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Michael A And Connie V Joines Family Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$5.9M
Grant Range
$10K - $3.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,860,010 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $86,280,066 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $3,750,000
  • Number of Grants: 12 awards (2023), 8 awards (2022)
  • Geographic Focus: Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin (primary); also Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island
  • Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: 52160 Fall Creek Drive, Granger, IN 46530

Note: No public website, email, or phone number available. This is a private family foundation.

Overview

The Michael A And Connie V Joines Family Foundation Inc was established in 2016 by Michael A. Joines and Connie V. Joines. Michael Joines is the co-founder and former CEO of Tire Rack, one of the nation's leading online tire retailers based in South Bend, Indiana. Since its founding, the foundation has experienced substantial growth, expanding from $1.93 million in assets in 2015 to over $86 million by 2023. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with significant grantmaking capacity, distributing nearly $6 million in grants annually. The foundation invests in private equity, private real estate, and private debt to support its charitable mission. Family members serve in leadership roles, with multiple members of the Joines family serving as co-chairs, vice chairs, secretary, and treasurer.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation supports organizations across three primary sectors:

  • Education: Supporting educational institutions and programs
  • Human Services: Funding organizations that provide essential services to communities
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting other foundations and charitable infrastructure

Geographic Focus

The foundation primarily focuses on the Midwest, with the majority of grants going to organizations in:

  • Indiana (primary focus area, given the foundation's Granger location)
  • Ohio
  • Wisconsin

Additional grants have been made to organizations in Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island.

Grant Sizes

Grant amounts vary significantly based on organizational need and project scope:

  • Typical range: $10,000 - $3,750,000
  • Average annual grantmaking: Approximately $5.8 million across 12 grants

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As a private family foundation, they likely have specific organizational relationships and priorities that guide their grantmaking decisions.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by members of the Joines family:

  • Co-Chairpersons: Michael A. Joines and Connie V. Joines
  • Secretary: Brian M. Joines
  • Treasurer: Jeffery A. Joines
  • Vice Chairpersons: Multiple Joines family members

All officers serve without compensation, consistent with private family foundation practices. Michael A. Joines's background as co-founder and former CEO of Tire Rack provides the foundation with substantial resources for charitable giving.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Michael A And Connie V Joines Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion. There is no online application portal, published guidelines, or open submission process.

Grants are typically awarded to organizations with which the foundation trustees have pre-existing relationships or knowledge. The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded by invitation only through trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following observations may be useful for organizations hoping to understand the foundation's approach:

  • Geographic alignment: The foundation shows strong preference for organizations in Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin, particularly the northern Indiana region where the Joines family is based.

  • Focus areas: Education, human services, and philanthropic infrastructure appear to be the primary areas of interest based on IRS filing categories.

  • Grant size flexibility: The foundation makes both smaller grants (around $10,000) and substantial major gifts (up to $3.75 million), suggesting they support both smaller community organizations and larger institutional partners.

  • Consistent grantmaking: Despite having only 12 grants annually, the foundation maintains a substantial annual giving level of nearly $6 million, indicating they support fewer organizations with larger, more impactful grants.

  • Family-driven priorities: As a private family foundation with all trustees being family members, grantmaking decisions likely reflect the personal interests and relationships of the Joines family.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Do not submit applications unless specifically invited by the foundation trustees.

  • Relationship-based grantmaking: The foundation appears to work with organizations known to the Joines family and trustees, making relationship-building with family members the only potential pathway to funding.

  • Significant capacity: With nearly $6 million in annual giving and over $86 million in assets, the foundation has substantial resources but channels them to a small number of recipients (approximately 12 annually).

  • Regional focus: Northern Indiana organizations, particularly those in the South Bend/Granger area, appear to be primary beneficiaries given the family's business and personal ties to the region.

  • Broad grant range: The foundation makes grants ranging from $10,000 to over $3 million, indicating flexibility in grant sizes based on organizational needs and projects.

  • Private equity investment approach: The foundation invests in private equity, private real estate, and private debt to generate returns that support charitable giving, suggesting a sophisticated long-term investment strategy.

  • Not suitable for cold outreach: Organizations seeking funding should not contact this foundation without an established connection to the Joines family or trustees.

References

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