The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Niles, Michigan. In 2024, it reported 66 grants totaling $1,459,825 to organizations, including recipients in Indiana, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, and other states.
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 66 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Indiana. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,459,825
- +20.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 66
- -13.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,119
- +38.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,550
- Total assets
- $20,688,488
- -0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 66, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (62% 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 Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing lists Robin O Butler Curtis as the contact for applications. Applications should be written and include information supporting that the requesting organization is educational, scientific, literary, religious, or charitable. Applications are considered only for organizations operated exclusively for one or more of those purposes; the filing states that no scholarships or grants are given to individuals. The application should be filed with reasonable time for the foundation to act.
- Contact
Application contact: Robin O Butler Curtis
Mailing address: 70959 Batchelor Drive, Niles, MI 49120
Phone: (574) 339-7252
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Venues Parks & Arts Foundation ($600K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
351 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 326 grants of 351 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in Indiana (62%), followed by Michigan (11%), Florida (10%), Virginia (8%), and Kentucky (3%). The largest grant was to an organization in South Bend, Indiana. The filing also lists grants to organizations in other states, including North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 66 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 105% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 116% 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 $711K (2021) to $1.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 66 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venues Parks & Arts Foundation South Bend, IN | The Morris 100 Campaign | $600,000 |
| University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | Fighting Irish Initiative/Veterans Program | $100,000 |
| The Salvation Army-Niles Niles, MI | New Building | $80,000 |
| Women's Care Center South Bend, IN | General | $75,000 |
| Mayo Foundation Jacksonville, FL | General | $55,000 |
| American Red Cross VA Richmond, VA | General | $50,000 |
| South Bend Symphony South Bend, IN | Memory Ernestine Raclin/General | $50,000 |
| Camp Eberhart Alumni Asscociation Inc South Bend, IN | General | $40,000 |
| Santa Fe High School Baseball Club Alachua, FL | General | $33,500 |
| Academy at the Lakes Land O Lakes, FL | General | $26,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Leighton-Oare 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 | $20,688,488 | $1,329,762 | $1,515,054 | $1,459,825 | 66 | $1,487,158 | $1,337,917 | $1,280,728 |
| 2023 | $20,873,780 | $1,536,248 | $1,248,789 | $1,213,775 | 76 | $1,231,023 | $1,562,915 | $1,198,486 |
| 2022 | $20,586,321 | $599,326 | $1,830,360 | $1,589,425 | 75 | $1,620,627 | $408,082 | $1,310,852 |
| 2021 | $21,817,355 | $2,828,681 | $749,502 | $710,675 | 71 | $729,666 | $2,825,468 | $1,329,238 |
| 2020 | $19,663,796 | $956,948 | $850,778 | $752,045 | 63 | — | $952,278 | $1,183,258 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as arts and public spaces, education, family support, disability services, equestrian sport, community philanthropy, and posttraumatic growth. These are grantees’ stated missions, rather than a formal list of the foundation’s funding priorities.
For example, Venues Parks & Arts Foundation says it provides resources to build community through people, parks, public spaces, and programs. Women’s Care Center says it provides counseling, support, and education to help women have healthy babies, become nurturing parents, and build strong families. Residential Opportunities Inc says it partners with children and adults with disabilities and their families to support meaningful, healthy, and independent lives.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 66 grants totaling $1,459,825. Grants ranged from $500 to $600,000, with a median grant of $6,550. Its largest awards included $600,000 to Venues Parks & Arts Foundation for “The Morris 100 Campaign,” $100,000 to the University of Notre Dame for the Fighting Irish Initiative/Veterans Program, $80,000 to The Salvation Army-Niles for a new building, and $75,000 to Women’s Care Center for general purposes. Other notable grants included $55,000 to Mayo Foundation and $50,000 each to American Red Cross VA and South Bend Symphony.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are Ernest M Oare, president; Kevin J Butler, treasurer; Lisa Oare Shanks Neale, secretary; Robin Oare Butler Curtis, vice president; and Morey Oare, James R Butler, Robert L Oare III, and Bruce J Bondurant, directors.
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc is led by Ernest M. Oare, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ernest M. Oare
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bruce J. Bondurant
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James R. Butler
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Morey Oare
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert L. Oare III
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kevin J. Butler
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lisa Oare Shanks Neale
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robin Oare Butler Curtis
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc
How much does The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc give each year?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 66 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 76 grants.
What is The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $6,550, and its average grant was $22,119, across 66 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc give grants?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (11%) and Florida (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were South Bend, IN (9 grants), Warrenton, VA (7 grants), Niles, MI (6 grants) and Alachua, FL (2 grants).
Does The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 66) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Venues Parks & Arts Foundation ($600,000), University of Notre Dame ($100,000) and The Salvation Army-Niles ($80,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc reported $20.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc fund?
The filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in areas such as arts and public spaces, education, family support, disability services, equestrian sport, community philanthropy, and posttraumatic growth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s filing lists Robin O Butler Curtis as the contact for applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6034243. 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 October 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). The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leighton-oare-foundation-inc-morg_e91c67deb64c4417bcc58a5ef5b7fa64
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356034243_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leighton-Oare Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leighton-oare-foundation-inc-morg_e91c67deb64c4417bcc58a5ef5b7fa64},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Leighton-Oare 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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