Skip to content
Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inc at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inc

Working to meet environmental and educational concerns, promoting economic development and growth in northwest indiana, and secure grants to accomplish environmental and educational goals.

$7.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
36
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$1.5M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2022 to 2024.

Community Improvement$9.0MRecreation & Sports$1.5MHealth$1.0MEmployment$676kHuman Services$651kReligion$559kArts & Culture$493kPhilanthropy$400kOther$0
02FY2024 · 36 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $9k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $265k
  • $50k–250k17 grants · $2.1M
  • $250k+8 grants · $5.2M
$76,696
Median grant
4
States reached
$1.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
URSCHEL DEVELOPMENT CORP$1,500,000
HEALTHLINC INC$940,000
VALPARAISO REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION$614,995
SAXON PARTNERS LLC$558,551
CROSSROADS YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS$437,793
GARY CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY$435,417
WECREATE MEDIA LLC$387,517
UNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA$352,814
CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS$242,953
NORTHWEST INDIANA FORUM INC$213,830
FIRST THINGS FIRST PORTER COUNTY$200,000
CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS$187,345
LOWER LINCOLN ESO INC$178,681
CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS$172,228
THOMAS P MILLER & ASSOCIATES LLC$147,156
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–24, $504k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%URBAN LEAGUE OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $66k → 15%CROSSROADS YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS: $438k → 15%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 5% of Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inc’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 96% of the giving stays in IN; by stated purpose, 92%.

Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inclessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 3.5% directed abroad (not shown)
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Greater Laporte Economic Development Corporation

To recruit new business and industry into the laporte county area and combat community deterioration by promoting stability, growth, and development of business and industry.

Community Improvement
2
Leadership Indianapolis Inc

Educate, Inspire, Connect and Mobilize Community Leaders to serve and strengthen greater Indianapolis.

Public Benefit
3
Innovation Connector Inc

To be east central indiana's primary sponsor bringing in technological firms.

Community Improvement
4
Greater Laporte Chamber of Commerce Inc

Chamber of commerce for laporte, indiana

—
5
Lawrence County Economic Growth Council Inc

To collaboratively plan for and guide the economic development of lawrence county, indiana. to faciliate the expansion and retention of existing business; to aggressively recruit new business; and to support the development of a quality of…

Community Improvement
6
Northeast Indiana Innovation Center Inc

We are a comprehensive entrepreneurial center whose mission is putting business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship to work for northeast indiana

Community Improvement
7
Indiana Innovation Council Inc

Promote and educate indiana residents on the state's economic success and positive gains.

—
8
Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

To be an action-oriented, visionary organization which will stimulate progress, foster economic growth and enhance individual opportunity to achieve a high quality of life for everyone.

—
9
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago

Strengthen companies in the kinzie industrial corridor and facilitate economic and community development by providing services and incubator space.

—
10
Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation

Assist in the development of projects in cooperation with the local government and civic bodies that secure additional employment opportunities and facilities in jackson county indiana.

Community Improvement
11
Indiana Agribusiness Council Inc

An agribusiness network advocate, representing members' interests within all levels of government and keeping members informed of the latest industry trends and news.

—
12
Indiana University Alumni Association Inc

The indiana university alumni association activates and supports the global alumni network- encouraging alumni to grow a lifelong connection with indiana university, and inspiring their ongoing generosity toward each other and the…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Urban League of Nw Indiana Inc; the most unlike its peers is Jasper County Economic Development Organization. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

14 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 14 of the 27 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
14/14
Grantees still filing
3/14
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

INDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: $7,225,006 · OtherINDIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONURSCHEL DEVELOPMENT CORP: $1,500,000 · OtherURSCHEL DEVELOPMENT CORPHEALTHLINC INC: $940,000 · OtherHEALTHLINC INCVALPARAISO PARKS DEPARTMENT: $614,995 · OtherSAXON PARTNERS LLC: $558,551 · OtherGARY CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY: $512,113 · Other+10 more: $1,173,150 · Other+10 moreTHE CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS INC: $675,613 · Community ImprovementJASPER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: $56,000 · Community ImprovementUNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $352,814 · PhilanthropyPORTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $273,082 · PhilanthropyLEGACY FOUNDATION INC: $55,954 · PhilanthropyCROSSROADS YMCA INC: $437,793 · Human ServicesURBAN LEAGUE OF NW INDIANA INC: $65,750 · Human ServicesLOWER LINCOLN ESO INC: $178,681 · EducationINNOVATORS NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $86,386 · EducationSHIRLEY HEINZE LAND TRUST INC: $62,697 · EnvironmentNWI FOOD COUNCIL INC: $20,987 · Food & Nutrition
Other$12,523,815Community Improvement$731,613Philanthropy$681,850Human Services$503,543Education$265,067Environment$62,697Food & Nutrition$20,987

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetHEALTHLINC INC: $940,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetTHE CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS INC: $675,613 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetCROSSROADS YMCA INC: $437,793 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetUNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $352,814 over 1y, 8.1% of budgetNORTHWEST INDIANA FORUM INC: $292,517 over 1y, 26% of budgetPORTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $273,082 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetINNOVATORS NORTHWEST INDIANA INC: $86,386 over 1y, 91% of budgetURBAN LEAGUE OF NW INDIANA INC: $65,750 over 1y, 10% of budgetSHIRLEY HEINZE LAND TRUST INC: $62,697 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetJASPER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION: $56,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetLEGACY FOUNDATION INC: $55,954 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMICHIGAN CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP: $26,667 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetNWI FOOD COUNCIL INC: $20,987 over 1y, 0.9% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Nisource Charitable F…John W Anderson Found…Legacy Foundation IncAmazonsmile Foundation
Nisource Charitable FoundationOH16.8× affinity6 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Nisource Charitable Foundation · John W Anderson Foundation · Legacy Foundation Inc · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Northwest Indiana Forum Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 27 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Northwest Indiana Forum’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home