White Oak Foundation Inc — Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $881,894 (2023); $2,430,994 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available; reported as not open to new applicants
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $1,000 – $1,500,000 (typical average ~$62,992)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia; broader national reach including AZ, IL, KY, LA, MA, OH, OR, VA

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Contact Details

• Address: PO Box 80238, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0238
• Phone: (317) 843-5678
• Contact Person: Dawn Parham (listed contact)
• EIN: 35-2090392
• No public website identified for this foundation
• ProPublica Profile: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/352090392
• Candid/Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=WHIT310

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Overview

White Oak Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1999 (IRS ruling year 2001) and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Led by the Lechleiter family — notably John C. Lechleiter, retired Chairman, President, and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company, and his wife Sarah L. Lechleiter — the foundation serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle for their family's charitable giving. As of the most recent filings, the foundation holds total assets of approximately $12.5–$16.2 million (varying by year), with revenue largely driven by investment income and asset sales. Since 2016, the foundation has awarded 101 individual grants totalling $4,770,464. The foundation focuses its giving on Education, Human Services, and Philanthropy/Voluntarism, with primary geographic concentration in Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The foundation does not have a public application process and is reported as not open to new applicants, operating entirely through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships.

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Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not publicise distinct named grant programs beyond its general charitable giving. One active grant opportunity has been identified in databases:

• White Oak Foundation College Scholarship Grant: Supports scholarships for students; amounts not publicly specified

General grant-making is described as focused on:

• Education (primary focus, including arts education, scholarships, student financial aid)
• Human Services
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking

Amounts have ranged from $1,000 to $1,500,000 per grant, with a historical average of approximately $62,992 per award.

Known recent grant recipients from 990 filings include:

• Oak Hill School (Indianapolis) — $75,000 (general grant)
• Park Tudor Foundation (Indianapolis) — $32,500 (general grant)
• Banner Alzheimer's Foundation — $25,000 (general grant)
• The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — philanthropic gift supporting the Lechleiter Indiana Visiting Artist Fund
• Riley Children's Foundation — contribution toward an $8 million commitment to expand youth mental health services across Indiana

Priority Areas

• Education: scholarships, student financial aid, arts education, children's programming
• Youth mental and behavioral health
• Human services
• Indiana-based institutions with community impact
• Organisations based in or serving Indiana, Tennessee, and West Virginia

What They Don't Fund

No formal exclusions list is publicly available. As a private family foundation operating without a public application process:

• The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications
• Eligible recipients must be 501(c)(3) organisations
• No information is available to suggest they fund individuals directly

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by the Lechleiter family and operates without paid staff at the officer level. No officer compensation is reported.

Key Officers and Directors (from 990 filings):

• John C. Lechleiter — Chairman, President, Treasurer. Retired Chairman, President, and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. Co-chair of the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable. Directs philanthropic strategy alongside Sarah Lechleiter.
• Sarah L. Lechleiter — Secretary and Treasurer. Active on numerous Indianapolis not-for-profit boards.
• Andrew J. Lechleiter — Listed as President (in some filings); described as overseeing the foundation's investments and operations. LinkedIn profile describes him as an "Investment Architect."
• Daniel M. Lechleiter — Director
• Allison R. Lechleiter — Director
• Dawn Parham — Listed contact for the foundation at the Indianapolis address

Quotes from Leadership:

On the Visiting Artist Program at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis:

"The Visiting Artist Program at our world-class Children's Museum provides a unique and innovative way to bring the fine arts into the lives of children and their parents. We believe that art is food for the soul! With this program, we hope to plant the seeds of the beauty of art through the expertise of noted local artists from our wonderful Indiana art community." — Sarah and John Lechleiter

On their $8 million commitment to Riley Children's Foundation for youth mental health:

"Our children are our future. We want all Indiana children to have the healthiest and most fulfilling lives possible, both physically and mentally." — Sarah and John Lechleiter

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Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. White Oak Foundation Inc operates as a private family foundation governed entirely by trustee discretion. Databases categorise the foundation as "not open to new applicants," with 0% of new applicants funded. Grants are made based on the Lechleiter family's personal philanthropic interests and pre-existing relationships with recipient organisations.

There is no online portal, published application form, or open grant cycle. Organisations cannot apply directly.

Getting on Their Radar

The following is specific intelligence about how this funder has historically identified grantees:

• Personal connection to the Lechleiter family: The foundation's giving closely tracks John and Sarah Lechleiter's personal board memberships, civic involvements, and professional network. John Lechleiter's ties to Eli Lilly and the Indiana business community, and Sarah Lechleiter's involvement on Indianapolis nonprofit boards, are the primary pathways through which recipient organisations appear to come to the foundation's attention.
• Indiana civic leadership: John Lechleiter's role as co-chair of the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable was directly linked to the foundation's major commitment to Riley Children's Foundation for youth mental health services. Organisations aligned with his formal civic roles may be well-positioned.
• Geographic and sector alignment: Recipients are predominantly Indianapolis-based institutions — schools, museums, health organisations — with a secondary focus on Tennessee and West Virginia. Organisations in these states working in education or human services may be relevant.
• Contact via Dawn Parham: The listed contact at the foundation's address is Dawn Parham, reachable at (317) 843-5678. A polite introductory letter to this contact — not a full proposal — may be the most appropriate initial outreach if an organisation believes it is a strong fit.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes grants on a rolling internal basis, with 14 grants in 2023, 19 in 2022, and 20 in 2021, suggesting ongoing rather than cyclical decision-making.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Databases indicate the foundation is not open to new applicants, suggesting the existing grantee pool is stable and largely repeat-funded.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the closed nature of the foundation's grant-making, this is not applicable in the conventional sense.

