$15.9M in expenses

Our largest program area is Community Development. As the recipient of a significant grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Foundation has been working to implement solutions designed to address the region's attainable housing gap. Some of these solutions include direct investment in transforming and building neighborhoods. Others include the development of a regional land bank and sophisticated lending tools that make it easier for families to purchase homes.

$5.4M in expenses

Our second largest program area is Health & Human Services. The Foundation is invested deeply in those organizations who provide safe spaces for vulnerable populations - including the YWCA, St. Margaret's House, the Center for the Homeless, New Day Intake Center, and Hope Ministries. Several initiatives in this area provide increased access to healthcare, including partnerships with The Center for Hospice and HealthLinc. Work in this area also includes Senior Living grants made to LOGAN, REAL Services, and more.

$3.9M in expenses

Our third largest program area is Youth and Education. Thanks in part to our 21st Century Scholar Success Initiative, a record number of eligible St. Joseph County students were able to qualify for full tuition assistance in 2025. Our sponsorship of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library reaches nearly 10,000 local children with a new book every month. Our Early Years Count Initiative is continuing to improve outcomes for our county's youngest students. We continue to fund local youth organizations, and we hold more than 65 scholarship funds that grant out close to $1 million annually. Through these initiatives, we hope to build a stronger future for our community by ensuring our youngest members grow into informed, involved citizens.

$2.4M in expenses

The rest of the awarded grants were in the areas of Arts, Parks, and Religious Organizations. A few of these projects include support for public media at WVPE (local NPR station) and WNIT (local PBS station), the development of Miracle League Field at Norman Heights Park, and support for the development of a new big cat exhibit at the Potawatomi Zoo.