FundersIndiana

M E Raker Foundation Inc

Fort Wayne, IN · EIN 31-1040474. Reported 245 grants totalling $1,944,276 to 122 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$7,500median grant
$1,944,276granted, 2021-2024
122organizations funded
67%of grantees funded again the next year
$12.7Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. M E Raker Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $7,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $30,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
21 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
122 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
98 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
4 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Easter Seals Arc of Ne IndianaFort Wayne, IN$75,000442024
Turnstone CenterFort Wayne, IN$60,000442024
World Baseball AcademyFort Wayne, IN$50,000332023
The Shepherd's HouseFort Wayne, IN$45,000332024
Bishop Luers High SchoolFort Wayne, IN$40,000442024
Bridge of Grace Compassionate MinistriesFort Wayne, IN$40,000222022
Community Transportation NetworkFort Wayne, IN$40,000442024
Friends of the Ashbrook CenterAshland, OH$40,000442024
Society of St Vincent De PaulFort Wayne, IN$40,000332024
The LeagueFort Wayne, IN$40,000442024
Cancer Services of Northeast IndianaFort Wayne, IN$38,000442024
Homebound Meals IncFort Wayne, IN$37,000442024
Lutheran Social ServicesFort Wayne, IN$35,000442024
Science CentralFort Wayne, IN$34,000332024
Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen CountyFort Wayne, IN$30,000332023
Cass HousingFort Wayne, IN$30,000442024
ChillFort Wayne, IN$30,000332023
Courageous HealingFort Wayne, IN$30,000332023
Embassy Theatre FoundationFort Wayne, IN$30,000112021
Fort Wayne Railroad Historical SocietyFort Wayne, IN$30,000222024
History CenterFort Wayne, IN$30,000442024
Interfaith Hospitality NetworkFort Wayne, IN$30,000332023
Mental Health AmericaFort Wayne, IN$30,000332024
Stillwater HospiceFort Wayne, IN$30,000332024
Wellspring Interfaith Social ServicesFort Wayne, IN$30,000332024
Youth for Christ of Northern IndianaFort Wayne, IN$30,000332023
Out of a JamFort Wayne, IN$29,000442024
University of St FrancisFort Wayne, IN$27,500442024
Audiences UnlimitedFort Wayne, IN$26,000442024
Friends of the Lincoln CollectionFort Wayne, IN$25,000112021
Neighbor Link Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN$25,000332023
The Literacy AllianceFort Wayne, IN$22,500332023
Amani Family ServicesFort Wayne, IN$22,000332024
Vincent Village IncFort Wayne, IN$21,500442024
Give HearFort Wayne, IN$21,000442024
American Red CrossFort Wayne, IN$20,000442024
Anthony Wayne Area Council Boy ScoutsFort Wayne, IN$20,000332023
Bishop Dwenger High SchoolFort Wayne, IN$20,000222024
Community Harvest Foodbank of Northeast IndianaFort Wayne, IN$20,000222022
Fort Wayne Rescue MissionFort Wayne, IN$20,000442024
Little River Wetlands Project IncFort Wayne, IN$20,000332024
Remedy LiveFort Wayne, IN$20,000222024
Salvation ArmyFort Wayne, IN$20,000442024
Super Shot IncFort Wayne, IN$20,000222022
Mcmillen CenterFort Wayne, IN$18,500332024
Blue JacketFort Wayne, IN$17,500332024
Girl Scouts of Northern in-MiFort Wayne, IN$15,000332024
Humane Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN$15,000222024
Kate's KartFort Wayne, IN$15,000332023
Lc Nature ParkRoanoke, IN$14,500332023
East Allen Family Resource CenterNew Haven, IN$12,000332024
Historic Forks of the WabashHuntington, IN$11,500222024
Acres Land TrustHuntertown, IN$10,000112024
Anthony Wayne Ara Council Boy ScoutsFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Associated ChurchesFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Bridge of Grace Compoassionate MinistriesFort Wayne, IN$10,000112023
Community Harvest Food BankFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Community Harvest Food Bank of Ne IndianaFort Wayne, IN$10,000112023
Early Childhood AllianceFort Wayne, IN$10,000222023
Fort Wayne Center for LearningFort Wayne, IN$10,000222024
Fort Wayne TrailsFort Wayne, IN$10,000222024
Friends of the RiversFort Wayne, IN$10,000222022
Headwaters JunctionFort Wayne, IN$10,000112021
Just NeighborsFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Lutheran Life VillagesFort Wayne, IN$10,000112023
Neighborlink Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Power House Youth CenterNew Haven, IN$10,000222024
Soulmedic Media GroupFort Wayne, IN$10,000112021
Specialty TutoringFort Wayne, IN$10,000112022
The Carriage HouseFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
YWCAFort Wayne, IN$10,000222023
Youth for ChristFort Wayne, IN$10,000112024
