The Portland Foundation
The Portland Foundation is a public charity based in Portland, Indiana. Founded in 1951, it supports charitable, cultural, educational, and community-improvement needs in Jay County, Indiana, through grantmaking, scholarships, community endowment, and leadership on local issues.
The Portland Foundation at a glance
In short: The Portland Foundation gave $4.2M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $221K), mostly in Indiana. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,189,960
- +277.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +18.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $220,524
- +218.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $21,000
- Total assets
- $24,839,195
- +3.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Portland Foundation
- How to Apply
The Foundation’s general guidelines say grants are for tax-exempt organizations operating or proposing programs that benefit Jay County residents, and favor start-up costs, one-time projects, and qualifying capital…
The Foundation’s general guidelines say grants are for tax-exempt organizations operating or proposing programs that benefit Jay County residents, and favor start-up costs, one-time projects, and qualifying capital needs. Application instructions vary by program. For the 2026 Women’s Giving Circle grant, applications were to be submitted electronically with the completed application, proof of tax-exempt status if not already on file, a recent financial statement including budget and year-to-date income and expenses, and a board list. The guidelines exclude religious or sectarian purposes, operating-deficit coverage, after-the-fact requests, endowment or capital projects, political activity, and fundraising events.
- Review Cycle
- The Women’s Giving Circle application deadline was July 10, 2026, which has passed.
- Deadline
- The Women’s Giving Circle application deadline was July 10, 2026, which has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 107 S Meridian Street, Portland, IN 47371
Phone: (260) 726-4260
Website: https://portlandfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from The Portland Foundation
Cycle 4: Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program Grant Cycle
Listed byThe Portland Foundation
Amount
US $3,600
Deadline
Deadline not published
Dunkirk Community Funds: Dr. H. L. Shroyer Christian Love Scholarship Grant
The Portland Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Dunkirk Community Funds: Ella & Irene Cunningham Scholarship Grant
The Portland Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Portland Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Portland Foundation Building Corporation ($3.6M). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 72 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated grantmaking objective is to serve the charitable, cultural, and community-improvement needs of people residing in Jay County, Indiana. Its 2024 grant filing lists all grant dollars as going to Indiana recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Portland Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $289K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $22K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $381K (2022) to $4.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Portland Foundation Building Corporation Portland, IN | Early Learning Bldg | $3,598,456 |
| Arts Place Portland, IN | General Support | $117,825 |
| John Jay Center for Learning Portland, IN | General Support | $82,680 |
| Jay County Baseball Club Portland, IN | General Support | $75,000 |
| Jay Community Center Portland, IN | General Support | $51,864 |
| Asbury United Methodist Church Portland, IN | General Support | $45,543 |
| Pennville Community Center Pennville, IN | General Support | $25,000 |
| Redkey Junior League Portland, IN | General Support | $25,000 |
| Jay County Historical Society Portland, IN | General Support | $22,512 |
| A Better Life - Brianna's Hope Portland, IN | General Support | $21,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Portland Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $24,839,195 | $4,926,811 | $4,884,598 | $4,189,960 | 19 | $1,315,801 |
| 2023 | $23,963,880 | $1,620,583 | $1,840,594 | $1,108,927 | 16 | $1,109,536 |
| 2022 | $22,364,186 | $680,512 | $955,706 | $380,584 | 11 | $614,737 |
| 2021 | $27,639,720 | $656,140 | $1,027,197 | $428,045 | 14 | $376,089 |
| 2020 | $24,678,777 | $515,356 | $1,010,226 | $442,173 | 12 | $323,992 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Jay County, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, making significant grants, and providing leadership on key community issues.
Its guidelines favor start-up costs for new programs, one-time projects or needs, and capital needs beyond an applicant’s capabilities and means. Limited field-of-interest funding is available for areas including emergency services, elderly residents, community improvement in the Portland area, needy families, libraries, historical facilities, animal welfare, handicapped children, and education for sensory-impaired children. The guidelines say the Foundation has historically funded community development, arts and culture, health and human services, youth, and education.
The Foundation supports a range of Jay County organizations. For example, Arts Place describes its mission as making arts experiences, education, and services accessible to residents, artists, and cultural organizations. The John Jay Center for Learning says it advances lifelong learning and personal development in Jay County. The Jay County Historical Society says it maintains the county’s historical museum and preserves local history.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 19 grants totaling $4,189,960. The median grant was $21,000; grants ranged from $10,000 to $3,598,456. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana.
The largest reported grant was $3,598,456 to The Portland Foundation Building Corporation for an early learning building. The recipient describes its role as holding title to a building in Portland to support the Foundation. Other notable grants included $117,825 to Arts Place for general support, $82,680 to John Jay Center for Learning for general support, $75,000 to Jay County Baseball Club for general support, and $51,864 to Jay Community Center for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeremy Gulley as president; Kaleb Hemmelgarn as vice president; Krista Muhlenkamp as secretary; Joshua Atkinson, Adam Homan, Richard Huffman, Audrey Muhlenkamp, Angela Paxson, and Mark Valentine as directors; and Douglas Inman as executive director.
The Portland Foundation is led by Jeremy Gulley, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeremy Gulley
President
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Audrey Muhlenkamp
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Homan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Paxson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Atkinson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Valentine
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Huffman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas L. Inman
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $84K (2024)
Kaleb Hemmelgarn
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Krista Muhlenkamp
Secreatary & T
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
Secretary & Treasurer → Secreatary & T, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: John Moore (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tammy Hanlin (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Rex Journay (2020–2021) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Rob Penrod (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Pat Bennett (2020) — Immediate Past President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $84K, to Douglas Inman (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about The Portland Foundation
How much does The Portland Foundation give each year?
The Portland Foundation gave $4.2M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 16 grants.
What is The Portland Foundation's typical grant size?
The Portland Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $21,000, and its average grant was $220,524, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Portland Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does The Portland Foundation give grants?
The Portland Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, IN (15 grants) and Dunkirk, IN (2 grants).
Does The Portland Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 95% of The Portland Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Portland Foundation's largest grantees?
The Portland Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Portland Foundation Building Corporation ($3,598,456), Arts Place ($117,825) and John Jay Center for Learning ($82,680), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Portland Foundation?
The Portland Foundation reported $24.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.9M.
What does The Portland Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Jay County, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, making significant grants, and providing leadership on key community issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Portland Foundation?
The Foundation’s general guidelines say grants are for tax-exempt organizations operating or proposing programs that benefit Jay County residents, and favor start-up costs, one-time projects, and qualifying capital… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Portland Foundation's EIN?
The Portland Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-6028362. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Portland Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Portland Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-portland-foundation-morg_72ce375fde384c66b81a6cdd899b8d30
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_356028362_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Portland Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-portland-foundation-morg_72ce375fde384c66b81a6cdd899b8d30},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Portland Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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