The Dekko Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 35-1528135 · since 1982dekkofoundation.org·Clarke County, Decatur County, DeKalb County, Kosciusko County, LaGrange County, Limestone County, L…·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$12.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Dekko Foundation, based in Kendallville, IN, paid out $12,168,656 in the latest year reported and focuses on children and young people from birth through age 18 and the environments that support them.
If your work fits themes such as child development, learning environments, family engagement or financial literacy, it is worth a closer look, and its stated geographic focus is Limestone County; DeKalb; LaGrange; Kosciusko; Noble; Steuben; Whitley; Clarke; Decatur; Lucas; Ringgold; Union; Norman County, so check your area against that list.
Organisations that are not nonprofits and have no fiscal sponsor relationship with a nonprofit are not funded, so such groups should first secure a fiscal sponsor, and applications should be submitted through the online application at least 90 days before you need an answer, since applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Expect a programme officer to arrange a discussion in person, by phone or virtually, and because the foundation favours mature, impactful organisations for multiyear investments, a newer group may do better to ask for a modest first grant.
Proposals are expected to benefit people in communities where its founder had interests, and should name the problem, the proposed solution and the specific results to be tracked.

Overview

The Dekko Foundation is a US private foundation based in Kendallville, IN.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Dekko Foundation invests in the healthy development of children and young people from birth through age 18, and in environments that nurture their self-sufficiency. Its priorities include intentionally prepared learning environments that build skills, knowledge and character; the use of developmental principles in homes, schools and youth-serving organisations; supportive relationships with caring adults; parents’ understanding of their role and involvement in education; and shared family experiences. It also values communities that involve young people, real-world problem-solving, self-directed interests and responsibility, awareness of post-school options, philanthropy, civic participation and financial literacy. Proposals are expected to benefit people in communities where its founder had interests and to identify specific results aligned with its mission.

Themes

Child development
Learning environments
Family engagement
Youth problem-solving
Youth philanthropy
Civic leadership
Financial literacy

Geographic Focus

Limestone County; DeKalb; LaGrange; Kosciusko; Noble; Steuben; Whitley; Clarke; Decatur; Lucas; Ringgold; Union; Norman County.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that are not a nonprofit organization and have not secured a fiscal sponsor relationship with a nonprofit organization

How to apply

Organisations submit a proposal through the online application at least 90 days before they need an answer. A programme officer then arranges a discussion about the proposal in person, by phone or virtually.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

It looks for specific results that will most directly help it accomplish its mission.
It wants to understand the problem the proposal addresses, the proposed solution and the results that will be tracked.
For multiyear investments, it typically favours mature, impactful organisations and projects.

Officers and directors

Thomas Leedy — President
Phil Salsbery — Vice-Chairman
Ce Dekko — Chairman
Erica Dekko — Director & Secretary

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$14,301,865	$10,687,267	$264,725,051	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$14,781,089	$11,250,944	$291,440,613	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$16,295,628	$12,168,656	$305,677,013	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.