Euell a Wilson CenterFort Wayne, IN$8,900222023
Down Syndrome Association of Ne IndianaFort Wayne, IN$8,500112023
Fort Wayne Children's ZooFort Wayne, IN$7,540112021
The Literary AllianceFort Wayne, IN$7,500112024
216 East Washington FoundationFort Wayne, IN$7,000222022
Fellowship of Christian AthletesKansas City, MO$7,000112022
Redemption House MinistriesFort Wayne, IN$7,000112022
Gigis PlayhouseFort Wayne, IN$6,000112024
Anami Family ServicesFort Wayne, IN$5,500112021
Hoosiers Feeding the HungryGarrett, IN$5,500222024
Big Brothers Big Sisters Ne inFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Black Pine Animal SanctuaryAlbion, IN$5,000112023
Blessings in a BackpackFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Camp Red CedarFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Fort Wayne Park FoundationFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Fort Wayne Parks FoundationFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development AllianceFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Gigi's PlayhouseFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
GodanceFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Goodwill IndustriesFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Healtier Moms and BabiesFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Hope's HarborFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Lexi's VoiceFort Wayne, IN$5,000332023
Life Adult Daycare AcademyFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Lifeline Youth & Family ServicesFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Long Term Care Ombudsman ProgramFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Long Term Care Ombudsman ProrgamFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Mad Anthony's Children's Hope HouseFort Wayne, IN$5,000112022
Matthew 25 Health & Dental ClinicFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Matthew 25 Health and Cental ClinicFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Matthew 25 Health and Dental ClinicFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
Mcmillan CenterFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Mustard Seed Furniture BankFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Purdue Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Ronald Mcdonald House CharitiesFort Wayne, IN$5,000112022
St Joseph MissionsFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Teen Works IncIndianapolis, IN$5,000112024
Teenworks IncIndianapolis, IN$5,000112023
Thirteen Step HouseFort Wayne, IN$5,000112021
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran ChurchFort Wayne, IN$5,000112023
Veteran's National Memorial ShrineFort Wayne, IN$5,000112024
White's Residential and Family ServicesWabash, IN$5,000112024
Fort Wayne Railroad Historial SocietyFort Wayne, IN$4,400112021
Middle WavesFort Wayne, IN$3,000112021
Police Athletic LeaugeFort Wayne, IN$3,000222022
216 E Washington FoundationFort Wayne, IN$2,500112023
Northeast Indiana Public RadioFort Wayne, IN$2,500112024
St Mary's Catholic ChurchFort Wayne, IN$2,500112024
Miss Virginia's Food PantryFort Wayne, IN$2,436112024
Police Alhetlic LeagueFort Wayne, IN$1,000112024

61 of 122 (50%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 67%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 130 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
25 grants
Health Care
13 grants
Arts & Culture
13 grants
Education
13 grants
Housing & Shelter
9 grants
Youth Development
8 grants
Recreation & Sports
7 grants
Animal Welfare
7 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202161$486,940$5,000
202258$500,400$7,750
202362$476,500$7,500
202464$480,436$7,500

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 98% of this one's giving went to organizations in Indiana. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Indiana
$1.9M
Ohio
$40K
Missouri
$7K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal 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.

Community Foundation of Greater60 shared recipientsThe Waterfield Foundation Inc42 shared recipientsEnglish-Bonter-Mitchell Fdn38 shared recipientsEdward M Wilson Foundation37 shared recipientsLincoln Financial Foundation Inc35 shared recipientsThe James Foundation Inc33 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $7,500. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Indiana.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from M E Raker Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 6207 Constitution Drive, Fort Wayne, IN, 46804. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 31-1040474 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.