William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc
WILLIAM J & BONNIE L HEFNER is a private foundation based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 2024, it reported 28 grants totaling $2,524,900, all to recipients in Indiana. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $1.5 million.
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Indiana. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,486,000
- -41.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,545
- -25.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $21,163,704
- +4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3015 Emerald Lake Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46804
Phone: (260) 493-4493
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Junior Acheivement ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 84 grants of 116 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 22 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $105K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 87% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $622K (2021) to $2.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Acheivement Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $500,000 |
| American Red-Cross Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $290,000 |
| YMCA of Dekalb County Auburn, IN | Support | $200,000 |
| FW YWCA Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $200,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Fort Wayne B Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $52,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America B Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $50,000 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $28,000 |
| Dave Hefner International Student E B Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $25,000 |
| Fort Wayne Philharmonic Friends Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $25,000 |
| Little River Wetlands Fort Wayne, IN | Support | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,163,704 | $1,966,017 | $1,709,816 | $1,486,000 | 22 | $1,486,175 | $542,838 | $1,495,647 |
| 2024 | $20,349,512 | $1,554,580 | $2,734,786 | $2,524,900 | 28 | $2,524,910 | $724,661 | $1,574,321 |
| 2023 | $21,584,803 | $749,824 | $1,663,345 | $1,456,550 | 24 | $1,469,417 | $622,704 | $1,491,007 |
| 2022 | $21,450,727 | $641,415 | $983,481 | $796,300 | 23 | $804,639 | $580,006 | $1,399,503 |
| 2021 | $23,043,469 | $1,031,273 | $820,410 | $622,000 | 19 | $632,320 | $601,288 | $1,008,655 |
| 2020 | $16,156,000 | $893,795 | $833,595 | $625,148 | 17 | — | $492,815 | $1,048,055 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of work among its recipients: Historic Fort Wayne works to establish the Old Fort as an education center focused on regional history; Fort Wayne Rescue Mission provides housing, food, and hope for people in need; and Science Central provides hands-on science education. Kate’s Kart describes its work as giving books to hospitalized children and encouraging literacy, while Homebound Meals assists shut-ins, usually older adults, with low-cost meals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 28 grants totaling $2,524,900. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $500,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $500,000 to Historic Fort Wayne, $400,000 to FW YWCA, $325,000 to Charis House, $300,000 to Josiah White’s, and $250,000 to Community Harvest Food Bank. Other notable grants included $200,000 to Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, $100,000 to Fort Wayne Zoo, and $62,900 to Purdue Fort Wayne. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 22 grants totaling $1.5 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas J Grant as Treasurer, Robert Doelling and Angela Grant as Co-Trustees, and Aimee Myers as Executive DI.
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Doelling
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Angela Grant
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Aimee Myers
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
$60K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Thomas J. Grant
Treasurer
Co-Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Orrin Sessions (2020–2022) — Co-Trustee
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $65K, to Aimee Myers (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc
How much does William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc give each year?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 28 grants.
What is William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $67,545, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc that year got $105K on average.
Where does William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc give grants?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fort Wayne, IN (19 grants).
Does William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (22 grants).
Who are William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Junior Acheivement ($500,000), American Red-Cross Fort Wayne ($290,000) and YMCA of Dekalb County ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc reported $21.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (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 William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's EIN?
William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0914351. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William J & Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-and-bonnie-l-hefner-foundation-inc-morg_0f7d819f2cb24712af768684f33034b6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300914351_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William J \& Bonnie L Hefner Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-j-and-bonnie-l-hefner-foundation-inc-morg_0f7d819f2cb24712af768684f33034b6},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-02. 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 William J & Bonnie L Hefner 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.
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