# Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation

Rex and Alice A. Martin Foundation is a Foundation based in Elkhart, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Elkhart, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Elkhart, IN, United States
- **Founded:** 2000
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.rexandaliceamartin.org

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The foundation launched in 2000 as the primary philanthropic vehicle for Rex Martin, Chairman Emeritus of NIBCO Inc., and his wife Alice A. Martin, who passed away in 2017. NIBCO, a privately held manufacturer of valves and fittings founded in 1904, generated the wealth that endows the foundation. The Martins structured their giving to focus overwhelmingly on Elkhart and the broader Michiana region, resulting in a dense network of facilities that bear the family name. Grants flow primarily to capital projects for children and community infrastructure. Named assets from foundation funding include the NIBCO Water & Ice Park in downtown Elkhart, two Martin Skate Parks, the Rex and Alice A. Martin Media Center at the University of Notre Dame, and a softball training center at the University of Illinois. The foundation also placed a Steinway concert grand piano at Indiana University South Bend. Unlike philanthropies that operate broad, national grant cycles, this foundation's deployment pattern reflects an anchored, place-based strategy tied directly to the family's corporate and residential geography. Day-to-day governance sits with the next generation. Alexis Martin-Klose, a granddaughter of the founders, serves as President and Director. Ashley Martin, President and CEO of NIBCO, holds the Secretary and Treasurer roles, embedding the foundation's administration within the family's corporate leadership. Rex Martin remains involved as Co-Founder. This geographic concentration is the structural differentiator. The foundation does not operate as a general-purpose grantmaker — it functions as a civic development engine for a single mid-sized city. Nearly every major facility bears the NIBCO or Martin name, creating a philanthropic footprint unusually legible in the physical landscape of Elkhart.

## Sectors

- Education
- Community Development

## People

- Alexis Martin-Klose — President and Director
- Ashley Martin — Secretary and Treasurer
- Rex Martin — Co-Founder

## Questions

### Where does the foundation's endowment capital originate?

The endowment stems from the wealth of Rex Martin, Chairman Emeritus of NIBCO Inc., and his late wife Alice. NIBCO is a privately held manufacturer of valves, fittings, and flow-control products, headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana and founded in 1904. The Martin family retains control of the company, with Ashley Martin serving as President and CEO.

### What is the foundation's geographic focus?

Grantmaking concentrates almost entirely on Elkhart, Indiana, and the surrounding Michiana region. Funded projects include the NIBCO Water & Ice Park, multiple skate parks, and the Rex and Alice A. Martin Media Center at Notre Dame. Unlike foundations with national or global mandates, this entity's giving is anchored to the community where NIBCO maintains its headquarters.

### Who governs the foundation day-to-day?

Alexis Martin-Klose, a granddaughter of the founders, serves as President and Director. Ashley Martin, the President and CEO of NIBCO, holds the Secretary and Treasurer roles. Co-founder Rex Martin remains listed as a principal. This structure embeds foundation governance within the family's corporate leadership rather than separating it into an independent professional staff.

### How is the foundation's philanthropy related to NIBCO's corporate presence?

The relationship is tightly integrated. NIBCO's world headquarters sits in Elkhart, and the foundation's named projects — including the NIBCO Water & Ice Park and the NIBCO Children's Care Center — carry the company's brand. Foundation officers hold senior operating roles at NIBCO, making the philanthropy effectively an extension of the family's industrial and civic identity in the region.

## Related profiles

- [Rexam Group Pension Scheme](https://altss.com/profile/rexam-group-pension-scheme)
- [Rex Health Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/rex-health-ventures)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T02:43:31.692Z

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