The Pokagon Fund Inc
The Pokagon Fund is a nonprofit private foundation established in 2007 and based in New Buffalo, Michigan. The organization was created through a local agreement dated March 13, 2000 (as amended), between the City of New Buffalo, New Buffalo Township, and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The Fund is supported by revenue from The Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Michigan, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The organization is classified as a private grantmaking foundation under the IRS tax code.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.5M
-10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+25.7% YoY
Grant Count
101
-27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+73.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pokagon Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $396K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of The Pokagon Fund is to benefit communities surrounding Pokagon Band trust land and the New Buffalo area, including financial support for governments, charities, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.
The Fund's vision is to create communities that are economically strong and socially vibrant, where all residents can access the resources they need to care for themselves and their families and have the freedom to shape their future.
Primary funding focus areas include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The Pokagon Fund awards grants through multiple programs:
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $72,000 to $300,000.
How to Apply
** The Fund has established Discretionary and Municipal Grantmaking Guidelines. The Fund's Board of Directors reserves the right to dispose of grant requests as it sees fit and has sole discretion whether to award a grant, deny a grant, or take any other action regarding any grant request. The Fund may consider grant requests that do not align exactly with published guidelines and welcomes innovative proposals to address demonstrable community needs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary Service Area (90% of distributions):
- City of New Buffalo, Michigan
- New Buffalo Township, Michigan
- Chikaming Township, Michigan
- Three Oaks Township, Michigan
- Village of Grand Beach, Michigan
- Village of Michiana, Michigan
- Village of Three Oaks, Michigan
- River Valley School District, Michigan
- New Buffalo Area Schools, Michigan
Secondary Service Area (10% of distributions):
- Hartford, Michigan
- Dowagiac, Michigan
- South Bend, Indiana
The Fund also makes grants in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois more broadly.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $8,548,812 (as of 2025)
Total Giving: $1,388,564
Total Revenues: $2,045,923 (2025)
Total Expenses: $1,850,610 (2025)
Staff: 2 employees
Tax Status: Tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code; required to file IRS Form 990-PF
EIN: 30-0130499
Ruling Year: 2004
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,548,812 | $9,502,517 | $9,059,039 |
| Revenue | $2,045,923 | $1,594,789 | $1,439,646 |
| Expenses | $1,850,610 | $1,501,773 | $1,385,498 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,673,949 | $1,377,895 | $1,284,378 |
| Net Investment Income | $677,583 | $249,310 | $47,553 |
| Distributable Amount | $395,510 | $441,586 | $448,817 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Pokagon Fund Inc
Pokagon Band Grants
THE POKAGON FUND INC
Amount
Up to US $7,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Pokagon Fund - Municipal Grants
THE POKAGON FUND INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Pokagon Fund Discretionary Grants
THE POKAGON FUND INC
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include City of New Buffalo ($150,000), City of New Buffalo ($37,500), Harding's Market ($18,483).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACORN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS THREE OAKS, MI | JAZZREACH AT RVSD | $3,000 |
| BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, IN | QUINN WHITAKER 2024-2025 | $2,500 |
| BALL STATE UNIVERSITY MUNCIE, IN | ALLISON RANSOM 2024-2025 | $2,500 |
| BARNES & NOBLE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE PHILADELPHIA, PA | AUTUMN BUKOWSKI BOOKS SPRING 2025 | $269 |
| BETHEL UNIVERSITY MISHAWAKA, IN | MONICA GRAZIANO 2024-2025 | $2,500 |
| BRIDGMAN LAKE TOWNSHIP YOUTH SOCCER BRIDGMAN, MI | NEW BUFFALO SOCCER SUPPORT 2025 | $1,000 |
| BUSY HANDS OF MICHIANA SOUTH BEND, IN | HELPING CHILDREN WHO HAVE AUTISM | $2,000 |
| BUTLER UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS, IN | OLIVIA BOURNE 2024-2025 | $1,250 |
| CARING CONNECTION BENTON HARBOR, MI | VIOLENCE PREVENTION OUTREACH | $15,000 |
| CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY CEDARVILLE, OH | ISAIAH NASH 2024-2025 | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Dan Petersen
Board Structure: The Pokagon Fund is governed by a seven-member board with a unique composition:
- Two directors appointed by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi's Tribal Council
- One director appointed by New Buffalo Township
- One director appointed by the City of New Buffalo
- Three remaining directors jointly selected by the four appointed directors
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN HARRINGTON | CHAIR | 2 | $2,400 |
| DEBORAH SCHMIDT | TREASURER | 2 | $2,400 |
| SANDRA SPORLEDER | SECRETARY | 2 | $2,400 |
| RICH KNOLL | DIRECTOR | 1 | $800 |
| PATTY IAZZETTO | DIRECTOR | 1 | $1,000 |
| DAN PETERSEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $155,000 |
| RHONDA KEENE | DIRECTOR | 2 | $900 |
| MARK PARRISH | DIRECTOR | 2 | $1,200 |
| BRIAN FLANAGAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $400 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Pokagon Band announced community investment contributions for 2026, with distributions of $335,000 to South Bend-area organizations. The Pokagon Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a grant for new equipment in 2024. The Fund has been actively awarding grants since November 2007, with ongoing support for local government, nonprofit organizations, and community infrastructure projects across its service areas.
Pokagon Band distributes $335,000 to South Bend-area organizationsContact Information
Website: www.pokagonfund.org
Phone: 269-469-9322
Address: 821 E Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117-1522
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram presence
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Pokagon Fund Inc fund?
The mission of The Pokagon Fund is to benefit communities surrounding Pokagon Band trust land and the New Buffalo area, including financial support for governments, charities, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. The Fund's vision is to create communities that are economically strong and socially vibrant, where all residents can access the resources they need to care for themselves and their families and have the freedom to shape their future. Primary funding focus areas include Educat…
How do I apply for a grant from The Pokagon Fund Inc?
The Pokagon Fund awards grants through multiple programs: • **Pokagon Band Grants** • **Pokagon Fund Discretionary Grants** • **Pokagon Fund Municipal Grants** **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $72,000 to $300,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants include $300,000 to Friends of the New Buffalo Township Fire Department for the New Buffalo Township Marquette Greenway (Discretionary Funds), $213,333 to the same organization for Red Arrow Linear Park (Municipal Funds), and $150,000…
Where does The Pokagon Fund Inc make grants?
**Primary Service Area (90% of distributions):** • City of New Buffalo, Michigan • New Buffalo Township, Michigan • Chikaming Township, Michigan • Three Oaks Township, Michigan • Village of Grand Beach, Michigan • Village of Michiana, Michigan • Village of Three Oaks, Michigan • River Valley School District, Michigan • New Buffalo Area Schools, Michigan **Secondary Service Area (10% of distributions):** • Hartford, Michigan • Dowagiac, Michigan • South Bend, Indiana The Fund also makes grants i…
What size grants does The Pokagon Fund Inc award?
In 2025, The Pokagon Fund Inc awarded 101 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Pokagon Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Pokagon Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $396K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Pokagon Fund Inc's EIN?
The Pokagon Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0130499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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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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