Newton Park Inc.

Newton Park Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Lakeville, Indiana that operates as a community sports and recreation facility rather than a traditional grantmaking foundation. Established and tax-exempt since October 2002, Newton Park is a sprawling 35-acre complex featuring six soccer fields and four baseball diamonds, managed by a volunteer board of directors led by President Marjorie D. Skaggs. The organization's primary strategy is providing affordable, well-maintained athletic facilities for youth and adult leagues, tournaments, and community events. Newton Park generates revenue primarily through contributions and facility usage fees, and its charitable disbursements consist of facility operations and program expenses—not grants to external organizations. The organization employs several key staff including a VP of Corporate Relations (Steven Boits), reflecting an active sponsorship development program. Community engagement is a core pillar: Newton Park hosts an annual 4th of July fireworks celebration, Movies in the Park, Easter in the Park, Halloween in the Park, a Fall Cruise-In Series, and Sports Rummage Sales, making it a year-round civic hub for the Lakeville, Indiana area.

Newton Park operates on a contribution-heavy revenue model. In FY2024, 96.4% of its $1.42M in revenue came from contributions ($1.37M), with minimal earned income. Annual expenses consistently run $1.0–1.6M, with 66–72% classified as charitable disbursements (i.e., facility and program operations). The organization has maintained a stable asset base of approximately $4.8–5.1M over the past several years, primarily in land and facilities. Newton Park does not make external grants—its $789K–$1.1M annual "charitable disbursements" represent direct operational spending on facility maintenance, league management, and community events. The organization ran a slight operating deficit in FY2024 (-$131K) and FY2022 (-$163K), offset by contributions from donors and sponsors. Key staff (Kevin Christy, Craig Nelson, Steven Boits) receive salaries in the $83K–$94K range, indicating a small professional operations team supplementing the volunteer board.

Newton Park is best compared to other community athletic parks and recreation nonprofits, not traditional foundations:

Newton Park's contribution-dependent model and volunteer governance are typical of rural/suburban community sports facilities. Its $4.8M asset base places it in the upper tier of standalone community athletic parks. Unlike YMCAs or recreation centers, Newton Park focuses exclusively on outdoor field sports and community events rather than indoor programming or fitness services.

In FY2024, Newton Park reported $1.42M in revenue and $1.55M in expenses, resulting in a net operating deficit of approximately $131K—a manageable shortfall given its $4.8M asset base. Charitable disbursements totaled $1.09M, funding park operations, league programs, and community events. The park recently added new VP of Corporate Relations and park employee roles with defined compensation, reflecting organizational growth. The website highlights active leagues across baseball, softball, and soccer at youth through college levels, with tournaments drawing regional teams. The park's community event calendar remains robust with seasonal events throughout the year. Newton Park filed its FY2024 990-PF on November 5, 2025.

Newton Park Inc. is a facilities-based nonprofit that benefits from corporate sponsorships, facility rentals, and community donations rather than receiving external grants. If your organization is interested in partnership opportunities with Newton Park, the best approach is to contact their VP of Corporate Relations directly at office@newtonpark.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available for teams, tournaments, and community events. For organizations seeking to donate to Newton Park's mission, contributions are tax-deductible as they are a recognized 501(c)(3). Newton Park does not have a formal grant application process because it is not a grantmaking entity—it is a recipient/operator organization. Nonprofits seeking funding for youth sports or recreation programs in Indiana should instead look to the Indiana Youth Institute, INDOT Safe Routes to School, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana Foundation, or local community foundations in St. Joseph County and Elkhart County.