Community Grants totaling $687K Awarded 

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $687,500 in Community Grants this week. 

Community Grants provide nonprofit organizations serving Muncie and Delaware County the opportunity to apply for funding to support their work. Grants are awarded to address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County in arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services.  

Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to connect with the Foundation's Program and Nonprofit Relations team. Through these conversations, Foundation staff and volunteers develop a deeper understanding of the needs within the community, identify resources and support beyond grantmaking, and provide nonprofits more time to focus on their mission work.  

Community Grants are announced quarterly. The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation approved 18 Community Grants totaling $687,500 during the first quarter of 2024. 

8twelve Coalition received $30,000 (from the Pat and Jane Botts Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to support the cost of operations. 

A Better Way Services received $65,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, J. Robert and Joanne N. Baur Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Edgar Faulkner Sr./Ermal S. Roundtree Fund, Ron and Cheryl Fauquher Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Martin D. and Helen B. Schwartz Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, and Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund) to support the cost of operations. This grant is the first year of a three-year commitment totaling $195,000. 

Animal Rescue Fund received $20,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Esther Ball Fund, Bassett Family Fund, William and Margaret Dutton Fund, Nancy J. Smith Fund, and Mac and Lila Warrell Endowment Fund) for building expenses. 

Ball State University Foundation will receive funding for the performing arts center.  The Foundation committed to a total of $500,000 for the performing arts center over the next six years. A grant will be received this year from the Mutual Legacy Fund, with future grants from various unrestricted funds. 

Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie received $50,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, 5000th Charitable Fund, Inc. Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Morris Youth Fund, and Jack and Thelma Peckinpaugh Fund) to support the cost of operations. 

Cardinal Greenway Inc. received $35,000 (from the Edmund F. and Virgina B. Ball Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund, and Charles and Claudia Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations. 

Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Inc. received $50,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, The Endowment for the Arts Fund, John and Janice Fisher Fund, Beulah M. Froggee Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, Robert and Janet Stratton Fund) to support the cost of operations. 

Delaware Advancement Corporation received $25,000 (from the Mutual Legacy Fund) to support the Vision 2027 Campaign. The Community Foundation also awarded a grant of $100,000 to Delaware Advancement Corporation through Strategic Grantmaking this year. 

Funders Forum Fund at The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County received $7,500 (from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund and Mutual Legacy Fund) to support collaborative grantmaking by local funders. 

Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, Inc. received $100,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, Bassett Family Fund, KAKATU Foundation/David and JoAnna Meeks Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, and Joseph and Janice Wilson Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations, 2024 housing program, and neighborhood revitalization in the Industry Neighborhood. This grant is the first year of a two-year commitment totaling $175,000. 

Heart of Indiana United Way received $40,000 (from the Mutual Legacy Fund) to support the 2023 Campaign. 

Home Savers of Delaware County received $25,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Alpha Center Fund, Day Star Center Fund, Ontario Systems – Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Anna Winick Schwartz Memorial Fund, Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, and Wayne E. and Carolyn K. Thomas Fund) for 2024 urgent home repairs. 

Muncie Arts and Culture Council received $25,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to support the cost of operations. 

Ross Community Center Inc. received $40,000 (from the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Morris Youth Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, and Joseph and Janet Wilson Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations. 

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc. received $25,000 (from the Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Muncie Power Products Community Impact Fund, Jack and Thelma Peckinpaugh Fund, and Jeanne and John Smith Fund) to support the cost of operations for Delaware County initiatives. 

Southside Middle School received $7,500 (from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund) for the baseball team.  

YMCA of Muncie received $87,500 (from Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Economic Development Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Beulah M. Frogge Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Bill and Nancy Mitchell Living Well in Delaware County Fund, Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, and David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) for the construction of a new facility. This was the second annual grant of a five-year commitment totaling $500,000. 

YWCA Central Indiana received $50,000 (from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, and Jeanne and John Smith Fund) to support the YWCA Emergency Shelter Program. 

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Grant requests are reviewed and approved quarterly. Community Grants are awarded to fund projects and programs for which there is a demonstrable community benefit in one of the following areas of interest: arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. For more information on Community Grants, contact The Community Foundation at 765.747.7181 or grants@cfmdin.org.

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. encourages philanthropy, assists donors in building an enduring source of charitable assets, and exercises leadership in directing resources to enhance the quality of life for residents of Muncie and Delaware County. Since 1985, community members and businesses have helped the Foundation grow our endowment to $83 million. Using the earnings on the endowment, the Foundation distributes grants to nonprofit organizations, including scholarships to support students through post-secondary education. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $65 million to enhance the quality of life of the residents of Muncie and Delaware County.