Legacy Foundation Inc
Merrillville, IN · EIN 35-1872803. Reported 307 grants totalling $11.7M to 171 organizations across tax years 2021-2024, on Form 990 Schedule I.
171organizations funded
$13,389median reported grant
$11.7Mgranted, 2021-2024
55%of grantees funded again the next year
24%of dollars to its largest recipient
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Legacy Foundation Inc, the IRS classifies it as a community foundation (NTEE T310).
- How spread out its giving is. 171 distinct organizations, with 24% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 55% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is about the 57% median for grantmaking charities -- noticeably lower than the 67% private foundations manage. Organizations like this one rotate more of their list each year, which is where an opening for a newcomer tends to be.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $13,389. Half of what it reported fell between $9,380 and $31,690; the smallest was $5,190 and the largest $787,320. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Schedule I only reports grants over $5,000. Form 990 requires a charity to list recipients it paid more than that and lets it omit the rest, so every grant-size figure on this page describes the grants it reported, not all of them. Its real median is lower and its real recipient count is higher. This is also why these numbers cannot be compared with the private-foundation figures elsewhere on this site -- Form 990-PF has no reporting floor, so the two are different populations rather than two samples of one.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Merrillville | Merrillville, IN | $2,792,094 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Indiana University Foundation | Bloomington, IN | $713,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Tradewinds Services Inc | Merrillville, IN | $565,554 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Trinity Lutheran Church | Hobart, IN | $512,859 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| South Shore Neighborhood Development Corporation | Merrillville, IN | $346,551 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Inc | Merrillville, IN | $288,300 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Crisis Center Inc | Gary, IN | $260,122 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hobart Food Pantry Incorporated | Hobart, IN | $254,804 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hammond Community Corporation | Hammond, IN | $243,697 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County Indiana Inc | Valparaiso, IN | $230,804 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center Inc | Chesterton, IN | $224,598 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maria Reiner Center | Hobart, IN | $216,111 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| First United Lutheran Church | Hammond, IN | $186,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Calumet College | Whiting, IN | $184,490 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc | Merrillville, IN | $160,544 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ivy Tech East Chicago | East Chicago, IN | $150,084 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Lutheran University Association Inc | Valparaiso, IN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Methodist Hospitals Foundation Inc | Gary, IN | $138,642 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Humane Indiana Inc | Highland, IN | $107,319 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ball State University Foundation | Muncie, IN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gary Public Transportation Corp | Gary, IN | $96,411 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Maac Foundation Inc | Valparaiso, IN | $96,031 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Hoffman Estates, IL | $84,558 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| First Presbyterian Church of Naples | Naples, FL | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mountain Gate | Ojo Sarco, NM | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franciscan Sisters of Chicago Service Corporation | Lemont, IL | $74,779 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Opportunity Enterprises Inc | Valparaiso, IN | $74,263 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Miller Citizens Corporation | Gary, IN | $73,712 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northwest Indiana Symphony Society Inc | Munster, IN | $71,088 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gary Public Library | Gary, IN | $60,351 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oai Inc | Park Forest, IL | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hospice of the Calumet Area Inc | Munster, IN | $59,272 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hammond Public Library Foundation Incorporated | Hammond, IN | $57,700 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Family Life Community Youth Center | Gary, IN | $57,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Urban League of Northwest Indiana Inc | Gary, IN | $56,650 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hammond Education Foundation Inc | Hammond, IN | $55,381 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Seeing Eye Inc | Morristown, NJ | $54,351 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fssa (indiana Family & Social Svcs Administration) | Indianapolis, IN | $51,118 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Guaranteed Income Validation Effort Give | Gary, IN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hope House Inc | Marsing, ID | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Incremental Development Alliance | Fayetteville, AR | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Purdue University - College of Engineering | West Lafayette, IN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Resilia | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church | Valparaiso, IN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| United Way of Northwest Indiana Inc | Valparaiso, IN | $49,749 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hearts in Motion Inc | Schererville, IN | $48,823 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Gary Community Partnership Corporat Ion | Gary, IN | $47,600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Fair Haven Inc | Highland, IN | $45,350 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| St Joseph's Carmelite Home | East Chicago, IN | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Miller Community Fund Inc | Gary, IN | $42,279 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pro Bono Indiana Inc | Evansville, IN | $41,742 