Unity Foundation of La Porte County

What Unity Foundation of La Porte County does

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is a 501(c)(3) public charity and accredited community foundation founded in 1992 and headquartered at 422 Franklin Street, Suite C, Michigan City, Indiana. The foundation administers over 300 endowed funds and serves three primary constituencies within La Porte County: individual donors seeking philanthropic vehicles, local nonprofits applying for community grants, and students pursuing higher education through named scholarship funds. Its mission is to strengthen La Porte County "now and forever" through permanent endowments, leadership, and catalytic support for social and economic vitality.

The foundation's core products include donor-advised funds, agency endowments for nonprofits, planned-giving instruments (charitable gift annuities, charitable lead and remainder trusts, real estate donations), community grants (up to $5,000 per award under the Power for Good program), and a portfolio of over 50 named scholarship funds. For the 2025-2026 academic year, $325,000 was awarded to 174 students, up from approximately $310,000 to 171 students in 2023-2024. The foundation holds Accredited Community Foundation status under National Ethical and Operational Standards and is a member of the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a community foundation: charitable contributions (cash, securities, life insurance, real estate) feed endowed funds, professional investment management of those funds generates returns that support grantmaking and operating costs, and administrative fees on donor-advised and agency funds provide recurring operating income. Distribution relies on direct donor engagement (in-person consultations with donors and their financial advisors), an online donation and fund-advisor portal (fcsuite.com), a dedicated planned-giving microsite (uflc.giftlegacy.com), and a referral channel comprising regional financial advisors and corporate partners including Edward Jones, Centier Bank, Horizon Bank, 1st Source Bank, NIPSCO, and the City of Michigan City.

Name

Unity Foundation of La Porte County

Legal name

Unity Foundation of La Porte County

Website

https://uflc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Michigan City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Gifts: Receives charitable contributions including cash, check, securities, life insurance, real estate, and other assets from donors establishing or contributing to endowed funds.
2. Fund Management and Investment: Manages 300+ endowed funds with proven investment management, providing administrative services for donor-advised funds and agency endowments.
3. Planned Giving Instruments: Offers charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and real estate with life interest arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is a 501(c)(3) community foundation that manages more than 300 endowed funds and provides philanthropic vehicles — including donor-advised funds, agency endowments, planned giving instruments (gift annuities, charitable lead/remainder trusts, real estate gifts), the Power for Good Community Grants program (up to $5,000), and over 50 named scholarship funds — to channel charitable contributions from individuals, families, and corporate donors into La Porte County community causes, nonprofits, and students.

