Boren Foundation Inc.

The Boren Foundation is a quiet, relationship-oriented private foundation established in 1982 by Leland and LaRita Boren in Upland, Indiana. Its giving philosophy centers on strengthening the Grant County community — and to a lesser extent Central Indiana — through targeted support for 501(c)(3) organizations working in education, community outreach, and social enrichment. With $44.5M in assets and $1.67M in annual grants as of FY2025, this is a well-capitalized, family-influenced foundation with consistent long-term community commitments.

First-time applicants must understand that this is a repeat-funder relationship model. Eastbrook Community Schools has received three grants totaling $450,700. Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity of Grant County have each received three grants. The pattern suggests the foundation builds trust incrementally and rewards organizations that demonstrate results. Entering this funding relationship requires patience: expect a modest first grant, then deepen the relationship over multiple cycles.

The application process is intentionally simple. There is no formal application portal, no letter of inquiry requirement, and no competitive scoring rubric. The foundation's published instructions ask for a typed request detailing the intended use of funds. This simplicity rewards clarity: state who you are, what specifically the money will fund, how much you need, and why it matters for Grant County or Central Indiana.

Organizations should begin with a clear geographic case. Grant County organizations have a near-automatic audience; organizations from adjacent Indiana counties should frame their request around Grant County residents served or regional impact. Out-of-state organizations represent rare exceptions and are unlikely first-time candidates.

Executive Director Sally J Briner (sallybriner@borenfoundation.org, 765-998-8139) is the primary point of contact and has served in this role across multiple filing years. Establishing a warm contact before the submission deadline — not cold-applying without prior outreach — aligns with the foundation's community-embedded giving style. Board members including Jay M Ross (President) and Lael E Boren (Vice President) reflect a family-and-community governance structure where trust and local credibility matter considerably.

The funding cycle — board meetings every April and September — creates two annual windows. Strategic applicants will plan 4–6 weeks ahead of the March 31 or August 31 deadlines to allow time for relationship-building conversations before the formal submission.

The Boren Foundation's grant-making has grown steadily and substantially over 15 years. Total grants paid rose from $405,080 in FY2010 to $1,672,600 in FY2025 — a 313% increase. Growth has accelerated recently: from $944,200 (FY2018) to $1,130,900 (FY2022) to $1,672,600 (FY2025), with FY2025 representing a 31.7% single-year jump from FY2024's $1,270,770.

Grant size: The historical grantee database shows a median grant of $18,000 and a database-average of $22,466. The effective range sits between $5,000 and $50,000 for most individual grants, though multi-year cumulative totals reach much higher. FY2025 990 data indicates at least one grant of $327,500, suggesting larger project-based awards are being considered as the asset base grows.

Largest historical grantees by cumulative total: - Eastbrook Community Schools: $450,700 across 3 grants (educational) - Taylor University: $200,000 (1 grant, educational) - Second Harvest Food Bank: $130,000 across 3 grants (program/food) - Blood N Fire Inc: $100,000 (1 grant) - Habitat for Humanity of Grant County: $95,000 across 3 grants (affordable housing) - Matthews Fire Dept: $90,000 (1 grant, program) - First Light Child Advocacy Center: $80,000 across 2 grants

By program area (based on grantee purpose codes in 137 historical grants): - Education (schools, special education co-ops, robotics, university support, arts education): ~35–40% of grants by count - Human services / community outreach (food banks, rescue missions, fire departments, housing): ~30–35% - Faith-based organizations (churches, ministries, Christian schools): ~10–15% - Arts and recreation (orchestras, baseball leagues, parks, community sports): ~10% - Healthcare and social services (child advocacy, senior centers, therapeutic programs): ~5–10%

Geography: 98.5% of database grants (135 of 137) go to Indiana organizations, with Grant County (county seat: Marion, IN) accounting for the overwhelming majority. The 2 out-of-state grants (FL and WV) appear to be personal or legacy relationship exceptions.

Trend: With grant count holding at 70 in both FY2024 and FY2025 while total giving rose 31.7%, the foundation is increasing average award size rather than expanding the number of grantees. Average per-grant payout reached ~$23,894 in FY2025 and is likely to continue rising as the $44.5M asset base generates investment returns.

