Foellinger Foundation

05/27/2026

Join our Evaluation Plan Training Workshop on Wednesday, June 24, to strengthen your grant proposal for the Early Childhood Development or Family Development community-based grant opportunities. Led by Dr. Mindy King, this session will cover outcome measurement, data collection strategies, and Foellinger Foundation’s evaluation requirements.

Morning and afternoon sessions are available. You only need to attend one session. Space is limited; registration is available for two individuals per organization.

Morning Session
👉 https://ow.ly/fWXy50YQNTo

Afternoon Session
👉 https://ow.ly/tXA850YQNTn

05/25/2026

Foellinger Foundation is closed today, Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen tomorrow.

We remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and reflect with gratitude on their sacrifice and the freedoms it has made possible.

05/22/2026

Foellinger Foundation Co-Founder Helene Foellinger honored her late father, Oscar, with a gift to The News-Sentinel Outdoor Theatre, later renamed Foellinger Theatre. Oscar was passionate about performing arts and creating opportunities for the public to enjoy them together. He had a deep appreciation for creativity and felt strongly that art and culture should be accessible to all.

Through our Community Interests grants, we honor that legacy by funding nonprofit programs and projects that create measurable community impact.

05/21/2026

We were proud to support the 3rd Annual Indiana Mental Health Summit, hosted by Great KIDS Make Great COMMUNITIES, on May 19. Members of our staff and board attended the event, alongside professionals, advocates, and community members committed to advancing conversations around youth mental health and community support in northeast Indiana.

The summit featured a keynote address by Zak Williams, a mental health advocate and son of the late Robin Williams. Programming included workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on innovative solutions to mental health challenges.

Congratulations, Great KIDS Make Great COMMUNITIES, on a successful event! Thank you for the work you do to help ensure children have the relationships, support systems, and opportunities they need to grow into healthy, productive adults.

05/20/2026

The Volunteer Lawyer Program of Northeast Indiana (VLP) was founded in 2002 by a group of local attorneys and judges committed to providing a program offering free legal help to low-income individuals and families. VLP paralegals field over 10,000 inquiries annually and place qualified cases with volunteer attorneys willing to help clients without charge.

Over the past 20 years, hundreds of attorneys in northeast Indiana have volunteered thousands of hours of legal expertise to help individuals and families get equal access to the civil justice system.

One of those lawyers is Emily Szczepkowski. Emily started volunteering with VLP in 2017. She currently takes on five to 10 cases each year. Serving as a Guardian ad Litem, she advocates for individuals who cannot fully advocate for themselves, ensuring their needs, voices, and dignity are at the center of every decision.

“It’s a beautiful thing to witness the love of the care provider for the individual in need,” she shared. “There is such joy, and often relief, brought to the petitioner and individual upon the granting of the guardianship. Care providers are now able to get the medical or financial relief to their loved ones that had previously been just out of reach.”

Thanks to volunteers like Emily and organizations like Volunteer Lawyer Program, more people in our community are finding a way forward and moving from dependence to independence.

05/19/2026

Thank you to the leaders of our grantee organizations who attended our second annual CEO Retreat. We hope the retreat offered you an opportunity to step away from your daily tasks and engage in self-reflection, connection, growth, and renewal.

How did this year's theme of "Resilience" resonate with you? Comment and share your thoughts and biggest takeaways from the event.

05/15/2026

Say hello to Jenny Crump, our Events & Communications Coordinator! Jenny is a graduate of Arizona State University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership with a project management concentration. In her role at Foellinger Foundation, she supports and executes Foundation-sponsored programs, events, and meetings. She also assists with the implementation of the Foundation’s marketing and communications strategy. In her free time, Jenny enjoys outdoor walks, trips to the farmers market, and going on coffee dates with her husband.

05/13/2026

For 30 years, Angie Moellering has led with a clear purpose: helping families move from crisis to stability and, ultimately, to thriving. Through her leadership at Lutheran Social Services of Indiana, that vision continues to grow and adapt to meet the evolving needs of our community.

Read our "Legacy & Beyond" feature to hear Angie’s reflections on leadership, growth, and the impact she hopes to leave for generations to come.

Legacy & Beyond: Lutheran Social Services of Indiana As part of our 2025 annual report , we challenged four nonprofit leaders to answer this...

05/11/2026

Strong nonprofits build strong communities. Foellinger Foundation’s Capacity Building grants support local organizations as they grow their leadership, improve systems, and increase their impact—so they can continue serving families in Allen County, Indiana, for years to come.

Read our Guide for Capacity Building to learn more about these grants and how to apply for one.
👉https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6037cc10b040c602d44046a2/t/68669736386de668de5485f6/1751553850074/FFDN-252_Capacity-Building-Guide_0425_2-3.pdf

05/08/2026

We had the privilege of participating in the Women's Fund of Greater Fort Wayne's 2026 Take a Girl to Work Day! This year's event connected 450 sixth grade girls from all four local school districts with women in leadership positions in Allen County for a day of mentorship and inspiration.

Foellinger Foundation hosted six girls as they developed a project idea aimed at benefiting the community. Foundation staff mentored the students, guiding them through the planning process and the steps required to seek funding support.