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
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.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mayo Foundation ($55,000), American Red Cross Va ($50,000), South Bend Symphony ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY AT THE LAKES LAND O LAKES, FL | GENERAL | $26,000 |
| ALCOHOL & ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER SOUTH BEND, IN | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS VA RICHMOND, VA | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| BACKPACKS FROM BETH INC LAGRANGE, KY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| BLOWING ROCK CHARITY HORSE SHOW FDN BLOWING ROCK, NC | GENERAL | $7,100 |
| BOULDER CREST FOUNDATION BLUEMONT, VA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| BRIAN PARKER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION NILES, MI | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| CAMP EBERHART ALUMNI ASSCOCIATION INC SOUTH BEND, IN | GENERAL | $40,000 |
| CAMP KULAQUA HIGH SPRINGS, FL | GENERAL | $6,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$600,000 • Median grant size: $5,000–$6,600 • Average grant size: $21,200 • Total annual giving: approximately $1.46 million **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants include: • Venues Parks and Arts Foundation: $600,000 (The Morris 100 Campaign) • University of Notre Dame: $100,000 (Fighting Irish Initiative/veterans Program) • Women's Care Center: $75,000 (General support) The foundation made 66 grants in the most recent fiscal year, with …
Where does The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc make 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.
What size grants does The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc awarded 66 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Leighton-oare Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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