleep.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Leep Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation St Joseph County Inc ($265K). Together the top 10 received $908K.
Grant Size Distribution
128 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 128 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Indiana (79%), followed by Connecticut (9%), Georgia (6%), Michigan (3%), and Iowa (2%). Its website says it concentrates efforts in communities where it lives and works, while also accepting applications from local, national, and international organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Leep Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 30 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% 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 (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $324K (2019) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation St Joseph County Inc South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $265,000 |
| Cultivate Food Rescue South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $125,333 |
| Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Inc Norwich, CT | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Hospice Foundation Mishawaka, IN | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Marian University Ancilla College Indianapolis, IN | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Reins of Life Eastanollee, GA | General Operating Support | $62,500 |
| Transformation Ministries South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $55,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Logan Center South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Family Justice Center of St Joseph Cnty South Bend, IN | General Operating Support | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Leep Foundation Inc?
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 | $22,043,361 | $5,302,577 | $1,221,936 | $1,094,745 | 30 | $1,099,628 | $1,152,045 | $1,246,419 |
| 2023 | $18,287,794 | $2,388,124 | $1,124,276 | $1,029,542 | 23 | $1,033,201 | $256,373 | $924,711 |
| 2022 | $17,056,126 | $1,905,353 | $1,019,645 | $909,666 | 19 | $909,666 | $143,795 | $813,608 |
| 2021 | $12,812,879 | $5,796,115 | $787,037 | $711,563 | 25 | $711,563 | $1,882,428 | $706,870 |
| 2020 | $9,376,359 | $2,464,654 | $590,465 | $511,130 | 31 | — | $295,897 | $463,286 |
| 2019 | $7,678,891 | $4,440,630 | $381,357 | $324,190 | 25 | — | $959,386 | $299,519 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leep Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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 Leep Automotive Family Foundation states that it is dedicated to investing in the health and well-being of families and communities. Its funding areas include supporting children and adults with physical and developmental challenges, developing youth in need, providing basic human needs, and scholarship programs.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Transformation Ministries says it works with urban youth and their families; Habitat for Humanity describes its work as addressing poverty housing and decent shelter; and Hannah’s House describes itself as a maternity home providing shelter and support to pregnant young women. These are grantee missions, not stated foundation priorities beyond the funding areas above.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $1,094,745. Grants ranged from $3,710 to $265,000, with a median award of $15,000. The largest awards included $265,000 to Community Foundation St Joseph County Inc, $125,333 to Cultivate Food Rescue, $100,000 to Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Inc, and $100,000 to Hospice Foundation. Each was listed for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Leep Foundation Inc is led by Michael R Leep Sr., President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael R Leep Sr.
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James E Leep
Vice President, Treasurer, Director & Director
Director → Vice President, Treasurer, Director & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristin Guernsey-Leep
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Chamberlin
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael R Leep Jr.
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenal Zak
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill J Popielski
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas C Sopko (2019–2022) — Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 The Leep Foundation Inc
How much does The Leep Foundation Inc give each year?
The Leep Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 23 grants.
What is The Leep Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Leep Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $36,492, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leep Foundation Inc that year got $50K on average.
Where does The Leep Foundation Inc give grants?
The Leep Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (9%) and Georgia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were South Bend, IN (11 grants), Indianapolis, IN (6 grants), Mishawaka, IN (3 grants) and Niles, MI (2 grants).
Does The Leep Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Leep Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (30 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Leep Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Leep Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Community Foundation St Joseph County Inc ($265,000), Cultivate Food Rescue ($125,333) and Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Inc ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Leep Foundation Inc?
The Leep Foundation Inc reported $22.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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 The Leep Foundation Inc fund?
The Leep Automotive Family Foundation states that it is dedicated to investing in the health and well-being of families and communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leep Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Leep Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Leep Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4818874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does The Leep Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Leep Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leep-foundation-inc-morg_fe4c244c25dd44f8bc51ed40dd255430
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_264818874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leep Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leep-foundation-inc-morg_fe4c244c25dd44f8bc51ed40dd255430},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Leep Foundation Inc'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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