Waterfield Foundation Inc.

Waterfield America Foundation (operating as Waterfield Foundation Inc., EIN 35-1872984) is a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based private foundation with a distinctive multi-division operating model. The foundation's grantmaking is oriented around American patriotism, traditional values, history education, conservation, and agriculture. Its divisions include The True American History Fund (supporting institutions that teach American history from a traditional perspective), The Aboite Fishing Preserve (environmental conservation in northeast Indiana), and Waterfield Ranches & Farms (agricultural operations). The foundation's extensive list of past grantees reveals an unusually eclectic portfolio: elite universities (Harvard), conservative advocacy organizations (Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty), nonpartisan charities (Make-A-Wish, United Way, Robin Hood Foundation), religious organizations (Catholic Church, United Brethren), conservation groups (Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation), and cultural institutions (Metropolitan Museum of Art). This breadth suggests a foundation that funds causes personally meaningful to the founding family across the ideological and sectoral spectrum.

Waterfield Foundation Inc. reports total assets of approximately $1.31 million, but with annual revenue that fluctuated dramatically—$350,415 in 2020, $238,185 in 2021, $96,680 in 2022, and $800,753 in 2023. The large 2023 revenue spike (8x the prior year) may indicate a significant gift or asset transfer into the foundation. As a private foundation with a 5% distribution requirement, annual grantmaking is estimated at $65,000-$70,000 in normal years, though the 2023 revenue suggests higher grantmaking capacity going forward. The foundation funds a diverse array of organizations nationally, suggesting it does not concentrate grants in any single issue area or geography. Grants are likely in the range of $1,000-$25,000 per recipient, distributed across 10-30 organizations annually.

Waterfield America Foundation occupies a unique position as a small Indiana family foundation with both conservative values orientation and broad philanthropic interests.

The foundation's mix of grantees (Heritage Foundation AND Nature Conservancy; Turning Point USA AND Make-A-Wish; Harvard AND Morehouse) distinguishes it from ideologically single-track foundations.

Waterfield America Foundation reported a major revenue increase in fiscal year 2023 ($800,753), compared to prior years in the $96,000-$350,000 range, suggesting new capital inflows or a significant donation to the foundation. The foundation maintains an active website at waterfieldfoundation.org built on Squarespace, listing its divisions (True American History Fund, Aboite Fishing Preserve, Waterfield Ranches & Farms) and inviting grant inquiries via email. The foundation is registered at 7221 Engle Road, Suite 250, Fort Wayne, IN—a professional office suite address. No major leadership changes or public announcements have been detected in recent years.

Waterfield America Foundation accepts grant inquiries via email through its website at waterfieldfoundation.org. Based on the documented grantee list, the strongest alignment areas are: (1) American history education and civic education programs; (2) conservative or traditional values-oriented education; (3) wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship; (4) faith-based organizations; (5) youth programs (Make-A-Wish, Head Injury Program type causes); (6) community organizations in Fort Wayne/northeast Indiana. The foundation's eclectic portfolio means a broad range of organizations might find alignment. Email should be concise and direct, demonstrating a clear connection to one of the foundation's documented interest areas. Avoid assuming purely partisan alignment—the grantee list spans the political spectrum. Grant amounts are likely modest ($5,000-$25,000 range), appropriate for small to mid-size programmatic requests.