The Palmer Family Foundation
The Palmer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Carmel, Indiana. Formed in 2000 by Eldon and Elaine Palmer and their children, it says its mission is to promote human flourishing and describes its approach as highly relational.
Key facts about The Palmer Family Foundation
In short: The Palmer Family Foundation gave $288K across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state Indiana. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 35-6691822
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $287,650
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- Average grant
- $4,495
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (12 of 64, 2025)
- Total assets
- $4,658,336
- Primary geography
- Indiana (42% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s website says it does not have an open application process and that selected organizations will be invited to apply. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The website says grants are reviewed in the fourth quarter of the year.
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
$4.7M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$288K
+11.0% YoY
Grant Count
64
+8.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Palmer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $298K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Palmer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 64 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 areas of interest are increasing educational opportunities, job and skills training toward self-sufficiency, alleviating human suffering, and helping those in need. It values self-reliance and describes its preferred partners as relational, engaging, accountable, and sustainable, with measurable results and strategic planning.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. Bright Hope International says it partners with local churches in under-resourced communities; Heart Change Ministries says it equips women and families in crisis and poverty through instruction, training, and supportive relationships. Opportunity International describes providing financial solutions, support, and training to people living in poverty in developing countries. Justice Ventures International says it works with local organizations and global stakeholders to address human trafficking and other extreme injustice.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 64 grants totaling $287,650. Grants ranged from $150 to $50,000, with a median of $3,000.
Among its larger 2025 grants were $50,000 to Southern Stairs; $10,000 each to Bright Hope International, Heart Change Ministries, and National Christian Foundation; and $9,000 each to Bethel Church, The Advancement Center for Washington Township Schools and North Central Alumni, and Young Life. Other grants included $7,500 to Opportunity International and $6,000 each to Hope International and Justice Ventures International. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as general fund.
Review Cycle
The website says grants are reviewed in the fourth quarter of the year.
How to Apply
The foundation’s website says it does not have an open application process and that selected organizations will be invited to apply. Its 2025 filing lists no special form, no specific deadlines, and no restrictions on awards; it names Donald and Carolyn Palmer as contacts for applications.
Ready to take the next step with The Palmer Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports organizations in Central Indiana and NGOs abroad. In 2025, Indiana recipients received 42% of grant dollars, followed by Colorado (17%), Illinois (10%), California (7%), and Georgia (3%). Its 2025 grants also included recipients in Arizona, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $161K (2020) to $288K (2025). In 2025 it made 64 grants totaling $288K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Stairs ($50K). Together the top 10 received $127K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
310 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 309 grants of 310 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Stairs Greenwood Village, CO | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Bright Hope International South Barrington, IL | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Heart Change Ministries Indianapolis, IN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| National Chrisitan Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Bethel Church Noblesville, IN | General Fund | $9,000 |
| The Advancement Center for Washington TWSP Schools and North Central Alumni Indianapolis, IN | General Fund | $9,000 |
| Young Life Prescott, AZ | General Fund | $9,000 |
| Opportunity International Chicago, IL | General Fund | $7,500 |
| Goodwill Foundation of Central & Southern Indiana Indianapolis, IN | General Fund | $6,500 |
| CMF International Indianapolis, IN | General Fund | $6,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,658,336 | $460,051 | $327,502 | $287,650 | 64 |
| 2024 | $4,645,071 | $274,718 | $312,685 | $259,105 | 59 |
| 2023 | $4,809,819 | $588,169 | $290,539 | $255,700 | 62 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,658,336 | $4,645,071 | $4,809,819 |
| Revenue | $460,051 | $274,718 | $588,169 |
| Expenses | $327,502 | $312,685 | $290,539 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $290,600 | $262,005 | $258,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $197,576 | $240,463 | $556,230 |
| Distributable Amount | $298,053 | $260,942 | $241,045 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald Palmer, Carolyn Palmer, and M. Elaine Palmer as directors.
The Palmer Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carolyn J. Palmer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald L. Palmer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
M. Elaine Palmer
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Donaldcarolyn Palmer
Mailing address: 2410 Londonberry Blvd, Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: (317) 590-0159
Website: https://palmerfamilyfoundation.com
Frequently asked questions about The Palmer Family Foundation
How much does The Palmer Family Foundation give each year?
The Palmer Family Foundation gave $288K across 64 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $259K across 59 grants.
What is The Palmer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Palmer Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,495, across 64 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Palmer Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Palmer Family Foundation give grants?
The Palmer Family Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (17%) and Illinois (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (26 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants), Noblesville, IN (3 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does The Palmer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Palmer Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (64 of 64) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Palmer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Palmer Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Stairs ($50,000), Bright Hope International ($10,000) and Heart Change Ministries ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Palmer Family Foundation?
The Palmer Family Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $291K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $298K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Palmer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated areas of interest are increasing educational opportunities, job and skills training toward self-sufficiency, alleviating human suffering, and helping those in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Palmer Family Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it does not have an open application process and that selected organizations will be invited to apply. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Palmer Family Foundation's EIN?
The Palmer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6691822. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Palmer Family Foundation by hand.
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