The Walter and Lalita Janke Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Vero Beach, Florida. The foundation was established by Dr. Walter Janke, a retired cardiovascular surgeon, and Lalita Janke, a retired financial planner. As first-generation immigrants, the Jankes built their foundation on principles of perseverance and social consciousness, directing their philanthropic efforts toward creating meaningful impact in their community and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.9M
+2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$267K
-28.9% YoY
Grant Count
36
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-23.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Walter and Lalita Janke reported a distributable amount of $403K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on strengthening and sustaining organizations that serve marginalized populations and vulnerable communities. Primary focus areas include:
- Support for marginalized women and girls
- Services for abused children
- Assistance for the homeless
- Environmental sustainability research and education
The foundation's approach emphasizes personal devotion and direct engagement with the causes it supports, rather than simply providing financial contributions.
Grantmaking
The sustainability research fund promotes annual competitive research grants to FAU faculty researchers or research teams. The fund structure includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Florida, with particular emphasis on the Indian River County area and the broader state through partnerships with institutions like Florida Atlantic University.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,862,172 | $7,647,225 | $7,298,499 |
| Revenue | $519,510 | $780,225 | $-36,062 |
| Expenses | $302,563 | $427,265 | $311,596 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $263,417 | $375,352 | $269,901 |
| Net Investment Income | $181,881 | $155,972 | $87,354 |
| Distributable Amount | $403,194 | $368,783 | $413,964 |
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Florida Atlantic University ($104,000), University of Central Florida ($28,000), Unity Church of Vero Beach ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND UPON REQUEST, CO | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $1,400 |
| AP EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND UPON REQUEST, NY | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $3,000 |
| ARPAN FOUNDATION UPON REQUEST, CA | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $5,000 |
| ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH UPON REQUEST, FL | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $5,000 |
| AUBURN UNIVERSITY UPON REQUEST, AL | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $7,000 |
| BARRY UNIVERSITY UPON REQUEST, FL | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $5,342 |
| CARDINAL GIBBONS HS UPON REQUEST, FL | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $6,000 |
| CHABADORG UPON REQUEST, NY | VAIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $250 |
| EVANSVILLE RESCUE MISSION UPON REQUEST, IN | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $2,000 |
| FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY UPON REQUEST, FL | VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE | $104,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. Walter Janke - Founder, retired cardiovascular surgeon. Dr. Janke co-invented the Janke-Barron Heart Support, a surgical device designed to provide access to the posterior surface of the heart during coronary bypass procedures.
Lalita Janke - Founder, retired financial planner. Lalita has been instrumental in the foundation's strategic direction and community engagement.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALTER JANKE | TRUSTEE | 8 | — |
| LALITA JANKE | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Walter and Lalita Janke Innovations in Sustainability Science Research Fund at Florida Atlantic University has continued to award grants annually since its establishment in 2015. Award recipients have been announced for multiple years including 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025, demonstrating sustained commitment to environmental sustainability research.
FAU Receives $1 Million Gift from Walter and Lalita JankeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Walter and Lalita Janke fund?
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on strengthening and sustaining organizations that serve marginalized populations and vulnerable communities. Primary focus areas include: • Support for marginalized women and girls • Services for abused children • Assistance for the homeless • Environmental sustainability research and education The foundation's approach emphasizes personal devotion and direct engagement with the causes it supports, rather than simply providing financial contributions.
How do I apply for a grant from The Walter and Lalita Janke?
**Major Gift Activity:** • $1 million gift to Florida Atlantic University in December 2015 to establish the Walter and Lalita Janke Innovations in Sustainability Science Research Fund **Research Fund Details:** The sustainability research fund promotes annual competitive research grants to FAU faculty researchers or research teams. The fund structure includes: • Base annual grant: $50,000 competitive award • Additional leveraged funding has increased available grants to $70,000+ in certain years
Where does The Walter and Lalita Janke make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is Florida, with particular emphasis on the Indian River County area and the broader state through partnerships with institutions like Florida Atlantic University.
What size grants does The Walter and Lalita Janke award?
In 2024, The Walter and Lalita Janke awarded 36 grants totaling $267K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Walter and Lalita Janke required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Walter and Lalita Janke reported a distributable amount of $403K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Walter and Lalita Janke's EIN?
The Walter and Lalita Janke's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6467846. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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