Nisource Charitable Foundation
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of NiSource Inc., established in 1990 to provide grants, employee volunteer matching, scholarships, and board service grants within NiSource service territories. The foundation’s page on nisource.com details funding guidelines and instructs applicants to use the Blackbaud YourCause (NPOconnect) portal for applications.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A 501(c)(3) community or human-services nonprofit (often local or regional to NiSource service territories) working in community/economic development, food/hunger relief, education, youth development, or basic human services and able to apply through the YourCause portal.
Good Fit
- • Has programs serving communities inside NiSource service territories.
- • Works in areas the foundation commonly funds (community development, food banks, education, youth services, basic human services).
- • Can accept small-to-mid sized grants (typical median award is a few thousand dollars).
- • Maintains an up-to-date YourCause/NPOconnect profile and follows the foundation's posted guidelines.
- • Can demonstrate local impact or partnership capacity for larger institutional gifts.
Geography
Observed giving in the latest year reached about 21 states; roughly three quarters of dollars went outside the foundation's home state, though a few states receive larger shares driven by major anchor gifts.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded roughly 670 distinct recipients in the latest year across many sectors, with a large number of small-to-mid sized awards alongside a few large grants; this indicates a broad and diverse recipient set for the foundation's scale.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of access exists: a public website, posted application instructions, and a dedicated Blackbaud YourCause application portal; the latest year also shows hundreds of new recipients (about 286), so unfamiliar organizations have successfully entered the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
