The James Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The James Foundation funds educational impact and innovation, scholarship programmes, and arts and culture, with priority given to Northeast Indiana, so your project should sit within one of these themes and the stated geographic priority.
- Grant sizes are typically modest: about eight in ten of its 528 grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $100,000, the median grant is $1,000, and half of its grants across its recent filings were $1,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic, with scholarships specifically noted at $5,000.
- The Foundation accepts a Preliminary Grant Application via its website, and its IRS filing gives no deadlines.
- 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded previously, so it appears to be a relationship-led funder where sustained engagement is likely to help.
- Organisations that discriminate in policy or practice against people because of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, or that engage in lobbying or political elections, should not apply.
Overview
The James Foundation is a US private foundation based in Auburn, IN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The James Foundation focuses its grantmaking on educational impact and innovation, scholarship programmes, and arts and culture. It views education as a lifelong journey and seeks to make learning experiences available to all, believing that educational opportunities can strengthen families and communities and enrich quality of life. Its guidelines say it primarily awards grants to charitable organisations recognised as US 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisations. The Foundation aims to create change, enhance quality of life, and provide opportunities for individuals to thrive, with an emphasis on projects and programmes in Northeast Indiana. It says its greatest impact comes from supporting organisations with the passion, expertise, and dedicated staff and volunteers to implement its mission. Education and early childhood development are described as ways to help people reach their full potential.
Themes
- Educational impact and innovation
- Scholarship programmes
- Arts and culture
Geographic Focus
Priority: Northeast Indiana.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations that discriminate in either policy or practice against people because of their age, race, national origin, ethnicity, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or disability
- Lobbying or Political Elections
How to apply
Organisations should visit the website to download and fill out The James Foundation Preliminary Grant Application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 528 grants to organisations were $1,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prefers organisations with the passion, expertise, and dedicated staff and volunteers to successfully implement its mission.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 39% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations The James Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 47 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Parks Foundation · Unrestricted$3,000,0002025 tax year
- Canterbury School · Fine arts campaign$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Trine University · College health professions$1,000,0002025 tax year
- Vincent Village · Capital campaign support$500,0002025 tax year
- DeKalb Central Foundation · Dekalb central early learning - preschool programming$425,0002025 tax year
- Trine University · Scholarships$300,0002025 tax year
- DeKalb County Courthouse · Courthouse barrier wall$246,6002025 tax year
- Alzheimer's Association · Operational support$200,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jessica Buss — Director
- Matt Fetter — Director
- Jeffrey Turner — Secretary
- Stephanie Foote — Vice President
- Vicki James — President
- Rick James — Chairman
- Kendra Klink — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $11,844,824 | $11,458,872 | $24,255,123 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $12,120,188 | $11,691,680 | $21,753,302 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $9,219,379 | $8,862,007 | $20,391,518 | Filing for 2025 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.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The James Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (260) 333-0068
- kklink@thejamesfoundation.org
- Auburn, IN
- thejamesfoundation.org
Applying to The James Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (260) 333-0068
- kklink@thejamesfoundation.org
- Auburn, IN
- thejamesfoundation.org