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Caring Place Incorporated | Valparaiso, IN | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Gary Alumni Pathway to Students | Gary, IN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hobart Industrial Economic Development Corporation | Hobart, IN | $39,244 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse Inc | Gary, IN | $39,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Town of Griffith- Parks & Recreatio | Griffith, IN | $35,224 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Empower Schools Inc | Boston, MA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Hammond Community Services Inc | Hammond, IN | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lowell Public Library | Lowell, IN | $34,606 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Miller Beach Tourism Bureau Inc | Gary, IN | $33,220 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hammond Youth Golf Academy Inc | Hammond, IN | $31,441 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited Inc | Hobart, IN | $30,134 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Campagna Academy Inc | Schererville, IN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Woodland Child Development Center Inc | Hammond, IN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Franciscan Health Foundation Inc | Mishawaka, IN | $29,381 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary Inc | Gary, IN | $28,917 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| South Lake County Community Services Inc | Crown Point, IN | $28,712 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Cavaliers Ap&e Inc | Rosemont, IL | $28,136 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hobart Historical Society Inc | Hobart, IN | $27,826 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pink Ribbon Society | Merrillville, IN | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bonton Enterprises | Dallas, TX | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Common Roots Montessori School | Saint Paul, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lymphira Inc | Merrillville, IN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Planting Possibilities | Highland, IN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ivy Tech Foundation Inc | Indianapolis, IN | $24,811 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lake County Public Library | Merrillville, IN | $24,786 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | $24,786 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Jude House Inc | Crown Point, IN | $24,380 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Diocese of Gary | Merrillville, IN | $24,252 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Erins Farm Nfp | Hobart, IN | $22,800 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Demetrios | Hammond, IN | $21,576 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp | Crown Point, IN | $21,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Providence Cristo Ray High School | Indianapolis, IN | $21,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Coates Inc | Merrillville, IN | $20,858 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Crossroads Young Mens Christian Association Inc | Crown Point, IN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Healthvisions Midwest Inc | Highland, IN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pop on Teen Violence Inc | Crown Point, IN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sixteen Pearls Foundation Incorporated | Crown Point, IN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St John's United Church of Christ | Crown Point, IN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Town of Cedar Lake | Cedar Lake, IN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Franciscan Alliance Inc | Mishawaka, IN | $19,855 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Chicago, IL | $19,270 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Colorectal Cancer Alliance Inc | Washington, DC | $18,725 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Clark Road Genesis Family Center Inc | Gary, IN | $18,276 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brothers Keeper Inc | Gary, IN | $17,860 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First United Methodist Church | Crown Point, IN | $17,809 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Startedup Foundation Inc | Noblesville, IN | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Haven House Inc | Hammond, IN | $17,347 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc | Gary, IN | $16,852 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church | Hammond, IN | $16,418 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Earth Charter Indiana Inc | Indianapolis, IN | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Whiting-Robertsdale Community Improvement Corporation | Whiting, IN | $15,631 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| For the Love of the Arts Inc | Lake Station, IN | $15,600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Paladin Inc | Michigan City, IN | $15,306 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Building Our Future Incorporated | Hammond, IN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hands of Hope Adoption & Orphan Care Ministry Inc | Noblesville, IN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sertoma Star Services Inc | Chicago Hts, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Startup Gary Community Development Corporation | Gary, IN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Veteran Impact Services Inc | Crown Point, IN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Joseph Hess Elementary PTA | Hammond, IN | $14,770 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Save the Dunes Conservation Fund Inc | Michigan City, IN | $14,683 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lake County Fire Chiefs Association Inc | Munster, IN | $14,614 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of the Crown Point Community Library Inc | Crown Point, IN | $12,809 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Trinity Baptist Church of Gary Indiana | Gary, IN | $12,550 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| African American Achievers Youth Corps Inc | Gary, IN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Genesius Guild Inc | Portage, IN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lake County in Economic Alliance Inc | Hobart, IN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| South Shore Dance Alliance Inc | Gary, IN | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Charitable | Ashburn, VA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Catherine Hospital