Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Columbia City, Indiana. Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation of Whitley County supports charitable projects intended to improve quality of life in Whitley County, including through grants and scholarships.
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Whitley County Community Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Indiana. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,420,822
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 62
- +31.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,916
- -35.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,367
- Total assets
- $47,815,017
- +13.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (23 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 1 and November 1 as the twice-yearly application dates.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 1 and November 1 as the twice-yearly application dates.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1171 E Woods Way, Columbia City, IN 46725
Phone: (260) 244-5224
Website: https://cfwhitley.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
Community Foundation Grants (General Grantmaking)
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies by grant; recent awards range from $1,300 to $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Eli B. Michel neverlostneverlate Wilderness Scholarship
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Mihsihkinaahkwa Pow Wow Fund
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Whitley County Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mission 25 ($309K). Together the top 10 received $722K.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 235 grants of 256 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grantmaking is centered on Whitley County, Indiana. In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana; the remaining reported shares went to recipients in Virginia (2%), Wisconsin (1%), New York (1%), and Arizona (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Whitley County Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 23 of 62 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−15%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $715K (2021) to $1.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mission 25 Columbia City, IN | Program Support | $308,770 |
| Whitley County YMCA Columbia City, IN | Program Support | $82,151 |
| Humane Society of Whitley County Columbia City, IN | General Support | $56,014 |
| The Center Columbia City, IN | General Support | $45,726 |
| Parkview Whitley EMS Columbia City, IN | Defibrilators | $43,906 |
| Troy School Columbia City, IN | General Support | $43,130 |
| Columbia City High School FFA Columbia City, IN | Operating Support | $40,211 |
| Mercy Chefs Portsmouth, VA | Disaster Relief | $35,000 |
| Faith Christian Academy Columbia City, IN | General Support | $34,817 |
| Churubusco Childcare Center Churubusco, IN | Operating Support | $32,749 |
Ready to take the next step with Whitley County Community Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,815,017 | $6,832,632 | $4,073,562 | $1,420,822 | 62 | $1,899,712 |
| 2024 | $42,077,042 | $7,806,623 | $4,170,481 | $1,658,043 | 47 | $4,270,505 |
| 2023 | $38,187,145 | $3,192,739 | $4,007,084 | $1,758,512 | 50 | $613,197 |
| 2022 | $35,049,716 | $4,410,402 | $3,871,383 | $1,674,217 | 49 | $846,554 |
| 2021 | $40,059,245 | $4,464,023 | $3,130,421 | $714,600 | 48 | $2,295,825 |
| 2020 | $36,764,502 | $7,103,371 | $2,841,920 | $931,141 | 40 | $1,001,072 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to inspire philanthropy, enrich community, and serve donors by creating an enduring source of charitable assets.” Its stated grant categories include arts and culture, health, civic affairs, recreation, community development, welfare, and education. Its 2025 filing also describes scholarships for students pursuing postsecondary education and the convening of community leaders to help address local needs.
The foundation’s grants support a range of organizations. For example, Interfaith Mission says it provides shelter and other services to people experiencing homelessness; the Humane Society of Whitley County says it provides food, shelter, and medical attention to stray or lost animals; and the Center for Whitley County Youth says it offers in-school and out-of-school programs for young people. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 62 grants totaling $1,420,822. Grant amounts ranged from $5,559 to $308,770, with a median of $13,366. The largest awards included $308,770 to Mission 25 for program support, $82,151 to Whitley County YMCA for program support, $56,014 to Humane Society of Whitley County for general support, $45,726 to The Center for general support, and $43,906 to Parkview Whitley EMS for defibrillators.
The foundation’s website says its volunteer Grants Committee reviews applications twice a year, on April 1 and November 1, and makes funding recommendations to the Board. It directs grants to charitable projects with a positive impact on Whitley County and gives particular interest to projects that illuminate local needs and offer innovative, long-term solutions. It is unlikely to support annual campaigns, political activities, private schools, advertising, religious or sectarian causes, organizations outside its service area, or debt retirement unless there is compelling evidence that support is vital to a program addressing priority needs. The 2025 filing says grantees must submit a final report within one year of receiving funds; the foundation may also conduct a site visit.
The foundation’s partnership with AWS Foundation established the Accessible Communities Fund. Whitley County organizations can request up to $5,000 for inclusive programs and projects serving children and adults with enduring intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities. Requests must align with AWS Foundation’s Guiding Principles.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathy Heuer as president, Matt Dahms as vice president, and Paula Worden as secretary. It lists Michelle Burch, Jacqueline Worrick, Rob Marr, Joseph Kessie, Sam St Clair, Todd Jones, and Andy More as directors.
The foundation’s website identifies September McConnell as chief executive officer, Vanessa Bills as chief operating officer, Brooks Walker as program officer, and Carol Flowers as communications director.
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc is led by Kathy Heuer, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathy Heuer
President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy More
Director
President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sam St Clair
Director
Secretary → President, 2023
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Worrick
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Burch
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Marr
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Todd Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Cotter
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Argerbright
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Kessie
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachelle Patrick
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
September McConnell
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $118K (2025)
Matt Dahms
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Worden
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Donald Armstrong (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gary Dillon (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gloria Smith (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Joe Kessie (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Marcia McNagny (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: George Schrumpf (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Jacie Worrick (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tim Bloom (2020–2022) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $118K, to September McConnell (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Whitley County Community Foundation Inc
How much does Whitley County Community Foundation Inc give each year?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 47 grants.
What is Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $13,367, and its average grant was $22,916, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Whitley County Community Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does Whitley County Community Foundation Inc give grants?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbia City, IN (33 grants), Fort Wayne, IN (13 grants) and Churubusco, IN (3 grants).
Does Whitley County Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (8 grants).
Who are Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Mission 25 ($308,770), Whitley County YMCA ($82,151) and Humane Society of Whitley County ($56,014), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Whitley County Community Foundation Inc?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc reported $47.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.8M.
What does Whitley County Community Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to inspire philanthropy, enrich community, and serve donors by creating an enduring source of charitable assets.” Its stated grant categories include arts and culture, health, civic affairs, recreation, community development, welfare, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Whitley County Community Foundation Inc?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cfwhitley.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1860518. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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 October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 25, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Whitley County Community Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Whitley County Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Whitley County Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/whitley-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_50717679cdfd48fbbfa8b059cbe9d6c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_351860518_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Whitley County Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/whitley-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_50717679cdfd48fbbfa8b059cbe9d6c0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Whitley County Community Foundation Inc'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.
Whitley County Community Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?