OVERVIEW: The Koch Foundation supports education, arts, health and human services in Indiana.
IP TAKE: The Koch Foundation is “one of southwestern Indiana’s leading philanthropies.” Nonprofits that have affiliations with Koch company employees have an advantage over the competition when it comes to receiving foundation grants. While this isn’t the most transparent funder, it does have a fairly straightforward application process. Reach out with questions via the company’s online submission form.
Grantseekers should remember that this is a different organization than those helmed by the politically active Koch family.
PROFILE: Established in 1945, the Koch Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Evansville, Indiana. This is the philanthropic arm of Koch Enterprises, which began at the George Koch Son Tin Shop in 1873 and currently operates in the fields of metal recycling, equipment design and construction, automotive parts manufacturing and wholesale distribution. The foundation aims to “to improve the quality of life within the communities where we have operations by helping them better serve their residents through encouraging team member participation in important community organizations and activities through financial grants in the area of education, arts, health care, and human services for people in need through no fault of their own.” It funds the areas of education, health, religion, social service, culture, and civic activities.
Grants for Community Development
The Koch Foundation receives funding from the company and typically makes steady contributions from year to year. It gives special priority to organizations in which Koch company employees are directly involved. The funder often makes matching grants for schools, museums, hospitals and zoos. Matching grants are matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 per calendar year. In addition to grants, the foundation also funds Mary L. Koch, Robert L. Koch, and Louis J. Koch Scholarship Awards for children of Koch employees.
Past grantees in community development and human services include Evansville Parks Foundation, Keep Evansville Beautiful, United Way of Henderson County, Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Nature Conservancy Indiana Chapter, Evansville Christian Life Center, Catholic Diocese of Evansville, YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, Carver Community Organization, Boys & Girls Club of Evansville, and Evansville Police Department Foundation.
Grants for K-12 and Higher Education
Education is Koch’s largest giving area by far, and part of that is due to the millions it has given to the University of Evansville. The foundation is also a significant supporter of Reitz Memorial High School. Other education grantees include Mater Dei High School, Ivy Tech, Henderson Community College, Indiana University, Ball State University, Purdue University, and University of Southern Indiana.
The Koch Foundation also provides continuous support for Signature School, Indiana’s first charter school, which Robert L. Koch II, Chairman Emeritus of Koch Enterprises, helped to establish.
The foundation also gave $2.5 million in 2018 to Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville to create the Koch Chair in Medicine, and $1.5 million to University of Evansville in 2021 to create a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program.
Grants for Arts and Culture
While it doesn’t appear that Koch has formal grantmaking initiatives for the arts or local culture, these areas have seen significant support. The foundation’s arts grants typically go to museums and arts education groups. It also supports the performing arts, music and theater specifically. With regard to culture organizations, Kock primarily supports historical and cultural preservation groups.
Previous grantees include Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville, Evansville Museum of Arts History & Science, Reitz Home Preservation Society, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Henderson Area Arts Alliance, Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, and Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grants for Public Health and Access
Koch’s health grants are typically more modest than in other areas; however, it has supported a number of local medical and healthcare organizations. Past grantees include Deaconess Hospital, Indiana University Health Foundation, Olathe Health Charitable Foundation, The Medical Center Foundation, and Reid Hospital & Health Care Services Foundation.
Important Grant Details
Grants range between about $50 and $600,000, but the most common amount is $1,000. In a recent year it gave away $2.6 million in grants and held more than $50 million in assets.
Grantmaking largely focuses on the Evansville area of Indiana.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits.
The funder prefers that funding requests be submitted in writing with copies of 501(c)(3) certification and a description of the project, how it will benefit the community, and level of Koch employee involvement.
Direct general questions to the staff at 812-465-9800 or via online form.
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