When Zander Huss set his sights on studying mechanical engineering, he knew Trine University was the right place to pursue his passion. But as the son of a single mother, he also knew affording college would be a major challenge.

Thanks to the Questa Education Foundation’s forgivable loan program, Zander received the financial help he needed to attend Trine. Now nearing graduation, he’s preparing to launch his career in mechanical engineering, build a home and give back to the community that helped him succeed. Read Zander’s full story here.

The Don Wood Foundation provided a grant to Questa Education Foundation to support students like Zander. At the heart of Zander’s journey is Don Wood’s vision. A true Hoosier entrepreneur and founder of 80/20 Inc., Don believed opportunity should be both practical and expansive. He often spoke of helping people “pack their own chute,” giving them the tools, training and confidence to shape their own futures.

Since Don’s passing in 2019, the Don Wood Foundation has carried forward that vision—serving as a philanthropic engine that unites industry, education and community to drive Northeast Indiana’s economic growth. The foundation has awarded more than $45 million in grants since its founding, each investment strengthening the region’s talent pipeline.

What makes the Don Wood Foundation remarkable isn’t just the scale of its giving, it’s the systems-level impact behind it. Rather than funding isolated programs, the foundation connects efforts across schools, employers and nonprofits, helping each reinforce the other and scale what works across county lines.

Here are a few examples:

• Coalition for Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training: A two-year initiative to assess and develop strategies to bolster education and training beyond high school, leading to high-demand, high-wage jobs.
• CTE Ecosystem Mapping: Comprehensive studies across Allen, and its 12 surrounding counties in northeast Indiana, to identify gaps and strengthen career and technical education pathways.
• Ignite Your Future: A scholarship and guidance network built with area community foundations and other partners to expand access and align support for local learners.
• Grants to Career and Technical Education Programs: Funding to help area schools bring training programs and equipment to industry standards in partnership with area employers.
• Grants to Higher Education Institutions to Bolster Engineering Programs: Funding to build capacity and quality to train the next generation of engineers in northeast Indiana, equipping them with advanced technical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets that drive innovation.

These initiatives reveal a strategic, collaborative mindset that treats education and workforce development as a shared regional system. The results reach well beyond individual programs. Employers gain access to a stronger, more skilled local workforce, students and adult learners see clear, attainable career pathways close to home and communities retain talent and attract investment by demonstrating a unified commitment to opportunity.

By investing in shared infrastructure and aligning stakeholders, the Don Wood Foundation builds a foundation, literally and figuratively, for sustained regional prosperity.

The Don Wood Foundation shows what happens when philanthropy, education and industry work together toward common goals. It’s more than giving—it’s transformation. Don’s legacy endures as a blueprint for regional success, reminding us that sustainable growth begins with collaboration and shared purpose.