Judd Leighton Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5,286,505 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly board review (June & December for grants)
• Grant Range: Average ~$115,000
• Geographic Focus: St. Joseph County, Indiana (75% minimum)

Contact Details

• Website: https://juddleightonfoundation.org/
• Phone: 574-232-5970
• Executive Director: Katherine M. Mullins
• Address: 202 South Michigan Street, Suite 910, South Bend, IN 46601
• Pre-application Contact: Recommended - contact Executive Director for guidance

Overview

The Judd Leighton Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2000 dedicated to improving quality of life in St. Joseph County, Indiana through strategic investments in healthcare, education, and economic development. With annual grantmaking of approximately $5.3 million distributed across 46 awards in 2023, the foundation serves as a major funder for nonprofit organizations in the South Bend region. The foundation demonstrates a strong preference for capital projects and program support that generate significant community impact while ensuring long-term sustainability. Under the leadership of Executive Director Katherine M. Mullins, the foundation employs a strategic approach emphasizing matching challenge grants to maximize community investment and partnership opportunities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grantmaking: Average ~$115,000 (quarterly review, applications through online portal)
• Matching Fund Programs: Up to $125,000 pool for specific initiatives (e.g., Notre Dame student entrepreneurs)
• Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence: $200,000 2:1 endowment challenge grant (administered through Community Foundation of St. Joseph County)

Priority Areas

• Healthcare initiatives and health-related services
• Educational programs and facilities
• Economic development, entrepreneurship, and business growth
• Capital projects (strongly preferred over operating support)
• Programs demonstrating significant community impact and sustainability

What They Don't Fund

• Individual grants or scholarships
• Religious organizations (except for non-sectarian purposes/programs)
• Endowment funds (preference for capital and program support)
• Organizations outside St. Joseph County, Indiana (75% distribution requirement)
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Katherine M. Mullins oversees the grant-making process and day-to-day operations, providing pre-application guidance to prospective grantees.

Board of Directors: Meets quarterly (March, June, September, December) with grant proposals reviewed at June and December meetings.

Founder: Judd Leighton (1910-2010s), Northwestern University graduate with J.D. from Northwestern Law (1947), former chairman of First Interstate Bank of Northern Indiana. Established the foundation in 2000 to ensure continued support for educational, healthcare, and economic development initiatives in St. Joseph County.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Organizations must create an account on the foundation's website at https://juddleightonfoundation.org/ and submit applications through the online portal ("Apply Online" button). The foundation strongly recommends contacting Katherine M. Mullins, Executive Director, at the beginning of the process for guidance in preparing applications.

Decision Timeline

• Board meets quarterly: March, June, September, December
• Grant proposals reviewed: June and December board meetings
• Contact Executive Director for specific application deadline information

Success Rates

Specific success rates not publicly disclosed. 46 awards made in 2023, 44 awards in 2022.

Reapplication Policy

No publicly available information on reapplication policies. Contact Executive Director for guidance.

Application Success Factors

The foundation evaluates each grant application based on three primary criteria:

• Relevance to health, education, and/or economic development
• Overall community impact affecting large numbers of St. Joseph County residents
• Demonstrated sustainability showing long-term viability beyond grant period

Recent successful grants include Robinson Community Learning Center's facility expansion serving 3,000 residents annually, South Bend Code School's Digital Startup Studio for technology entrepreneurs, and The CASIE Center's Family Justice Center capacity-building project. The foundation shows particular interest in capital projects that address specific community problems, matching grant opportunities that leverage additional funding, and multi-year phased approaches for larger initiatives. Pre-application consultation with the Executive Director is strongly encouraged to ensure alignment with foundation priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic requirement is strict: Projects must primarily serve St. Joseph County, Indiana with at least 75% of distributions staying local
• Capital projects have strongest chance: Foundation explicitly prefers capital and program support over operating or endowment funds
• Pre-application contact is crucial: Foundation recommends early consultation with Executive Director Katherine Mullins for application guidance
• Matching grants are strategic priority: Consider proposing challenge grant structures to maximize community investment
• Community impact must be significant: Demonstrate how project benefits large numbers of residents and addresses specific community problems
• Sustainability is essential: Show clear path to long-term viability beyond grant period
• Application timing matters: Board reviews grants only in June and December - contact Executive Director for specific deadlines

References

• Judd Leighton Foundation Official Website. https://juddleightonfoundation.org/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Judd Leighton Foundation Guidelines & Application. https://juddleightonfoundation.org/guidelines-application/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Judd Leighton Foundation Grantmaking Policies. https://juddleightonfoundation.org/grantmaking-policies/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Judd Leighton Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/352120550 (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Judd Leighton Foundation Inc. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/judd-leighton-foundation-inc (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Notre Dame Innovation Lab. "Judd Leighton Foundation to Provide Up to $125,000 in Matching Funds for Notre Dame Student Entrepreneurs." https://innovationlab.nd.edu/stories-news/judd-leighton-foundation-to-provide-up-to-125-000-in-matching-funds-for-notre-dame-student-entrepreneurs-who-headquarter-in-south-bend/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)
• Cause IQ - Judd Leighton Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/judd-leighton-foundation,352120550/ (Accessed February 25, 2026)