The Harvey R. and Doris Klockow Foundation, managed through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services, is a private foundation that aims to improve the quality of life in South Bend and St. Joseph County, Indiana. Established in 1978 as a civic and community memorial to Harvey and Doris Klockow, the foundation was activated after Doris Klockow's death in 1998 at the age of 104. Doris, a long-time home economics teacher at Central High School, was deeply engaged in her community and church life. Both she and her husband were devoted members of St. Paul’s Memorial United Methodist Church, an affiliation that has continued to influence the foundation’s giving priorities.
The foundation’s mission is to support initiatives that benefit the general public of South Bend and St. Joseph County, with an emphasis on churches, religious organizations, and educational institutions in the area. Its grantmaking serves a wide array of sectors, including arts, culture and humanities, education, the environment and animals, health, human services, public and societal benefit, and religion. Applications should be focused on programs that positively affect public welfare or have strong communal usage.
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Preference is given to proposals with demonstrable impact on the local community of South Bend, as well as those connected to St. Paul’s Memorial United Methodist Church. The foundation does not fund outside of its geographic scope, and only organizations operating within South Bend or St. Joseph County, Indiana, are considered.
Applications are accepted year-round, but must be submitted by October 1 to be reviewed at the annual board meeting held each October. After submission, applicants will receive automated confirmation via email. Grant awards typically range between $2,500 and $10,000, with total annual giving averaging $80,000 and around 15 grants distributed each year. Funded organizations may be required to submit periodic progress and final reports detailing outcomes and expenditures.
All applications must be submitted online through the Wells Fargo grant application portal. For questions or technical support related to the application process, prospective applicants may contact Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services by phone at 1-888-235-4351 or via email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. The foundation’s official website advises applicants that information listed online is a summary and that the governing instrument of the foundation prevails in case of discrepancies.
This grant opportunity is recurring annually, with the October 1 submission deadline repeating each year. Organizations interested in future cycles should prepare accordingly and monitor communication from the foundation for any updates or changes to application procedures.
