Trinity Foundation
Supporting the trinity english evangelical lutheran church
Trinity Foundation at a glance
In short: Trinity Foundation gave $864K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $288K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $863,708
- +3247.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $287,903
- +2131.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $11,515,823
- +0.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Trinity Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Trinity English Evangelical Luthera ($838K). Together the top 3 received $864K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 20 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Trinity Foundation gives
- Giving grew 179% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2024) to $864K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $864K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity English Evangelical Luthera Fort Wayne, IN | Congregation Support | $837,908 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Indiana Fort Wayne, IN | Partner Organization | $15,000 |
| Associated Churches of Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN | Partner Organization | $10,800 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,515,823 | $2,462,757 | $916,552 | $863,708 | 3 | $2,462,757 |
| 2024 | $11,439,645 | $564,247 | $273,109 | $25,800 | 2 | $564,247 |
| 2023 | $10,401,025 | $-140,987 | $257,174 | $193,990 | 5 | $-140,987 |
| 2022 | $10,486,934 | $2,591,497 | $380,172 | $309,955 | 5 | $2,591,497 |
| 2021 | $11,347,524 | $571,521 | $273,199 | $219,450 | 5 | $566,221 |
| 2020 | $9,080,651 | $926,226 | $583,401 | $536,045 | 2 | $339,445 |
About Trinity Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Trinity Foundation is a public charity focused on religion, based in Fort Wayne, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $11.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $864K. Net investment income was $2.5M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Trinity Foundation is led by Irwin Deister, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Irwin Deister
President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Nusbaum
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Wolf
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angie Hoffman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Karcher
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Steffy MD
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pastor Gary Erdos
Senior Pasto
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Menge
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alan Hofer
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Al Hofer (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Carolyn Sage (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Irv Deister (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Machell Johnson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Scrogham (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ron Foster (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Chris Nusbaum (2020) — Director
- Former: Dave Menge (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Trinity Foundation
How much does Trinity Foundation give each year?
Trinity Foundation gave $864K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $26K across 2 grants.
What is Trinity Foundation's typical grant size?
Trinity Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $287,903, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Trinity Foundation give grants?
Trinity Foundation gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (3 grants).
Does Trinity Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Trinity Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Trinity Foundation?
Trinity Foundation reported $11.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.5M.
What is Trinity Foundation?
Trinity Foundation is a public charity focused on religion, based in Fort Wayne, IN. It holds $11.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Trinity Foundation's EIN?
Trinity Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7059764. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Trinity Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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