The Van Wert County Foundation
The Van Wert County Foundation is a community foundation based in Van Wert, Ohio, dedicated to improving quality of life across Van Wert County. As a public charity, the Foundation empowers residents, nonprofits, and businesses to create a thriving community through charitable giving, grant-making, and scholarship awarding. The organization works at the intersection of growth and longevity to build a well-resourced community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.5M
+9.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-25.4% YoY
Grant Count
43
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
-21.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
According to its Charter, the Foundation's general purpose is to solicit and receive charitable contributions and apply principal and income to philanthropies and charities that advance "the mental, moral, intellectual, and physical welfare and advancement of the citizens of Van Wert County, Ohio, and of such other geographical areas as may be directed by donor."
Primary Program Areas:
- Community Development & Charitable Allocations: Support for charitable organizations and governmental units, including construction, renovation, and maintenance of public buildings and facilities
- Arts & Culture: Support for the Van Wert Performing Arts Foundation, which brings performing arts entertainment to multiple venues including the summer music series in Fountain Park; support for the Wassenberg Art Center, a nonprofit community art center
- Education & Scholarships: Scholarship provision to individual students in Van Wert, Paulding, and surrounding Ohio counties
- Environmental Initiatives: Community development initiatives including land stewardship
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $5,361 to $346,705.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily serves Van Wert County, Ohio, with significant involvement in surrounding areas including Paulding County and other surrounding Ohio counties. The Foundation also has documented activity in Indiana and North Carolina based on donor direction.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (as of 2024): $85,540,758
Total Revenues (2024): $12,731,957
Total Expenses (2024): $5,887,737
Historical Asset Growth:
- 2020: $96,196,291
- 2019: $89,258,252
- 2014: $75,329,397
- 2004: $38,360,000
- 1994: $13,639,400
- 1984: $5,000,000
Contributions Received:
- 2020: $2,499,095
- 2019: $1,471,153
- 2014: $2,746,981
Program Services Expenditures:
- 2020: $3,440,762
- 2019: $2,918,195
- 2014: $1,922,340
Stewardship Portfolio (as of 2020):
- 218 Legacy Endowments
- 58 Donor-Advised Funds
- 5 Charitable Remainder Trusts
- 2,555 Acres of Farmland
- 309 Student Scholarships
- Franklin Park & Heistand Woods Park
- Wassenberg Art Center
2019 Grants & Expenses Breakdown:
- Grants & Scholarships: $2,586,301
- Wassenberg Art Center: $329,789
- Performing Arts: $490,384
- Administrative & Other Expenses: $571,402
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,540,758 | $77,906,636 | $72,768,008 |
| Revenue | $12,731,957 | $4,520,208 | $4,303,175 |
| Expenses | $5,887,737 | $5,348,478 | $4,384,097 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,155,938 | $1,030,141 | $842,341 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Van Wert County Foundation
IMPACT: A Nonprofit Capacity Building Program
THE VAN WERT COUNTY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
December 20, 2026
Traditional Undergraduate Scholarships
THE VAN WERT COUNTY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies (2018: $896,260 total for 314 recipients)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Van Wert County Foundation Grants
THE VAN WERT COUNTY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation ($306,116), First Presbyterian Church ($141,567), Vantage Career Center ($138,279).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRUMBACK LIBRARY VAN WERT, OH | OPERATING, BOOK INVENTORY, AND IMPROVEMENTS GRANT | $27,082 |
| BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION VAN WERT, OH | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CAREER CONNECTIONS OF VAN WERT COUNTY VAN WERT, OH | SUPPORT OF LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS STUDENT PROGRAM | $6,000 |
| CITY OF VAN WERT VAN WERT, OH | OPERATIONS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT | $7,100 |
| CRESTVIEW HERITAGE BOND VAN WERT, OH | EDUATOR TEACHING AIDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OPERATING GRANTS | $12,419 |
| CRESTVIEW LOCAL SCHOOLS CONVOY, OH | EDUATOR TEACHING AIDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, INNOVATION WORKSHOP, LINCOLN ELECTRIC CNC PLASMA MACHINE, AND OPERATING GRANTS | $41,620 |
| CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY CULVER, IN | SCHOLARSHIPS | $32,303 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH VAN WERT, OH | OPERATING GRANT AND GENERAL PURPOSES | $141,567 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH VAN WERT, OH | OPERATING GRANT AND GENERAL PURPOSES | $9,036 |
| INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY MARION, IN | OPERATING GRANT AND GENERAL PURPOSES | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY CLAY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| BRIAN RENNER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| MARK WHITE | VICE CHAIRPERSON | 2 | — |
| TOM BURENGA | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ANDY CZAJKOWSKI | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CINDY HURLESS | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| CHARLES KOCH | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| THAD LICHTENSTEIGER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TIM STOLLER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| GARY TAYLOR | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| TOM TURNWALD | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| EVA YARGER | CHAIRPERSON | 2 | — |
| STACY ADAM | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JON BAGLEY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| PAT JACKSON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SETH BAKER | CEO | 40 | $140,968 |
| MICHAEL HOLIDAY | CFO | 19 | $50,000 |
| SPENCER CREEKMORE | DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $118,070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Van Wert County Foundation fund?
According to its Charter, the Foundation's general purpose is to solicit and receive charitable contributions and apply principal and income to philanthropies and charities that advance "the mental, moral, intellectual, and physical welfare and advancement of the citizens of Van Wert County, Ohio, and of such other geographical areas as may be directed by donor." **Primary Program Areas:** • **Community Development & Charitable Allocations:** Support for charitable organizations and governmenta…
How do I apply for a grant from The Van Wert County Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,361 to $346,705. **Total Annual Giving:** $3,527,188 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing for 2024) **Funding Focus Areas:** Arts grants for nonprofits, creative writing, historic buildings, education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services. **Geographic Scope:** Primary focus on Ohio, with activity also in Indiana and North Carolina.
Where does The Van Wert County Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily serves Van Wert County, Ohio, with significant involvement in surrounding areas including Paulding County and other surrounding Ohio counties. The Foundation also has documented activity in Indiana and North Carolina based on donor direction.
What size grants does The Van Wert County Foundation award?
In 2024, The Van Wert County Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Van Wert County Foundation's EIN?
The Van Wert County Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-0907558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Van Wert County Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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