The D J Angus-Scientech Educational  Foundation is a 501c3  private foundation.  It accepts gifts from the public, but solicits only members of Scientech.  It was formed in 1967 in honor of Scientech member, and lifelong director, D. J. Angus, who was well known for helping young men obtain education.  The founding Scientech members who formed the Foundation were Bob Annis, Jerry Carrier and Lewis Finch.

The intent of the founders was to foster and promote the education of deserving students; to foster the understanding and appreciation of American free enterprise; to promote good citizenship; and to select students for awards for furthering their education.
 
One of the themes of Mr. Cunningham’s talk was the close interaction of the Foundation and Scientech.  He asked the present and past Foundation directors in the group to stand, and the number was impressive.

The annual expenses of the Foundation are only about $2800/year, including tax filing fees, insurance, and solicitation expenses!   The expenses of managing its investment portfolio are born by a local investment company which was founded by George Steele, long a Scientech member.
 
Its gifts are about 24% for the benefit of grade school children, about 52% for high school, and about 21% for college.  The Foundation believes that encouraging scientific interest is better done when the kids are young—and much more government aid goes into college levels education.
 
Each year $12500 goes to the most improved student awards at 16 Indiana colleges.  The award is to encourage those who have a hard start, but get it together in their later years. The Foundation makes direct grants, and does not go through the colleges’ foundations, which take a cut of all grants. It awards a $5000 scholarship to a student at each of 5 colleges, including Grand Valley State, near Grand Haven MI, because of its long interaction with Bob Annis, and because of its valuable research in water resources.
 
The Foundation is very active in supporting science fairs.  It gives $6000 to the school hosting the regional science fair each year, gives a Grand Valley State and Annis Water Resources Research trip, and gives gifts such as iPods as well.  (A member pointed out that the gift used to be a sliderule.)  Further, a $500 gift is given to the teacher of winning students.  In total, about $25000 per year is given to science fairs.

The Annis Water Resources Inst. at Grand Valley was founded by Bob Annis, and is very active in research on the Great Lakes.  It supports two research vessels, one of them the D. J. Angus.  Students chosen from the annual science fair are given a boat research trip on the Angus or the WG Jackson, on which they do experiments of their choice.  The students are chosen for scientific interest and aptitude. 
Doug Wagner talked more about the Angus trips. Time is another coin in which Scientech gives to the Foundation.  The science fair judges have a chance to encourage interest in the contestants, and to look for good candidates for the trip.  About 35-40 invitations are given, and about 25-30 students accept.  About 10 adults go along, too.
 
Back at home, the Foundation gave $33000 to the Children’s Museum last year.  It also supports numerous other programs, including a business program at Wabash, the Girl and Boy Scouts, the Indiana Science Olympiad, a Purdue seminar for engineering prospects, a computer workshop at IUPUI, and the Earth Center at Eagle Creek. The Foundation also provides 3 internships at Grand Valley, $14000 in total.

The Foundation expects to donate about $150000 next year, somewhat more than the federal minimum requirement.  The philosophy is to give now, and to so manage the Foundation that giving can continue in the future.  The Foundation has never dipped into its capital.