Product overview

Unity Foundation of La Porte County is a community foundation offering a portfolio of philanthropic products centered around its 300+ endowment funds. The core offerings include Donor Advised Funds for personalized philanthropy, Community Grants (up to $5,000), and over 50 named Scholarship Funds (~$325,000 awarded annually). The foundation also provides Planned Giving vehicles (gift annuities, trusts, real estate donations), Agency Endowments for nonprofits, and private foundation merger services. All products are philanthropic giving vehicles designed to strengthen La Porte County through permanent endowments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donor Advised Funds Philanthropic vehicles allowing donors to establish a fund at Unity Foundation and remain actively involved by recommending grants from it to nonprofit causes over time. For donors who want personalized, tax-deductible giving with ongoing involvement in distribution decisions.
• Power for Good Community Grants Program Competitive grant program awarding up to $5,000 to eligible La Porte County nonprofit organizations addressing community needs including health, education, youth development, senior services, and the arts. For local nonprofits seeking program funding.
• Scholarship Funds Over 50 named scholarship funds providing college scholarships to La Porte County residents pursuing higher education in fields such as healthcare, agriculture, music, and general studies. For La Porte County high school and college students demonstrating financial need or academic merit. Each fund has its own application, criteria, and award amount.
• Planned Giving Program Legacy giving program offering charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and real estate with retained life interest arrangements. For donors and families seeking to leave a charitable legacy through estate and tax planning.
• Endowment Funds Permanent endowments established by donors to support specific causes or organizations in perpetuity. The foundation administers over 300 such funds across diverse cause areas, providing professional investment management and grantmaking administration. For charitable donors seeking permanent, named, tax-deductible giving vehicles.
• Agency Endowments Funds that strengthen nonprofit organizations by creating permanent streams of income, with the foundation providing technical and financial assistance to manage them. For nonprofit organizations seeking to establish their own long-term endowment.
• Private Foundation Merger Services Services for operators of private foundations to merge their existing foundation into Unity Foundation or convert it into an advised fund, simplifying administration and reducing compliance burdens. For private foundation operators seeking greater operational efficiency.
• Teacher Grants Grant program for teachers to fund classroom projects and educational initiatives in La Porte County. For K-12 teachers seeking supplemental resources for student learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• $325,000 awarded to 174 students for 2025-2026 academic year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NIPSCO and NiSource Charitable FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide funding for fighting food insecurity in La Porte County, combining corporate charitable resources with community foundation distribution capabilities.
• Indiana Philanthropy AllianceminorOthersAffiliation with state association of philanthropies providing networking, resources, and best practices sharing among Indiana community foundations.
• Visit Michigan City La Porte CVBminorOthersRegional tourism and convention bureau partnership supporting community development initiatives.
• Purdue University Northwest (PNW)minorOthersRegional university partner for scholarship programs and educational initiatives in La Porte County.
• Centier BankminorOthersRegional banking partner providing financial services and community support.
• City of Michigan CityminorOthersCity government partnership supporting community development and civic initiatives.
• Sera GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWeb design and digital services partner responsible for Unity Foundation's website design and maintenance.
• Horizon BankminorOthersPreviously administered the Mosette Levin Fund for cancer patients before transferring to Unity Foundation.
• Edward JonesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial advisory firm referring clients for planned giving and endowment establishment services.
• La Porte County Association of RealtorsminorOthersPartners with La Porte Jaycees Deserving Children Endowment Fund to provide Christmas assistance to over 700 children annually.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: Largest national donor-advised fund sponsor. Competes for the same donor-advised fund dollars that Unity Foundation offers through its DAF product, though at much greater scale.
• Schwab Charitable: Major national donor-advised fund program. Competes with Unity Foundation for donor-advised fund assets, offering low-cost online account opening versus the foundation's in-person, personalized service model.

Direct peers

• Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF): Indianapolis-based accredited community foundation providing donor-advised funds, scholarships, and grants across Central Indiana. Operates the same community foundation model as Unity Foundation and is a fellow Indiana Philanthropy Alliance member.
• Porter County Community Foundation: Northwest Indiana community foundation serving Porter County with endowed funds, scholarships, and grants. Directly comparable county-level community foundation operating adjacent to Unity Foundation's service area.
• Hamilton County Community Foundation: Accredited Indiana community foundation managing a large portfolio of endowed funds and scholarships. Comparable governance and operating model, with a larger asset base providing a useful scaling benchmark.
• Kosciusko County Community Foundation: Warsaw, Indiana community foundation providing endowed funds, scholarships, and grants. Comparable size and rural-county community foundation model to Unity Foundation.
• Legacy Foundation: Lake County, Indiana community foundation offering donor-advised funds, scholarships, and grantmaking. Similar scale and Northwest Indiana footprint make it a near-direct peer in the regional community foundation ecosystem.
• St. Joseph County Community Foundation: South Bend-area accredited community foundation managing endowed funds, scholarships, and competitive grants. Operates the same model and is a fellow member of Indiana Philanthropy Alliance.

Others

• Indiana Philanthropy Alliance: State association of Indiana philanthropic organizations of which Unity Foundation is a member. Not a competitor but an ecosystem enabler providing networking, advocacy, and best-practice resources.
• Council on Foundations: National membership association for grantmaking institutions that administers the National Standards accreditation program under which Unity Foundation is accredited. Ecosystem partner rather than competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unity-foundation-of-la-porte-county

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unity Foundation of La Porte County