Avis Foundation Inc.

The Avis Foundation operates as a mission-driven, relationship-first private foundation that places alignment and prior dialogue at the center of its giving philosophy. Founded in 2006 to steward the philanthropic legacy of Leland and LaRita Boren — whose charitable work dates to the 1982 Boren Foundation — the organization reflects a deeply personal philanthropic tradition rooted in Indiana Christian community life. Leland Boren was president of The Pierce Governor Company in Anderson, Indiana; his estate's $33.47 million contribution in 2022 tripled the foundation's assets and permanently elevated its grantmaking capacity.

First-time applicants must understand that this is not a wide-open competitive grant program. The foundation explicitly identifies itself as preferring pre-selected relationships, and the two-stage LOI-to-full-proposal process functions as a curated filter. The grantee record confirms this: the top 14 recipient institutions have collectively received 2–5 grants each, and every major relationship reflects an ongoing, multi-year partnership rather than a one-time award.

The four program pillars — arts, education, entrepreneurship, and autism — are not equally weighted in practice. Education and autism programming dominate the grantee record. Ball State University ($701,000 across 5 grants), Taylor University ($525,000), Huntington University ($400,000), Ouachita Baptist University ($300,000), and Anderson University ($250,000) reflect the foundation's clear preference for higher-education partners, particularly faith-affiliated institutions. The Eiteljorg Museum ($719,560 across 3 grants) is the single largest institutional relationship and signals strong commitment to major arts organizations at the museum or capital-project scale.

Organizations most likely to succeed are: (1) Indiana-based Christian universities or colleges with programs in arts, education, or autism; (2) autism direct-service organizations providing ABA therapy, research, or inclusive programming; (3) established Indiana arts institutions with capital or programmatic needs; and (4) entrepreneurship-focused university programs. Out-of-state applicants have succeeded (Ouachita Baptist in Arkansas, LeTourneau in Texas) but share a Christian institutional affiliation that appears to be an implicit qualification.

The relationship progression is: pre-submission call with Loralee Songer → LOI by March 1 → April decision → full proposal by July 31 → September decision → October disbursement. First-time applicants who skip the pre-submission conversation and submit cold LOIs are at a significant disadvantage.

The Avis Foundation underwent a defining financial transformation in 2022, when a $33.47 million estate contribution from Leland Boren's estate tripled total assets from $18.6 million (2021) to $50.7 million (2022). Assets stood at $49.2 million as of fiscal year 2023, with net investment income of $1.51 million. This infusion permanently repositioned the foundation from a small family foundation ($825K–$997K in annual grants, 2019–2021) to a mid-sized regional funder with $2.7 million in grants paid in 2023 and $3.05 million in total giving.

The foundation's own reported typical grant size data shows: median grant of $112,500, average of $124,625, minimum of $25,000, and maximum of $271,000. The full grantee database (27 grants to 14 institutions) shows an average grant of $134,095, consistent with the foundation's self-reported figures. The smallest documented grant is $20,000 (The Oaks Academy, library diversification); the largest relationship totals $719,560 (Eiteljorg Museum, 3 grants for special event support).

By program area based on actual grantee records: - Education (55% of giving): Ball State ($701K), Taylor ($525K), Huntington ($400K), Purdue Fort Wayne ($150K), Indiana Wesleyan ($150K), Anderson ($250K, tech and security capacity), LeTourneau ($80K, Bridges Program) - Autism (25% of giving): Ouachita Baptist ($300K, ABA research/therapy salary), Ball State autism programming/Camp Achieve (portion of $701K), Hillcroft Services ($150K, ABA facility capital), Ball State inclusive excellence in grad special education - Arts (21% of giving): Eiteljorg Museum ($719K), Harrison Center for the Arts ($50K), Indianapolis Public Library ($25K, programs and outreach), Indiana Historical Society ($100K, film project), Taylor University Boren Western Art Gallery ($portion of $525K) - Entrepreneurship (estimated 4%): Purdue Fort Wayne Doermer School of Business ($150K)

Geographically, 23 of 27 grants (85%) went to Indiana-based organizations. Three grants went to Arkansas (all Ouachita Baptist University) and one to Texas (LeTourneau University). Annual grant payouts are expected to stabilize in the $2.5–$3.5 million range, given the $49.2M asset base and typical 5% foundation payout logic.

