Skip to content
The Ackerman Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

The Ackerman Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$810k
Granted FY2024still arriving
36
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$1.1MPhilanthropy$715kArts & Culture$525kHealth$406kYouth Development$321kHuman Services$310kFood & Nutrition$173kAnimals$123kOther$0
02FY2024 · 36 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k12 grants · $60k
  • $10k–50k16 grants · $275k
  • $50k–250k8 grants · $475k
$10,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$17M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PURDUE FOUNDATION$100,000
OAKS ACADEMY$75,000
Individual grant recipient$50,000
CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM$50,000
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA$50,000
INDIANAPOLIS ZOO$50,000
GLEANERS FOOD BANK$50,000
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS$50,000
FIRST BAPTIST ATHLETICS$40,000
PARENT PROJECT MD$30,000
TEENWORKS$25,000
SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER$25,000
HERRON HIGH SCHOOL$25,000
ELEVATE VENTURES INC$20,000
NEWFIELDS$20,000
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 (FY17–24, $333k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 92% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%VILLAGES OF INDIANA FOUNDATION: $10k → 18%VILLAGES OF INDIANA FOUNDATION: $10k → 18%VILLAGES OF INDIANA FOUNDATION: $3k → 18%EDNA MARTIN CHRISTIAN CENTER: $10k → 16%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $5k → 5%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $5k → 5%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $1k → 5%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $5k → 5%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $5k → 5%CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE: $5k → 5%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $50k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $25k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $15k → 16%WHEELER MISSION: $10k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $10k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $10k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $10k → 16%HEART CHANGE MINISTRIES INC: $10k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $5k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $5k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $5k → 16%SHEPHERD COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 16%OUTREACH INC: $5k → 16%DAMAR SERVICES: $5k → 16%WHEELER MISSION: $23k → 16%WHEELER MISSION: $10k → 16%YMCA OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS: $5k → 16%HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION: $1k → 16%HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION: $1k → 16%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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.4M · 56 repeat orgs$364k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +45% since the first grant, against +7% for those funded once.

56 repeat relationships: 30 still active in FY2024, 26 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

56
23

Total granted

$3.4M
$234k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+45%
+7%

Still filing today

80%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 83% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $130k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesArts & CultureHealthPhilanthropyYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TO
    The Oaks Academy Inc
    8× · 2017–2024 · $245k · revenue +114%
  • CP
    Conner Prairie Museum Inc
    8× · 2017–2024 · $165k · revenue +85%
  • GF
    GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $163k · revenue +180%

Funded once

  • MD
    MITCHELL DANIELS JR SCHOOL
    one grant, 2023 · $100k
  • FB
    FAY BICCARD GLICK NEIGHBORHOOD
    one grant, 2023 · $25k
  • IE
    ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND
    one grant, 2023 · $20k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its 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
Leadership Indianapolis Inc

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

Public Benefit
2
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
3
The Indianapolis Foundation Inc

To mobilize people, ideas, and investments to make this a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential - no matter place, race or identity.

Community Improvement
4
Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media Inc

Trusted journalism, inspiring stories and lifelong learning.

Arts & Culture
5
Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council Inc

To empower its peers with disabilities to lead and control their own lives.

Human Services
6
Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana

To enhance the competitive position and fulfill business requirements of independent agents and brokers, advocating buyer interest, and continually striving to be the premier trade association.

—
7
University Family Physicians Inc

Engage actively and continuously in medical research, education and training in the practice of medicine in conjunction with the department of family medicine of the indiana university school of medicine and indiana university…

—
8
Indiana Association of Realtors Inc

To serve its members and local associations by providing leadership programs and services to sustain a healthy real estate market in indiana. in providing these services, the association will raise the standards of the real estate…

—
9
International School of Indiana Inc

The mission of the international school of indiana is to provide our students with a world-class education that prepares them to be responsible citizens and effective leaders in a rapidly globalizing and interdependent world.