Inc | Munster, IN | $11,871 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Stressbusters Inc | Gary, IN | $11,580 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Teenas Legacy | Chicago, IL | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky | Indianapolis, IN | $10,991 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Victory 4 Kidz | Hobart, IN | $10,701 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gary Harm Reduction | Gary, IN | $10,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Books Brushes & Bands for Education Inc | Hammond, IN | $10,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Asw Foundation | Merrillville, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Building Leaders Advancing Community Knowledge | Gary, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cedar Lake Historical Association Inc | Cedar Lake, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Independent Documentary Inc | Cambridge, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicagoland Immigrant Welcome Network | Hammond, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Childrens Museum of Indianapolis Incorporated | Indianapolis, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Delta Institute | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gary East Side Community Development Corporation | Gary, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana Inc | Griffith, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hammond Development Corporation | Hammond, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Indiana Legal Services Inc | Indianapolis, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mental Health America of Lake County Inc | Hammond, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Providence Cristo Rey High School Inc | Indianapolis, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| South Shore Promotions Inc | Hammond, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southlake Community Mental Health Center Inc | Merrillville, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Way of Greater Mchenry County Inc | Mchenry, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Whiting Entertainment Center Inc | Whiting, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| United Church of Christ Board | Cleveland, OH | $9,587 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| SHELTERED91 | Munster, IN | $9,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Indiana Ballet Theatre Nw Inc | Merrillville, IN | $9,499 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hope Christian Church Disciples of Christ | Hammond, IN | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jacobs Ladder Pediatric Rehab Center Inc | Chesterton, IN | $8,829 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Computer Skills & Training Center Inc | Gary, IN | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Whiting Public Library Inc | Whiting, IN | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Mary of the Lake | Gary, IN | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Indiana Inc | Hobart, IN | $7,847 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southlake Tri-City Rba Corp | Merrillville, IN | $7,845 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Change Center Weareone | Gary, IN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Community Help Network | Crown Point, IN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wittenberg Lutheran Village Inc | Crown Point, IN | $7,156 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Olympia Fields Country Club Historic Landmark Preservation Fou | Olympia Flds, IL | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Safe Coalition for Human Rights | Munster, IN | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Laini Fluellen Charities Inc | Highland, IN | $6,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hope for Humanity Inc | Richmond, VA | $6,525 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grace Beyond Borders Nwi Inc | East Chicago, IN | $6,017 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| School House Childrens Charity Inc | Whiting, IN | $5,900 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Towle Performing Arts Company | Hammond, IN | $5,772 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| School City of Hobart Educational Foundation Inc | Hobart, IN | $5,689 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Life Communities Foundation | Arlington Hts, IL | $5,653 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Public News Source | Boulder, CO | $5,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beach Front Dance School | Gary, IN | $5,400 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
70 of 171 (41%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
It also reported 4 groups of grants to individuals -- scholarships, emergency assistance and similar. Schedule I reports these by category with a headcount and never by name, so there is nothing here we could publish about the recipients even if we wanted to.
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 118 of 171 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | $2,462,266 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 80 | $2,437,971 | $12,094 |
| 2023 | 79 | $3,039,599 | $13,049 |
| 2024 | 83 | $3,774,322 | $15,261 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
93% of its giving went to organizations in Indiana. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
Down to the city
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Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
John W Anderson Foundation38 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc38 shared recipientsNisource Charitable Foundation36 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund36 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc31 shared recipientsCrown Point Community Foundation Inc27 shared recipients
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $13,389 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Indiana.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Legacy Foundation Inc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 74 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 9 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 370 E 84TH Dr Ste 100, Merrillville, IN, 46410.
EIN 35-1872803 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
This is history, not an open call. Form 990 is published about a year after the tax year it covers. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this organization has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next.
Is something here wrong about your organization? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.