The Winchester Foundation
The Winchester Foundation is a private foundation based in Winchester, Indiana. In 2024, it reported 18 grants totaling $139,744 to organizations including Purdue University, the Indiana Bar Foundation, and the Randolph County Art Association.
The Winchester Foundation at a glance
In short: The Winchester Foundation gave $140K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Indiana. 17% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $139,744
- +0.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,764
- +11.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $4,855,540
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (3 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Winchester Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Organizations should submit a proposal by email or mail with a one-page executive summary. The filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and that there are no restrictions on awards. Graduating seniors receive scholarship application forms through their high school.
- Contact
Application contact: Chris Talley
Mailing address: 120 W Washington St, Winchester, IN 47394
Phone: (765) 584-9077
Website: https://winchestereducationfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Winchester Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Purdue University ($34K). Together the top 10 received $108K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 96 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana, 11% to Virginia, 7% to Ohio, 7% to Delaware, and 5% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Winchester Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 18 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 68% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $96K (2022) to $216K (2020). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN | General | $34,450 |
| The Ashbrook Center Ashland, OH | General | $10,000 |
| Indiana Bar Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General | $10,000 |
| Intercollegiate Studies Institute Wilmington, DE | General | $10,000 |
| Randolph County Art Association Union City, IN | General | $10,000 |
| Bill of Rights Institute Arlington, VA | General | $10,000 |
| The Fund for American Studies Washington, DC | General | $7,500 |
| Ivy Tech Community College Richmond, IN | General | $6,294 |
| Foundation for Economic Education Atlanta, GA | General | $5,000 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | General | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Winchester Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,855,540 | $255,533 | $251,900 | $139,744 | 18 | $168,468 | $219,987 | $246,267 |
| 2023 | $4,853,658 | $-44,246 | $258,310 | $139,400 | 20 | $175,158 | $108,887 | $238,860 |
| 2022 | $5,114,322 | $265,564 | $210,809 | $96,100 | 17 | $126,683 | $237,932 | $245,823 |
| 2021 | $5,105,367 | $1,274,528 | $319,004 | $169,296 | 21 | $204,875 | $1,231,010 | $258,250 |
| 2020 | $4,195,521 | $263,506 | $384,926 | $215,929 | 20 | — | $226,193 | $234,040 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Winchester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $246K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations, including a university, arts and cultural organizations, and groups focused on civic and educational subjects. For example, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute says it works with college students on principles it believes make America good, free, and prosperous; the Indiana Bar Foundation says it works to strengthen access to justice and appreciation for the rule of law in Indiana; and the Bill of Rights Institute says it teaches history and civics.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $139,744. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $34,450, with a median of $5,000. The largest grant was $34,450 to Purdue University for general purposes. Other grants included $10,000 each to the Ashbrook Center, Indiana Bar Foundation, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Randolph County Art Association, and Bill of Rights Institute; and $7,500 to the Fund for American Studies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Chris Talley as chairman, Cathy Stephen Miller as treasurer, and Luke Rowles as secretary. Trustees listed are Kathryn Kennison, Mike Wickersham, Dane Starbuck, and Meeks Cockerill.
The Winchester Foundation is led by Chris Talley, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chris Talley
Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dane Starbuck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Kennison
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meeks Cockerill
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Wickersham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Stephen Miller
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Luke Rowles
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Terri E. Matchett (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Helen Garlotte (2020) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Winchester Foundation
How much does The Winchester Foundation give each year?
The Winchester Foundation gave $140K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $139K across 20 grants.
What is The Winchester Foundation's typical grant size?
The Winchester Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,764, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Winchester Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Winchester Foundation give grants?
The Winchester Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (11%) and Ohio (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Winchester, IN (3 grants), Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does The Winchester Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Winchester Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Winchester Foundation's largest grantees?
The Winchester Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Purdue University ($34,450), The Ashbrook Center ($10,000) and Indiana Bar Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Winchester Foundation?
The Winchester Foundation reported $4.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $168K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $246K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Winchester Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for a range of organizations, including a university, arts and cultural organizations, and groups focused on civic and educational subjects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Winchester Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Winchester Foundation's EIN?
The Winchester Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7422941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Winchester Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Winchester Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-winchester-foundation-morg_726b1d3fc1074fd59e30d4f3c1ae4368
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237422941_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Winchester Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-winchester-foundation-morg_726b1d3fc1074fd59e30d4f3c1ae4368},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Winchester 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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