—
10
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…

—
11
Cicp Foundation Inc

Cicp foundation, inc. (the foundation) operates exclusively for the benefit of and carries out the mission of central indiana corporate partnership, inc. (cicp) by engaging in and supporting activities in furtherance of purposes that are…

Community Improvement
12
Indiana University Health Care Associates Inc

To deliver preeminent medical care and service to our patients and communities through outstanding and innovative medical leadership and practice, while participating in and supporting excellence in education and research. We achieve this…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Indiana Special Olympics Inc; the most unlike its peers is Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

63 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. 63 of the 85 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
62/63
Grantees still filing
44/63
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

PARENT PROJECT MD: $210,000 · OtherPARENT PROJECT MDIndividual grant recipient: $190,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientGLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC: $162,500 · OtherGLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INCCOLLEGE MENTORS: $130,000 · OtherCOLLEGE MENTORSBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA: $130,000 · OtherBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIA…MITCHELL DANIELS JR SCHOOL: $100,000 · OtherMITCHELL DANIELS JR SCHOOLPURDUE FOUNDATION: $100,000 · OtherPURDUE FOUNDATIONCHILDREN'S MUSEUM: $85,000 · OtherINDIANAPOLIS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH: $80,000 · OtherUNITED SCHOOLS OF INDIANAPOLIS: $60,000 · OtherElevate Ventures Inc: $95,000 · OtherElevate Ventures IncTEENWORKS INC: $72,500 · Other+29 more: $354,310 · Other+29 moreJewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Inc: $410,000 · PhilanthropyJewish Federation o…UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA INC: $295,000 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF CENTR…+2 more: $20,000 · PhilanthropyThe Oaks Academy Inc: $245,000 · EducationThe Oaks Academy …BRIGHTLANE LEARNING CORP: $75,000 · EducationBRIGHTLANE LEARNI…Marian University: $70,000 · EducationMarian UniversityHERRON HIGH SCHOOL INC: $60,000 · EducationHERRON HIGH SCHOO…Kipp Indianapolis Inc: $60,000 · EducationKipp Indianapolis…Teach for America Inc: $45,000 · EducationTeach for America…ENROLL INDY INC: $25,000 · EducationIVY TECH FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 · Education+4 more: $45,100 · Education+4 moreConner Prairie Museum Inc: $164,500 · Arts & CultureConner Prai…Newfields Inc: $97,500 · Arts & CultureNewfields I…Indiana Repertory Theatre Inc: $29,000 · Arts & CultureIndiana Rep…Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc: $28,000 · Arts & CultureIndianapoli…INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $27,000 · Arts & CultureINDIANA HIS…HEARTLAND FILM INC: $23,000 · Arts & CultureHEARTLAND F…Indianapolis Children's Choir: $15,500 · Arts & CultureEITELJORG MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND WESTERN ART INC: $15,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $11,000 · Arts & CultureShepherd Community Inc: $160,000 · Human ServicesShepherd …OUTREACH INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesOUTREACH …WHEELER MISSION MINISTRIES INC: $42,500 · Human ServicesWHEELER M…CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE INC: $26,250 · Human ServicesCONCERTS …THE O'CONNOR HOUSE: $25,000 · Human ServicesTHE O'CON…The Villages of Indiana Foundation Inc: $22,500 · Human ServicesThe Villa…+5 more: $32,000 · Human Services+5 moreEskenazi Health Foundation Inc: $79,000 · HealthTHE CHILDREN'S THERAPLAY FOUNDATION INC: $45,000 · HealthMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY FAMILY FOUNDATION: $45,000 · HealthST VINCENT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 · Health+3 more: $10,500 · HealthIndianapolis Zoological Society Inc: $120,000 · Animals
Other$1,769,310Philanthropy$725,000Education$650,100Arts & Culture$410,500Human Services$358,250Health$189,500Animals$120,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Inc: $410,000 over 8y, 0.9% of budgetUNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA INC: $295,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetThe Oaks Academy Inc: $245,000 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetConner Prairie Museum Inc: $164,500 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetGLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC: $162,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetShepherd Community Inc: $160,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA: $130,000 over 8y, 5.8% of budgetIndianapolis Zoological Society Inc: $120,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetNewfields Inc: $97,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetElevate Ventures Inc: $95,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetEskenazi Health Foundation Inc: $79,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetBRIGHTLANE LEARNING CORP: $75,000 over 8y, 1.1% of budgetTEENWORKS INC: $72,500 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetMarian University: $70,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetHERRON HIGH SCHOOL INC: $60,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetKipp Indianapolis Inc: $60,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetOUTREACH INC: $50,000 over 7y, 0.7% of budgetSTARFISH INC: $50,000 over 5y, 1.5% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $45,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S THERAPLAY FOUNDATION INC: $45,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY FAMILY FOUNDATION: $45,000 over 7y, 2.3% of budgetWHEELER MISSION MINISTRIES INC: $42,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetJOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $40,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL INDIANA INC: $30,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetIndiana Repertory Theatre Inc: $29,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetIndianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc: $28,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetINDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $27,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCONCERTS FOR A CAUSE INC: $26,250 over 6y, 4.4% of budgetENROLL INDY INC: $25,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetTHE O'CONNOR HOUSE: $25,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetIVY TECH FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetHEARTLAND FILM INC: $23,000 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetThe Villages of Indiana Foundation Inc: $22,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetTHE MIND TRUST INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCROSSROADS OF AMERICA COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA INC: $16,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetIndianapolis Children's Choir: $15,500 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetButler University: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetEITELJORG MUSEUM OF AMERICAN INDIANS AND WESTERN ART INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS INC: $11,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetST VINCENT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetINDIANA SPECIAL OLYMPICS INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCENTER FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INC: $10,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetSECOND HELPINGS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEDNA MARTIN CHRISTIAN CENTER INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHORIZON HOUSE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGood Samaritan Network of Hamilton County Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMITCH DANIELS LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 2y, 1.9% of budgetINDIANA CENTER FOR PREVENTION OF YOUTH ABUSE AND SUICIDE: $5,000 over 1y, 1.0% 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.

