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LINCOLN FINANCIAL FOUNDATION

Lincoln Financial Foundation

Contact information:

1300 South Clinton Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: 260-455-5604

Website: http://www.lfg.com/LincolnPageServer?LFGPage=/lfg/lfgclient/abt/fingrp/index.html

Type of foundation: Company-sponsored

Types of grants: Matching grants, program/project

Description: The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company was founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 12, 1905. It was named after Abraham Lincoln to convey the company's commitment to integrity and honesty. Lincoln National Life Insurance Company is now part of a larger organization, Lincoln National Corporation. Lincoln National Corporation is a nationally recognized, full-service financial services enterprise under the marketing name, Lincoln Financial Group. The Lincoln Financial Foundation makes grants to organizations in regions where it has significant operations: 

  • Greensboro, NC.
  • Philadelphia, PA.
  • Concord, NH.
  • Hartford, CT.
  • Fort Wayne, IN.
  • Omaha, NE.

Local Charitable Contribution Committees review grant applications. Contact names for each local site are available at the grant application page. The Foundation supports organizations working in the areas of:

  • Arts and culture: Grants support arts education and economic development through increased access to the arts and cultural activities. Arts education expands opportunities for school children and underserved audiences to experience the arts. Opportunities for increased access to the arts and cultural activities focus on individuals of all ages, economic strata, varying abilities and ethnicities.
  • Education: Grants support life-long learning with an emphasis on financial literacy and improving student achievement. Leadership development builds skills for youth to be productive contributors to our communities. Pre-K programs enhance literacy and early childhood education efforts. K–12 programs enrich academic experiences with emphasis on financial literacy, state academic standards, increased high school graduation rates, increased access to college, tutoring and leadership development.
  • Human services: Grants provide for basic needs and promote independent living for individuals with special needs.
  • Workforce and economic development: Grants support adult education, job skills training and opportunities to enhance the workforce with the overarching intent of economic development for the area. Adult programs provide financial literacy, literacy advancement through GED, English as a second language, entrepreneurial thinking and skills to lead a productive life. Economic development programs promote job creation and a training workforce for in-demand occupations.

The Foundation also offers a matching gifts program for employees, retirees and financial planners. In 2007, the company contributed $1,280,296 to 1,138 nonprofit organizations in matching gifts.

Sample grants:

  • $146,600 to WHYY Philadelphia for the Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio (approved in 2008).
  • $40,000 to Ivy Tech Foundation (Fort Wayne, IN) for Technology Video Adaptive Learning Objects (2010).
  • $31,725 to Fort Wayne Public Television for Kids Connection (2008).
  • $20,000 to New Hampshire Public Radio for its Arts and Culture Desk (2008), plus $130,000 payable in future years.
  • $15,000 to Foundation for Art and Music in Elementary Education (Fort Wayne, IN) for Visiting Artist Program (2010).
  • $15,000 to Fort Wayne Public Television for PBS KidsGo! Writers Contest (2010)
  • $8,000 to New Hampshire Public Television for Ready to Learn (2008).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation supports public media in Indiana and in its other operating locations. Several matching grants also go to public media organizations. There is potential convergence with public media in the areas of arts education, creation of learning objects, literacy, youth and adult financial literacy, and workforce development.

Eligibility: To be eligible, nonprofit organizations must be located in communities where the corporation has a significant business presence and must have 501(c)(3) status. They must "respect and encourage" diversity and adhere to nondiscriminatory practices. This means that women and ethnic minorities should be adequately represented on the organization's board of directors.

The Foundation will not provide grants for:

  • Individuals.
  • Public or private elementary or secondary schools or school foundations.
  • General operating support.
  • Capital funding.
  • Endowments.
  • Organizations that regrant the funds to other nonprofit organizations.

Deadline: Each program area has a different deadline.

  • Arts grant applications must be received by December 1, 2011.
  • Education grant applications must be received by March 15, 2012.
  • Human Services grant applications must be received by June 21, 2012.
  • Workforce and Economic Development grant applications must be received by
September 20, 2012.

How to apply: By online form.

Giving range: Up to approximately $150,000. Most grants are below $50,000.

Assets: $16,284,844 (2008)

Total giving: Approximately $10 million (2010)