Indianapolis Press Club Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Indianapolis Press Club Foundation, Inc. (IPCF) engages in activities to promote excellence in and public appreciation for journalism in Indiana. IPCF's activities include, but are not limited to, scholarships, paid fellowships, and awards for Indiana college students.
- Income
- $45,494
- Spending
- $83,648
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 98 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 56%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 98.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 84% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 227 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $54,016 spent. The Indianapolis Press Club Foundation runs three main programs:1) The Thomas R. Keating writing competition, which is a two-day journalism competition held annually in November. The contest began in 1986 and is a tribute to former Indianapolis Star columnist Tom Keating. Ten undergraduate students compete for a total of $7,000 in cash awards.2) In partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the foundation awards three Last Row Party scholarships to Indiana undergraduate journalism students. The Foundation hands out these awards at its annual fundraiser at the end of May, which is called the Last Row Party and held at the Pagoda at IMS. The Foundation distributes a total of about $3,000 in scholarships for news, features and sports writing.3) The Indianapolis Press Club Foundation board has a paid summer fellowship program each year for two Indiana college journalism students. The 10-week fellowships pay $6,000 to each student and provides solid journalism experience at Indianapolis area news services and/or TV and radio stations. Summer fellows work 40 hours per week. The Foundation seeks to partner with a variety of local media groups and rotates selections as part of its ongoing commitment to provide paid fellowships at Indiana media organizations.
- $11,992 spent. The Keating program is an annual daylong writing contest named in memory of legendary Indianapolis Star columnist Thomas R. Keating. The competition features 10 finalists, representing Indiana premiere journalism students. They compete for $7,000 in prize money.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1991.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.
A much larger organization has a similar name: Indianapolis Foundation Inc (Indianapolis, IN), EIN 45-4618430. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.