The John, Anna and Martha Jane Fields Memorial Trust Foundation is a philanthropic entity established with the purpose of enriching the lives of residents within St. Joseph County, Indiana, and especially the City of South Bend. The foundation was founded by Martha Jane Fields, a known supporter of the arts, to honor herself and her parents. Originally intended to promote the arts through support for performers such as composers and dancers, the foundation’s mission has since expanded to include literary, educational, artistic, and social service-oriented initiatives in the community.
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the trustee for the foundation. This fund targets a localized geographic area, exclusively supporting efforts within South Bend and the broader St. Joseph County. It prioritizes efforts in the fields of arts, culture, humanities, education, health, human services, and public/society benefit. The intention behind the foundation’s work is to ensure a continuing cultural and civic enrichment for the citizens it serves.
The grant cycle operates annually, with a firm submission deadline of June 1 for all applications to be considered at the foundation’s annual meeting. While applications are accepted year-round, only those submitted before this deadline will be reviewed in the current cycle. Applicants are notified via an automated email upon successful submission of their materials. Funded projects may be required to provide periodic progress and final reports as part of their compliance and reporting requirements.
Eligible applicants must be recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. There are no exceptions listed for other types of organizations, indicating a clear and exclusive focus on nonprofit entities. The foundation typically awards between 10 grants per year, with individual awards ranging from $2,500 to $15,000. The foundation distributes approximately $60,000 in total funding annually.
For technical or program-related inquiries, applicants can contact grant administration at Wells Fargo via phone at 1-888-235-4351 or by email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. The foundation does not appear to provide a pre-application Q&A or orientation session, nor does it specify an anticipated award notification date following the June 1 submission deadline.