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Application Success Factors

Given the closed nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the following funder-specific insights are relevant to any organisation seeking to build a relationship:

1. Education and children are central: The foundation's NTEE classification is Scholarships and Student Financial Aid, and its most visible public grants have focused on children's education, arts programming, and youth mental health. Organisations working in these areas are most likely to resonate.

2. Indiana is the primary focus: Despite a broad geographic footprint in 990 data, the most prominent named recipients are Indianapolis institutions. Organisations deeply embedded in Indiana's civic life have a higher probability of alignment.

3. Mental health for young people is a growing priority: The $8 million commitment to Riley Children's Foundation for embedded mental health services in paediatric settings signals that youth mental and behavioural health has become a significant funding area. The Lechleiters explicitly connected this to John's role on the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, suggesting policy-adjacent work in this field may be of interest.

4. Relationship with Eli Lilly ecosystem: Given John Lechleiter's long career at Eli Lilly, organisations that have existing relationships with that company or its corporate philanthropy may have an indirect pathway to the foundation's attention.

5. 501(c)(3) status is required: All grantees must be registered 501(c)(3) organisations.

6. General operating support appears preferred: Known grants are described as "general grants," suggesting the foundation funds organisations rather than specific projects.

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Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a closed, family foundation: White Oak Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited applications. Databases explicitly note 0% of new applicants are funded. Do not submit a cold proposal.
• The Lechleiter family personally directs all giving: John and Sarah Lechleiter are the driving force behind grant decisions, with the next generation (Andrew, Daniel, Allison) also on the board. Understanding their personal interests and civic involvements is essential to understanding the foundation's direction.
• Education and youth mental health are primary themes: These two areas account for the most publicly documented and largest grants. Alignment with both is a strong indicator of fit.
• Indiana is the heartland: Despite multi-state giving, Indianapolis-based organisations appear most consistently in the foundation's portfolio. Tennessee and West Virginia are secondary geographies.
• Entry point is relationship, not application: The most viable path to funding is through board connections, civic networks, or the Indianapolis philanthropic community — not a written application.
• Contact Dawn Parham carefully: If outreach is warranted, a brief, professional introductory letter to Dawn Parham at the foundation's PO Box is the most appropriate first step. Do not send an unsolicited proposal.
• Average grant size is ~$62,992 but range is wide: The foundation has made transformative gifts (e.g., $1.5M+) as well as modest grants ($1,000). Calibrating any relationship-building effort to the realistic scale of the organisation's ask is important.

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References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer — White Oak Foundation Inc https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/352090392 Accessed: February 2026. Source for financials (2024: total revenue $10.47M, assets $16.15M), officer names, and 990 filing data.

2. Instrumentl — White Oak Foundation Inc 990 Report https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/white-oak-foundation-inc Accessed: February 2026. Source for grant totals (2023: $881,894; 14 awards), geographic focus, grant recipients (Oak Hill School $75K, Park Tudor Foundation $32.5K, Banner Alzheimer's Foundation $25K), and leadership names.

3. Cause IQ — White Oak Foundation https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/white-oak-foundation,352090392/ Accessed: February 2026. Source for founding date (2001), financial highlights, and grant description.

4. Charity Navigator — White Oak Foundation Inc https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/352090392 Accessed: February 2026. Confirms 501(c)(3) status, PO Box address, and private non-operating foundation classification.

5. Grantmakers.io — White Oak Foundation Inc Profile https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/352090392-white-oak-foundation-inc/ Accessed: February 2026. Source for grant range ($1,000–$1,500,000), average grant ($62,992), grant history since 2016 (101 grants, $4.77M total), and primary geographies (Tennessee, Indiana, West Virginia).

6. Candid / Foundation Directory — White Oak Foundation Inc https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=WHIT310 Accessed: February 2026. Confirms family foundation classification, established 1999, contact phone (317) 843-5678.

7. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — Press Release: New Visiting Artist Program https://www.childrensmuseum.org/about/press-room/press-releases/new-visiting-artist-program-provides-artists-educate-engage-visitors-children%E2%80%99s-museum Accessed: February 2026. Source for Lechleiter quote on arts education and the White Oak Foundation's support of the Lechleiter Indiana Visiting Artist Fund.

8. Riley Children's Foundation — Press Release (April 2024) https://rileykids.org/news-blog/riley-childrens-foundation-20240419 Accessed: February 2026. Source for $8 million Lechleiter commitment to youth mental health embedded care, quote ("Our children are our future..."), and $2 million endowment detail.

9. KPC News — "Artists bring their talent to children's museum" https://www.kpcnews.com/features/life/article_dae36c1e-83b4-5807-b2e2-e8d51881b2c0.html Accessed: February 2026. Corroborating reference for Lechleiter Indiana Visiting Artist Fund at Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

10. LinkedIn — Andrew J. Lechleiter https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-j-lechleiter-93bb6627/ Accessed: February 2026. Confirms Andrew Lechleiter's role as President of White Oak Foundation Inc and his responsibility for investments and operations.