The Boren Foundation occupies a distinctive niche among Indiana private foundations: a well-capitalized family foundation with a hyper-local Grant County focus and an unusually simple application process. The table below compares it to three comparable Indiana foundations.

*Ball Brothers Foundation and Foellinger Foundation figures are approximate per publicly available reporting and may vary year to year.*

The Boren Foundation stands out for the accessibility of its process — no formal portal, no LOI stage, no competitive scoring rubric — and its concentrated geographic focus relative to its $44.5M asset size. At a 3.8% annual payout rate in FY2025, the foundation is approaching the IRS-required 5% minimum distribution threshold for private foundations, which suggests there may be upward pressure on giving levels in coming years. For Grant County organizations, pursuing the Community Foundation of Grant County Indiana simultaneously is a viable dual-track strategy, as both funders serve the same geography with complementary processes.

The most significant recent development at the Boren Foundation is financial: total assets grew from $15.9M (FY2022) to $44.5M (FY2025), driven by a $7.15M contribution received in FY2022 — the first contribution recorded in several years — combined with exceptional investment returns. Net investment income for FY2022 alone was $1.13M; the asset base continued compounding to reach $44.5M by FY2025.

A February 11, 2025 IRS 990-PF filing confirms current active operations. FY2025 sample grantees identified from third-party data include Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources ($21,000), Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Indiana ($30,000), Ascent 121 ($20,000), Bridge of Grace Inc ($15,000), and Ascension St Vincent Foundation ($10,000) — reflecting continued support across therapeutic programming, youth services, faith-based community work, and healthcare. The Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Indiana grant is notable as it suggests some geographic broadening beyond Grant County's immediate borders.

Leadership has remained stable across multiple filing years. Executive Director Sally J Briner has held her position since at least FY2011, with compensation growing from approximately $25,961 (partial year) to $50,000–$52,000 annually. The Boren family continues to hold governance roles: Lael E Boren serves as Vice President/Director, with Polly Boren and Lukas Boren serving as Directors in more recent filings.

No public news coverage, press releases, or media mentions about the Boren Foundation were found in 2025 or 2026 searches. The foundation's website (borenfoundation.org) was experiencing HTTP 500 server errors at time of research. Grant seekers should contact Sally Briner directly: sallybriner@borenfoundation.org or 765-998-8139.

Applying to the Boren Foundation requires understanding a few characteristics that distinguish it from more formal funders:

Lead with the specific use. The foundation's only published application guidance is "TYPED REQUEST DETAILING THE INTENDED USE OF THE FUNDS REQUESTED." This instruction is meaningful: the board wants to know exactly what the money buys. Successful grants have funded a roof replacement, a food truck for special education students, field resurfacing, instrument purchases, and scoreboard installations. A clear, tangible statement works better than a vague program narrative. Example: "We are requesting $25,000 to purchase 15 musical instruments for the Marion Community School of the Arts' youth orchestra program, serving 120 students in Grant County."

Calibrate your first ask. For first-time applicants, the $15,000–$30,000 range reflects the foundation's most common single-grant territory. Eastbrook Community Schools' cumulative $450,700 was earned through three grants over time, not one large award. Overreaching on a first request risks a declined application when a modest ask might have secured a foothold.

Attach your 501(c)(3) determination letter. This is a hard eligibility requirement. The foundation explicitly states it does not fund individuals, and 501(c)(3) verification is non-negotiable. Include your IRS letter with every submission.

Meet both deadlines precisely. March 31 for the April board meeting; August 31 for the September board meeting. These are the only two decision windows per year. Missing the deadline by even one day means a six-month wait.

Address Grant County alignment explicitly. If your organization is not headquartered in Grant County, explain which Grant County residents you serve or why your work advances the Central Indiana community. The foundation's mission names Grant County as the primary focus — make the case why your project fits.

Build a relationship before submitting. Contact Executive Director Sally J Briner (sallybriner@borenfoundation.org or 765-998-8139) in advance to discuss your project fit and appropriate request size. Repeat grantee patterns in the data strongly suggest the foundation favors organizations it knows. A pre-submission call significantly reduces the cold-application risk.

Capital projects are eligible. Roofs, scoreboards, food trucks, field resurfacing, and facility furnishings have all been funded. If your request includes capital expenses, include contractor quotes or cost specifications in your typed request to substantiate the dollar amount.