Don Wood Foundation
  • GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
    • Grants and Scholarships
    • Eligibility
    • Rolling Grant Program
    • Camps, Clubs, and Competitions Program
    • Ignite Your Future
    • Logo Use and Brand Guidelines
    • Troubleshooting
  • RESEARCH
    • Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study (APETS)
    • CTE Ecosystem - Comprehensive Research Summary
    • Allen County CTE Study
    • 5-County CTE Study
    • 4-county CTE study
    • Kosciusko and Whitley County CTE Study
    • CTE Data Dashboard
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR FOUNDER
    • CORE VALUES
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    • STAFF
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • CONTACT
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Susan Mendenhall
Vice President of Programs

Phone: 260.494.4155
Email: [email protected]
Susan joined the foundation staff as Director of Programs in January of 2023, and was then promoted to Vice President in September 2023.  She brings 15+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic visioning and planning, fundraising, grant-making, and program development, most recently serving as President and CEO of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne. Susan has also served as an active member of the Greater Fort Wayne, Inc. Board of Directors, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s Northeast Indiana Fund Board of Directors and Regional Opportunities Council, the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission, and various committees of the Indiana Arts Commission. 
​

Susan holds an M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a B.S. in Public Affairs, majoring in Public and Nonprofit Management from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
I am thrilled to be part of a team that is passionate about the vibrancy of Northeast Indiana and the role that philanthropy plays as a catalyst for advancing a skilled and prosperous workforce. "
CliftonStrengths:
1. Achiever
2. Strategic
3. Individualization
4. Includer
​5. Ideation
Quick facts about Susan
1. Susan's favorite vacation spot is sunny Camp Brosius in beautiful Elkhart Lake, WI, where she enjoys sailing, swimming, and singing camp songs and the Indiana University fight song! Her family has been going to camp since 1988.

2. Susan grew up in Indianapolis near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (home of the Indianapolis 500) and Raceway Park (national drag racing). To her, the sounds of race car engines and sightings of the Goodyear Blimp are the signs of summer (her favorite season).
​

3. Susan's guilty pleasure is the National Geographic History magazine. She reads each issue cover to cover.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE DON WOOD FOUNDATION WEBSITE
Don Wood Foundation
Aligning Opportunities Between Students, Community, and Industry
Don Wood Foundation
​P.O. Box 25537
10315 Dupont Circle Drive West
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(260) 212-1235
[email protected]
By appointment only


© 2025. All Rights Reserved.
  • GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
    • Grants and Scholarships
    • Eligibility
    • Rolling Grant Program
    • Camps, Clubs, and Competitions Program
    • Ignite Your Future
    • Logo Use and Brand Guidelines
    • Troubleshooting
  • RESEARCH
    • Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study (APETS)
    • CTE Ecosystem - Comprehensive Research Summary
    • Allen County CTE Study
    • 5-County CTE Study
    • 4-county CTE study
    • Kosciusko and Whitley County CTE Study
    • CTE Data Dashboard
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR FOUNDER
    • CORE VALUES
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    • STAFF
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
    • CONTACT