Defiance Area Foundation

511 Perry Street
Defiance, Ohio 43512
Phone: (419) 782-3130
Fax:  (419) 782-3174
defoundation@defnet.com

 
Home About
Us
One Man's
Vision
Becoming a
Donor
Fund
Options
Grant
Applications
Grant Recipients Links Contact
Us
 

About Us

 

What is the Defiance Area Foundation?

The Defiance Area Foundation is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, autonomous, publicly supported philanthropic institution. It is a collection of individual funds made up of gifts, endowed funds, and bequests from individuals, and corporations to enhance the quality of life where they live and work. These funds are pooled and invested and the income is distributed as grants. Since it is a publicly supported, tax-exempt corporation under IRS Code Sections 501(c) (3), all gifts are tax deductible.

Community foundations are the fastest growing form of philanthropy and are often the first to support new and emerging needs. The Defiance Area Foundation provides a means for addressing community problems and opportunities by maintaining a broad grant program available to charitable organizations in the Defiance County area.

 

Why was the Defiance Area Foundation established?

One man had a vision. H. Eugene Smart was a true leader and worked hard to turn his vision into a reality. His vision was to form a charitable foundation that would support programs and projects within the Defiance Community. He gathered fifteen community leaders who shared a deep commitment and interest in his undertaking. Together this group chartered the Defiance Area Foundation in 1979 with $22,000 as the beginning endowment. From its inception, the Foundation has focused on and participated in building projects and funding of programs that impact the quality of life for our citizens. The Foundation grants monies from both restricted and unrestricted funds.

Gene Smart's vision was also to gather community service agencies together under "one roof". The Gene Smart Community Service Center was dedicated May 12, 1997 and currently nine agencies have offices in this building.

 

How does the Defiance Area Foundation work?

The Defiance Area Foundation has its own Code of Regulations and is governed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees are elected from the Membership on a yearly rotating basis to conduct business of the Foundation. Membership in the Foundation is open to Defiance County residents who demonstrate a philanthropic nature and a passion for seeing their county grow and prosper. The Foundation provides an opportunity for those with a sense of community pride to turn that pride into lasting, tangible benefits for community residents. Trustees are selected for their knowledge of the community's needs, their personal achievements and community involvement. The Board oversees all grant making activities.

 

The Defiance Area Foundation is here to serve and work with our donors, their attorneys, and accountants, trust officers and other financial advisors.  These discussion of the donor's philanthropic goals are at no cost or obligation to the donor.

 

There are many ways to give to our foundation, and no gift is too small to make a difference in our community.  Gifts can be made to any current fund or the donor may create a named fund with a minimum gift of $5,000.

 

Please contact The Defiance Area Foundation for more information.  Together we can enhance and enrich the quality of life for the citizens of our area.

 

Download Annual Report
(PDF format)

OFFICERS - 2007/2008
President - Bill Small
Vice President - Chad Peter
Treasurer - Bill Koester
Secretary - Greg Reineke
Past President - Marc Warncke
 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Christine Hubbard
 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jeff Fogt - 2009
Rod Martin - 2009
Joe Howard - 2008
Linda Brose - 2010
Duane Steyer - 2010
 

TRUSTEES

2008 2009 2010
Lea Ann Hayes
Steve Walker
Chad Peter
Mike Steyer
Joe Howard
Steve Van Demark
Bill Koester
Bill Small
Rod Martin
Marc Warncke
Lucy (Weaver) Marckel
Jeff Fogt
Linda Brose
Steve Boomer
Sue O'Neil
Greg Reineke
Jim Schmidt
Mickey Schwarzbek
Duane Steyer
 
 

MEMBERS

Dick Altman
Kathy Boff
Bob Confer
Dan Farrell
Jon Gathman
David Graham
Harold Hahr
Lea Ann Hayes
Joseph Howard
Ken Keller
Mark Klein
Gary Konst
Terry Melton
Mark Moats
Mike Osborne
Chad Peter
Jim Rohrs
Jim Schmidt
Doug Schinder
Duane Steyer
Jeff Strausbaugh
Steve Van Demark
J. Michael Walz
John Weaner
Bud Williams
Cindy Beane
Steve Boomer
Robert Constien
Don Fee
Bea Gonzales-NE
Steve Grube
Jay Hanson
Mark Hench
Tom Hubbard
Pat King
Mike Klein
Craig Kuhlman
Lucy (Weaver) Marckel
Phillip O’Donnell
Jerry Overmier
Greg Reineke
Eric Rolf
Mickey Schwarzbek
Bill Small
Michael Steyer
Sam Strausbaugh
Jack Wahl
Mark Warncke
Jerry Wertz
Larry Woods
John Boesling
Linda Brose
Bob DeLeon
Jeff Fogt
Steve Grosenbacher
Bruce Guilford
Todd Harpest
Jan Hersh
Joyce Joyce
Rita Kissner
William Koester
Glenn Kuhn
Rod Martin
Sue O’Neil
Ted Penner
Jim Rensi
Tom Sauer
Jeff Sewell
Steve Snavely
Michael Stone
Karen Tubbs
Steve Walker
Kathy Warner
Tim Whetstone
Randy Yoder
 

AMBASSADORS

Charles Bailey
Randall L. Buchman
Craig Hoffman
Web Olson
Joe Steyer
Martha Bleeks
Barb Callan
Jim Meier
Mary Reeves
Don Van Brackel
Leona Bailey
Jim Gillis
Carl Offerle
Fred Schultz
 
 
 
 
Defiance Area Foundation

Defiance Area Foundation
511 Perry Street - Defiance, Ohio 43512