  • Who funds Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis Inc ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL INDIANA INC ↗
  • Who funds The Oaks Academy Inc ↗
  • Who funds Conner Prairie Museum Inc ↗
  • Who funds GLEANERS FOOD BANK OF INDIANA INC ↗
  • Who funds Shepherd Community Inc ↗
  • Who funds BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SOUTH CENTRAL INDIANA ↗
  • Who funds Indianapolis Zoological Society Inc ↗
  • Who funds Newfields Inc ↗
  • Who funds Elevate Ventures Inc ↗
  • Who funds Eskenazi Health Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds BRIGHTLANE LEARNING CORP ↗
  • Who funds TEENWORKS INC ↗
  • Who funds Marian University ↗
  • Who funds HERRON HIGH SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds Kipp Indianapolis Inc ↗
  • Who funds OUTREACH INC ↗
  • Who funds STARFISH INC ↗
  • Who funds Teach for America Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE CHILDREN'S THERAPLAY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY FAMILY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds WHEELER MISSION MINISTRIES INC ↗
  • Who funds JOHN H BONER COMMUNITY CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL INDIANA INC ↗
  • Who funds Indiana Repertory Theatre Inc ↗
  • Who funds Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds ENROLL INDY INC ↗
  • Who funds THE O'CONNOR HOUSE ↗
  • Who funds IVY TECH FOUNDATION INC ↗

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.

Nicholas H Noyes Jr M…Lilly Endowment IncThe Indianapolis Foun…Central Indiana Commu…United Way of Central…Lumina Foundation for…Maurer Family Foundat…Hamilton County Commu…Richard M Fairbanks F…Hoover Family Foundat…The Brave Heart Found…Eugene & Marilyn Glic…
Nicholas H Noyes Jr Memorial FoundationIN72.7× affinity33 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Nicholas H Noyes Jr Memorial Foundation · Lilly Endowment Inc · The Indianapolis Foundation Inc · Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc · United Way of Central Indiana Inc · Lumina Foundation for Education Inc · Maurer Family Foundation Inc · Hamilton County Community Foundation Inc · Richard M Fairbanks Foundation Inc · Hoover Family Foundation · The Brave Heart Foundation Inc · Eugene & Marilyn Glick 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 The Ackerman Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Ackerman Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%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
    27report 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 85 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-PF 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 Ackerman’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