The Avis Foundation sits in a cluster of mid-sized private foundations with assets near $51–52 million, all categorized under Philanthropy & Grantmaking (NTEE code T21). Its asset-size peers are matched by proximity; program focus varies considerably across the group.

Among its asset-size peers, the Avis Foundation stands out for its operational transparency: four specifically named program areas, a published annual deadline (March 1), a named program officer with public contact information, and a two-stage LOI process that accepts unsolicited inquiries from mission-aligned organizations. Most foundations of comparable size operate entirely by invitation with no public-facing application process and no identified staff contact.

The Indiana peer PHP Foundation Inc. is geographically closest and may overlap with Avis in targeting Indiana education or arts nonprofits, but without public application information, direct comparison on competitiveness is not possible. Grant seekers in Indiana's education and autism service sectors should research all peer-asset foundations as part of a comprehensive funding strategy, since several may accept referral-based submissions.

No public news announcements or newly awarded grants for 2025 or 2026 were surfaced through web research. The foundation maintains a deliberately low media profile consistent with private family foundation norms, and no press releases, local news coverage, or social media presence was identified.

The most significant recent development remains the 2022 estate infusion of $33.47 million from Leland Boren's estate — the foundation's defining financial event — which expanded total assets from $18.6 million (2021) to $50.7 million (2022) and enabled a sustained grantmaking scale-up. In fiscal year 2023, the foundation paid $2.7 million in grants to 16 organizations, up 50% from $1.8 million in 2022 and nearly triple the $997,000 paid in 2021.

Leadership is stable. Loralee Songer (also listed as Martha Songer in IRS filings) has served as Executive Director throughout the foundation's modern phase, with annual compensation rising from $75,000 to $100,000 in the most recent filing period. Angela Darlington continues as President and Dr. Susan Wilczynski — a nationally recognized autism researcher affiliated with Ball State University — serves as Director. Dr. Wilczynski's board presence directly explains the depth of the Ball State University relationship ($701,000, 5 grants) and the foundation's sophisticated engagement with Applied Behavior Analysis research and Camp Achieve autism programming.

The foundation's website highlights two marquee recent grants: the Hillcroft Services ABA clinic capital project in Pendleton, Indiana, and the Anderson University dance program expansion — both reflecting the foundation's signature blend of capital support and program development across autism services and the arts.

Contact before submitting. The single most actionable tip: call or email Executive Director Loralee Songer (loralee.songer@avisfoundationinc.org, 765-987-4299) before writing your LOI. The foundation explicitly recommends this, and given that funded organizations are predominantly pre-existing relationships, cold submissions carry significant disadvantage. Use the call to confirm program fit, ask what the foundation is prioritizing in the current cycle, and introduce your organization.

Format requirements are strict. Your LOI cannot exceed 3 pages, must be on official organizational letterhead, and must bear your CEO's signature. Failure on any of these points signals organizational carelessness. The March 1 annual deadline is firm. Submit by mail (1909 S. Main St., Upland, IN 46989), email (loralee.songer@avisfoundationinc.org), or online portal (avisfoundationinc.org/apply) — no preference is indicated between methods.

Frame around the Boren legacy. The foundation's core identity is stewardship of Leland and LaRita Boren's community-building legacy. Open your LOI by connecting your organization's mission to community quality-of-life improvement — the Borens' animating purpose. Use the foundation's own vocabulary: 'growth-minded grantee,' 'transformational stewardship,' 'impactful giving.' Avoid generic nonprofit language.

Autism proposals: lead with ABA. The foundation funds ABA therapy delivery, ABA research positions, autism camp programming, and inclusive graduate education in special education. If your organization is an autism service provider, document ABA methodology specifically, reference evidence-based practices, and quantify participant outcomes. Connecting to Dr. Susan Wilczynski's work or Ball State's Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders signals programmatic credibility to a board that includes a nationally recognized autism researcher.

Full proposals: build in a match. The foundation's published guidelines explicitly reward proposals that leverage matching or challenge grants from other donors. Even a 1:1 match from another funder meaningfully strengthens your case. Structure your budget to show multiplication of foundation dollars.

Avoid these common mistakes: applying outside the four named pillars; submitting outcome metrics with vague multi-year timelines (target 1–3 year measurable results); presenting a project that duplicates something the foundation is already funding through an existing grantee; and applying without Indiana connections if your organization is out of state.