The Ruthmere Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Elkhart, IN EIN: 32-0037914

The Ruthmere Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Elkhart, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $5K. Net investment income was $839K.

Key facts about The Ruthmere Foundation

In short: The Ruthmere Foundation gave $5K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
32-0037914
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$5,460
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$1,365
Median grant
$655
Total assets
$11,849,900
Primary geography
Indiana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$11.8M

+3.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$5K

+27.4% YoY

Grant Count

4

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$1K

-4.4% YoY

How The Ruthmere Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

ElkhartSouth BendBirminghamMiddleburyNew York

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5K$10K$15K2 grants2020 3 grants2021 5 grants2022 3 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2020) to $11K (2022). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $5K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

First Presbyterian Church: $4KFirst Presbyterian Church$4KWNIT Public Television: $750WNIT Public Television$750Community Foundation of Elkhart County: $560Community Foundation ofElkhart County$560Elkhart Festivals Inc: $150Elkhart Festivals Inc$150

The largest 2024 recipient was First Presbyterian Church ($4K). Together the top 4 received $5K.

Grant Size Distribution

17 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 17 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
First Presbyterian Church Elkhart, INExempt Purpose of Organization$4,000
WNIT Public Television South Bend, INExempt Purpose of Organization$750
Community Foundation of Elkhart County Elkhart, INExempt Purpose of Organization$560
Elkhart Festivals Inc Elkhart, INExempt Purpose of Organization$150

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$11,849,900$11,500,968$10,060,793
Revenue$1,187,726$1,539,499$1,689,933
Expenses$1,193,504$931,047$1,023,372
Qualifying Distributions$1,057,352$798,160$866,965
Net Investment Income$838,598$422,713$89,049

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Ruthmere Foundation is led by William Firstenberger, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William Firstenberger

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $85K (2020) → $87K (2024)

  • Edward A Beardsley

    President

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ann Knoll

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Constance Fulmer

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gregory A Kil

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jackson W Beck

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael J Church

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert J Deputy

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colter Cody Combs

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Myers

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew H Beardsley

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Tychonievich

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca Deptula

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Burton

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • George E Freese

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    8 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James A Bridenstine

    First Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Todd Zeiger

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Janet Evanega Rieckhoff

    Second Vice President

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Joan Beardsley Norris (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Karen Cittadine (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Bill Burton (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Dan Tychonievich (2023) — Director
  • Former: Dorinda Miles Smith (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Janet Evanega (2020–2022) — Second Vice President
  • Former: Teri L Stout (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Cameron T Combs (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Johnathan Tuff (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Robert B Beardsley (2020–2021) — Founding Director
  • Former: Arthur J Decio (2020) — Lifetime Director

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

William Firstenberger — Executive Director: $87KWilliam FirstenbergerExecutive Director$87K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $87K, to William Firstenberger (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about The Ruthmere Foundation

How much does The Ruthmere Foundation give each year?

The Ruthmere Foundation gave $5K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4K across 3 grants.

What is The Ruthmere Foundation's typical grant size?

The Ruthmere Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $655, and its average grant was $1,365, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Ruthmere Foundation give grants?

The Ruthmere Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Elkhart, IN (3 grants).

How large is The Ruthmere Foundation?

The Ruthmere Foundation reported $11.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.

What is The Ruthmere Foundation?

The Ruthmere Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Elkhart, IN. It holds $11.8M in total assets as of 2024.

What is The Ruthmere Foundation's EIN?

The Ruthmere Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0037914. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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