How Charities and Nonprofits Are Organized in Indiana

Indiana has no single agency that runs charities. Nonprofits here are private organizations. They are usually incorporated under state law, recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS, and steered by their own volunteer boards. The state registers them, taxes or exempts them, and investigates fraud, but it does not deliver their services. That split matters when you need something specific, such as a food pantry, a grant, a volunteer role, or a way to confirm that a group asking for your donation is real.

The offices in this directory show the range. They include the Salvation Army in Bedford, Catholic Charities in Terre Haute, Child & Parent Services in Elkhart, and the Humane Society of Putnam County in Greencastle. Beside them sit grantmakers such as the Johnson County Community Foundation in Franklin and the Dearborn County Community Foundation in Aurora. Some of these groups serve people directly. Others raise money and pass it along to the groups that do.

Knowing which type you are dealing with saves time and phone calls. Indiana nonprofits generally fall into three working groups:

Indiana Law and Oversight: Secretary of State, Attorney General and Township Trustees

Most Indiana nonprofits are incorporated under the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act, found in Title 23, Article 17 of the Indiana Code. Articles of incorporation are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State, and the state's INBiz online portal is the usual way to file and to look up a business. A nonprofit must also submit periodic business entity reports to stay in good standing. If an organization has let its filings lapse, the status shown on the Secretary of State's record will tell you.

Incorporation does not make a group tax-exempt. Federal recognition, most often under section 501(c)(3), comes from the IRS. The Indiana Department of Revenue handles state sales tax exemption as a separate step. Property tax exemption is decided locally, through the county assessor and auditor and the county property tax assessment board of appeals. A charity can therefore be exempt in one area and not another, which is why careful organizations keep all three sets of paperwork.

The Indiana Attorney General's office takes consumer complaints, including those about deceptive or misleading fundraising. If a caller pressures you for an immediate gift or will not say how the money is used, that office is a reasonable place to report it. Raffles, bingo and charity game nights fall under the Indiana Gaming Commission, which licenses qualified charity gaming. A church, lodge or booster club planning one of these events should check the Commission's rules before selling a single ticket.

One Indiana feature surprises newcomers. The state is divided into 92 counties and then into townships, and each township has an elected trustee who administers poor relief. This is a public program, not a charity. It can help eligible residents with rent, utilities and some other basic needs. Many nonprofit pantries and shelters work alongside trustees and will point you to the right township office. Eligibility is set by the trustee under state law, so expect an application and requests for documents.

Indianapolis Metro Versus Small-Town and Rural Indiana

Central Indiana: Marion and Hamilton Counties

The capital region holds the deepest concentration of nonprofits in the state. Marion County has by far the most listings, which reflects Indianapolis as home to statewide associations, large service agencies and major philanthropy, including the Lilly Endowment. Many organizations here serve the whole state even though their offices are in one city.

North of the city, Hamilton County adds a different mix. The Pamela Foundation in Carmel and the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police Foundation, on North Meridian Street, sit in this fast-growing suburban corridor. If you are in the metro area, you have more choices, but also more duplication. Ask each group what it serves, what area it covers and whether it needs a referral.

Northern Indiana: Fort Wayne, South Bend, Elkhart and the Lake Michigan Corridor

Fort Wayne anchors the northeast. Allen County listings include the M E Raker Foundation on Constitution Drive, while smaller northeastern towns have their own community foundations, such as those in Angola (Steuben County) and Auburn (DeKalb County). In the north-central part of the state, St. Joseph County includes the Cancer Society of St Joseph County on East Jefferson Boulevard in South Bend. Nearby Elkhart is home to Child & Parent Services. Merrillville, in the Chicago-influenced northwest, has the Deleon Family Foundation.

Southern and Rural Indiana: Where One Foundation Often Does the Heavy Lifting

In many smaller counties, a single community foundation is the main local grantmaker. Examples include the Fayette County Foundation in Connersville, the Cass County Cmnty Foundation in Logansport and the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County. Further south, the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana in New Albany serves the Louisville-area side of the state. The Salvation Army in Bedford and Catholic Charities in Terre Haute cover wide, mostly rural areas.

Rural offices often have limited hours, small staffs and a long list of responsibilities. A call before you drive is always worthwhile. Many of them also know which neighboring county has the program you need.

Finding and Using a Charity in Indiana: Practical Steps

Whether you need help or want to give it, a few habits make the process smoother. Work through this list before you commit time or money:

If you are starting out as a volunteer, smaller organizations often welcome help with events, mentoring and office tasks. The Foundation For Youth in Columbus and the Indiana Youth Project in Anderson are two examples of youth-focused groups where local volunteers matter. Whatever your goal, start with the organization closest to you, since local groups usually know local needs best.

