The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc is a private family foundation incorporated in 1955 and based in Niles, Michigan. The foundation manages substantial assets and distributes grants to nonprofit organizations across the United States, with particular focus on the South Bend, Indiana and Niles, Michigan areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.7M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+20.3% YoY
Grant Count
66
-13.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+38.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in the following areas of interest:
- Education
- Social services
- Health
- Children and youth
- Arts and culture
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Types of support provided include general support, project support, building funds, and equipment.
Grantmaking
Recent grants include:
Grant Range
$5,000–$6,600
Average Grant
$21,200
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports a wide range of U.S. locations, with primary focus on:
- South Bend, Indiana
- Niles, Michigan
Additional states where the foundation has provided funding include Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. The foundation has also supported international locations including Kampala.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $20,688,488
- Total annual giving: $1,459,825
- Total expenses: $1,515,054
- Total revenues: $1,329,762
- Investment income and dividends: $206,182
Organization Status:
- EIN: 35-6034243
- Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3), since September 1957
- Classification: Private non-operating foundation
- Employees: 0 (volunteer-run organization)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,688,488 | $20,873,780 | $20,586,321 |
| Revenue | $1,329,762 | $1,536,248 | $599,326 |
| Expenses | $1,515,054 | $1,248,789 | $1,830,360 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,487,158 | $1,231,023 | $1,620,627 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,337,917 | $1,562,915 | $408,082 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,280,728 | $1,198,486 | $1,310,852 |
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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team consists of volunteer board members with no paid staff:
- Ernest M Oare — President
- Kevin J Butler — Treasurer
- Lisa Oare Shanks Neale — Secretary
- Robin Oare Butler Curtis — Vice President
- Morey Oare — Director
- James R Butler — Director
- Robert L Oare III — Director
- Bruce J Bondurant — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERNEST M OARE | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| KEVIN J BUTLER | TREASURER | — | — |
| LISA OARE SHANKS NEALE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| ROBIN OARE BUTLER CURTIS | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MOREY OARE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JAMES R BUTLER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT L OARE III | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BRUCE J BONDURANT | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in awarding grants to organizations in its service areas. Recent grant announcements indicate ongoing support for cultural institutions, educational programs, and community organizations in the South Bend and Niles regions.
Studebaker Museum Wins Leighton Award - Community Foundation of St. JosephContact Information
Address: 70959 Batchelor Dr Niles, MI 49120-7627 United States
Telephone: 269-687-6290
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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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