The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber is a private foundation based in Sandusky, Ohio. It supports community needs in Sandusky and Erie County, including safety, education, social welfare, family support, and charitable organizations.
Key facts about The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation
In short: The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation gave $350K across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Ohio. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 34-1831533
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $350,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- Average grant
- $5,000
- Median grant
- $3,077
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (12 of 56, 2025)
- Total assets
- $5,298,020
- Primary geography
- Ohio (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- A completed application includes a proposal narrative, budget form, and IRS determination letter or group exemption letter. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Completed applications are due by 5:00 p.m.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
+5.3% YoY
Grant Count
70
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $337K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 56 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to perpetuate Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber’s memory by supporting the Sandusky/Erie County community and public safety. Its website identifies safety, education, social welfare, family support, and public charities as funding emphases, with particular emphasis on railway-crossing safety. It also describes support for programs that meet community needs, expand existing programs, create safe environments, help families, foster young people’s development, and help people achieve their potential.
The foundation’s grant guidelines cover arts and humanities, community development, education, environment, health and social services, and youth services. They encourage collaboration among Erie County organizations, stronger organizational capacity, sustainable projects that leverage other resources, and substantial community benefits, particularly for underserved people. Eligible grantees include tax-exempt charitable organizations and governmental bodies such as boards of education.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantees. OH-GO describes its work as facilitating community acts of kindness, delivering goods to disadvantaged children, and offering local learning experiences. The Sandusky Blue Streak Boosters Club says it supports athletic programs at Sandusky City Schools. Erie Residential Living says it provides residential services to people with developmental disabilities, while Erie County Economic Development describes its work as facilitating job creation and retention and increasing economic opportunities in the county.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $350,000. Grant amounts ranged from $649 to $30,000, with a median of $3,077. Its website’s general grant range is $1,000–$20,000, and it says grants are typically awarded for one year.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $30,000 to the City of Sandusky for the Sandusky Bay Pathway; $25,000 to Campbell Christian Community Center for program building and expansion; $20,000 to OH-GO for building expansion; and $15,000 to the Sandusky Blue Streak Boosters Club for the turf project at Strobel Field. Other notable grants included $14,000 to the Erie County Public Defender’s Office for Project Strength and $11,000 to Margaretta Middle School for a Washington, D.C. trip. The foundation also awarded $10,000 each to the City of Sandusky for Safety Town, the Erie County Health Department for enhancing access to Compass Point, Family Health Services for a fundraising commitment, OH-GO for a food pantry building expansion, Sandusky State Theatre for strengthening engagement for CCYT, and Second Harvest Food Bank for food distribution.
Review Cycle
Completed applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 1 and September 1 each year. Both 2026 deadlines have passed as of September 28, 2026.
How to Apply
A completed application includes a proposal narrative, budget form, and IRS determination letter or group exemption letter. The filing says applications are available through the Sandusky Erie County Community Foundation office or online; the foundation’s website provides an application packet and says applications should be mailed. Churches, schools, governmental bodies, and other entities covered by a group exemption may apply if they provide the group exemption letter and documentation showing their inclusion. Projects must serve Erie County residents, and organizations must have IRS tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3). The foundation generally does not fund advertising or sponsorships, annual campaigns, debt reduction, medical or other research organizations, political or lobbying activities, routine operating expenses for ongoing programs, staff salaries or benefits, sectarian religious purposes, or tickets or advertising for fundraising events.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant projects must serve Erie County residents. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 1% to recipients in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $308K (2020) to $532K (2019). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $350K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City of Sandusky ($40K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
344 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 344 grants of 344 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sandusky Sandusky, OH | Sandusky Bay Pathway | $30,000 |
| Cambell Christian Community Center Sandusky, OH | Program Building & Expansion | $25,000 |
| Ohgo Sandusky, OH | Building Expansion | $20,000 |
| Sandusky Blue Streak Boosters Club Sandusky, OH | Turf Project at Strobel Field | $15,000 |
| Erie Co Public Defender's Office Sandusky, OH | Project Strength | $14,000 |
| Margaretta Middle School Castalia, OH | Washington DC Trip | $11,000 |
| City of Sandusky Sandusky, OH | Safety Town | $10,000 |
| Erie County Health Department Sandusky, OH | Enhancing Acces to Compass Point | $10,000 |
| Family Health Services Sandusky, OH | Fundraising Commitment | $10,000 |
| Ohgo Sandusky, OH | Food Pantry Building Expansion | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,298,020 | $507,187 | $417,479 | $350,000 | 70 |
| 2024 | $5,208,312 | $512,765 | $390,749 | $332,500 | 68 |
| 2023 | $5,086,296 | $258,385 | $385,039 | $335,309 | 68 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,298,020 | $5,208,312 | $5,086,296 |
| Revenue | $507,187 | $512,765 | $258,385 |
| Expenses | $417,479 | $390,749 | $385,039 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $351,446 | $332,724 | $335,948 |
| Net Investment Income | $440,554 | $447,195 | $193,707 |
| Distributable Amount | $336,509 | $342,911 | $325,491 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 25, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jim Murray as president; Jennifer Chapman as vice president; Kevin Lutz as secretary/tr; and Darlene Lowery, Ann Murray, Rhonda Watt, Gene Kidwell, Justin Harris, and Tricia Patten as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Darlene Lowery as founder and trustee, Jim Murray as president and trustee, and Kevin Lutz as secretary, treasurer, and trustee.
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation is led by Jim Murray, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jim Murray
President
Trustee → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Murray
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darlene Lowery
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gene Kidwell
Trustee
President → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rhonda Watt
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Patten
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Chapman
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Lutz
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Wightman Wieber Charitable Found
Mailing address: Attn Stepanie Lawrence, 100 E Water St, Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: (419) 625-8424
Email: smlawrence@civista.bank
Website: https://wightman-wieber-foundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation
How much does The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation gave $350K across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $333K across 68 grants.
What is The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,077, and its average grant was $5,000, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sandusky, OH (51 grants), Huron, OH (7 grants), Castalia, OH (5 grants) and Lorain, OH (2 grants).
Does The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Holiday Distribution" (8 grants).
Who are The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include City of Sandusky ($40,000 across 2 grants), Ohgo ($30,000 across 2 grants) and Cambell Christian Community Center ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $351K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $337K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to perpetuate Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber’s memory by supporting the Sandusky/Erie County community and public safety. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation?
A completed application includes a proposal narrative, budget form, and IRS determination letter or group exemption letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1831533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation by hand.
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