The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation is an independent charitable foundation established in 1999 and based in Sandusky, Ohio. The foundation was created as a permanent memorial to Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber, who tragically lost their lives in a car-train collision on February 19, 1989. Operating as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, the foundation serves the Sandusky and Erie County community through strategic grantmaking and community engagement.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$333K
-0.8% YoY
Grant Count
68
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-0.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Wightman/Wieber Foundation is to perpetuate the memory of Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber by establishing a permanent, charitable foundation for the benefit of the Sandusky/Erie County Community and the safety of all public citizens.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Public Charities
- Family Support
- Social Welfare
- Education
- Safety (with particular emphasis on railway crossing safety)
Funding Priorities: The foundation provides funding for programs designed to:
- Assist other community resources with common goals
- Help people achieve their potential
- Foster the development of responsible young people
- Provide resources to families in need
- Enable families to develop skills needed to support and nurture
- Create safe living environments
- Meet community needs and expand existing programs
Grantmaking
The foundation awards grants to non-profit, charitable organizations designated as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as governmental bodies such as Boards of Education.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on the Sandusky and Erie County community in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Organization Details:
- EIN: 34-1831533
- Address: 100 E Water St, Sandusky, OH 44870-2524
- Established: 1999
Grant Distribution: The foundation has distributed grants totaling $335,309 across its grantmaking history through 2025.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,208,312 | $5,086,296 | $5,212,950 |
| Revenue | $512,765 | $258,385 | $122,242 |
| Expenses | $390,749 | $385,039 | $444,854 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $332,724 | $335,948 | $380,250 |
| Net Investment Income | $447,195 | $193,707 | $65,097 |
| Distributable Amount | $342,911 | $325,491 | $325,055 |
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
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Michelle Wightman-karrie Wieber
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Darlene M. Wightman Lowery, who established the foundation in memory of her daughter, Michelle Wightman, with assistance from attorney Tom Murray.
Board Guidance: Darlene and Karleen guided the vision of the foundation and established crucial priorities that continue to impact its contributions to the community. George Mylander served as an original member of the Board of Trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARLENE LOWERY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANN MURRAY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RHONDA WATT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GENE KIDWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER CHAPMAN | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | — |
| KEVIN LUTZ | SECRETARY/TR | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN HARRIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TRICIA PATTEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JIM MURRAY | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation co-sponsors, along with The City of Sandusky and Sandusky City Schools, the annual Wightman Wieber Celebration Safety Fair and Kids Fun Festival held each May at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion. This event attracts thousands of parents and children from the community.
The foundation has supported a diverse range of organizations across Erie County, including youth sports leagues, educational institutions, health services, wildlife organizations, and community centers. The foundation emphasizes collaboration with existing nonprofits and encourages sustainable community partnerships.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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