Nonprofit organizations operating in Indiana must register with the state attorney general's charitable trust section and comply with state solicitation licensing requirements in addition to meeting federal IRS requirements for tax-exempt status. Indiana's charity registration process helps protect residents from fraudulent fundraising operations.

Charity Nonprofit locations are available in 95 cities across Indiana. They are spread across 66 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, which typically host large concentrations of nonprofits serving regional populations across health, human services, education, and arts sectors.

Donors in Indiana can verify that a charity is properly registered with the state by contacting the Indiana Attorney General's office or searching the state's online charity registration database before making a contribution.

Charity Nonprofit by Counties

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Nonprofits seeking grant funding in Indiana should explore state-level grant programs administered through the Indiana Department of Health, Department of Education, or community services block grant programs. Many Indiana foundations also fund local nonprofits through competitive grant cycles that typically open annually.

Browse Charity Nonprofit by county across Indiana to find the nearest location.

Giving, Volunteering and Getting Help in Indiana Communities

Indiana's charities are closely tied to the places where they sit. The Stockdale Mill Foundation in Kokomo, the Jack Roysdon Memorial Foundation in Greenfield and the Dvk Foundation in Auburn are small organizations with narrow local missions. Many family and memorial foundations like these do not take open applications. They fund causes chosen by their founders. Read an organization's stated purpose before sending a request, because an unfocused letter wastes time on both sides.

Larger public-facing groups work differently. The Salvation Army in Bedford, Catholic Charities in Terre Haute and Child & Parent Services in Elkhart take walk-ins or scheduled visits and publish their programs. Community foundations such as the Johnson County Community Foundation on South Main Street in Franklin accept grant applications from nonprofits on a calendar. If you represent a small group, ask whether the foundation offers pre-application guidance.

Donors should also match gifts to needs. A pantry may prefer cash because it can buy in bulk, while a thrift program may want clothing. Ask first. If you want your gift to stay in your own county, a community foundation fund is often the simplest way to do that.

Start with two free searches. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search shows whether a group has federal recognition, and its recent Form 990 filings show how it spends money. Then look up the name in the Indiana Secretary of State's INBiz business records to see whether the nonprofit corporation is active. Ask for the organization's mailing address and call a number you find yourself, not one a solicitor gives you. If something still feels wrong, contact the Indiana Attorney General's consumer protection staff.

You first form a nonprofit corporation by filing articles of incorporation with the Indiana Secretary of State, normally online through INBiz, under the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act. Next you adopt bylaws, appoint a board and obtain a federal employer identification number. To be tax-exempt, you apply to the IRS for recognition, most often as a 501(c)(3). Sales tax and property tax exemptions are separate applications handled by the Indiana Department of Revenue and the county. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with each agency.

Possibly. Township trustees administer poor relief under Indiana law, and that help can include rent, utilities and other basic needs for people who qualify. You apply at the trustee's office in the township where you live, so first confirm which township your address falls in. Bring photo ID, proof of address, income records and the bill or notice you need help with. Trustees set eligibility within state law, and decisions can take time. A nonprofit such as the Salvation Army may help while you wait.

Mostly no. Community foundations such as the Dearborn County Community Foundation in Aurora or the Steuben County Community Foundation in Angola usually award grants to nonprofits, schools and government-linked projects. Some also administer scholarship funds that students can apply for during set seasons. If you need direct personal help, the foundation staff can often suggest a local agency. If you run a nonprofit, ask about deadlines, eligible projects and whether you must be located in the foundation's home county.

In many cases, yes. Charity gaming in Indiana, which covers events such as bingo, raffles and casino-style fundraising nights, is regulated by the Indiana Gaming Commission, and qualified organizations must be licensed. Rules differ by type of game and by the group's own status. Contact the Commission before you print tickets or book a venue, and keep clear records of proceeds. Checking early prevents an unlicensed event from damaging the reputation of an otherwise well-run fundraiser.

Browse by county. In the southwest, Vanderburgh County includes the Community Foundation Alliance on East Virginia Street in Evansville, phone 812-429-1191. In the northwest, Lake County includes the Deleon Family Foundation on Clark Road in Merrillville, phone 219-769-6152. Each county page lists the organizations we have on file. Call first to confirm services and hours, and use the statewide 2-1-1 line if you are unsure which agency fits your situation.