11 Delaware County Non-Profits Receive $136k in Grant Funding

The Ross Community Center, which was awarded operational funding from The Community Foundation, provides innovative youth and adult programming to enhance lifelong learning, like orchestra instruction (pictured), along with community services, including a weekly community market.The Ross Community Center, which was awarded operational funding from The Community Foundation, provides innovative youth and adult programming to enhance lifelong learning, like orchestra instruction (pictured), along with community services, including a weekly community market.

By Kallie Sulanke—

MUNCIE, Ind.—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. awarded $136,400 to 11 non-profit organizations during the third Quarterly Competitive Grant cycle of 2021.

The Community Foundation’s purpose is to improve the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County for this generation and generations to come. Quarterly Competitive Grants fund projects for which there is a demonstrable community benefit in one of the following areas of interest: arts and culture, human services, economic development, education, and community betterment.

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. is a publicly supported philanthropic institution governed by a volunteer board of local citizens. The Foundation manages contributions donated by individuals, businesses, and corporations as a permanent community endowment.  Grants to nonprofits from these funds benefit the community. More than $57 million has been awarded to enrich the lives of Muncie and Delaware County residents.

College Mentors for Kids received $7,000 (from the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, John C. Kelly and Marcia Ressler Kelly Fund, and Francis Lafferty Fund) to provide mentoring opportunities by matching elementary-aged children from across Muncie and Delaware County with Ball State University student volunteers.

8twelve Coalition received $13,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) for resident-driven projects from the 8twelve Coalition Action Plan and for coalition management.

Innovation Connector Inc. received $10,000 (from Bassett Family Fund, Gayle and Jeannine Harrold Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Ontario Systems – Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, and Wayne E. and Carolyn K. Thomas Fund) for the Women Business Owner Mastermind Group, a pilot program that provides women entrepreneurs with community connections and educational growth.

Inside Out Community Development received $15,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, and Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund) to expand freezer space at their facility.

Masterworks Chorale, Inc. received $4,000 (from the MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, and Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund) to support organizational capacity.

Muncie Action Plan received $5,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to provide organizational capacity support, including the Neighborhood Coordinator position.

Muncie Arts and Culture Council received $17,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Bassett Family Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Kent Shuff and Steve Fennimore Fund, and David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) to support organizational capacity and provide matching funds to benefit the PlySpace Residency Program.

Ross Community Center received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Funds of The Community Foundation, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, and KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund) to support organizational capacity and supplies for the weekly community market.

United Day Care Center received $15,400 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Pat and Jane Botts Fund, and Michael O. and Nicole T. Lunsford Fund) to defray the cost to replace flooring throughout the facility.

Whitely Community Council received $15,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of the Community Foundation, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, Jon and Barbara Moll Fund, and David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) to support organizational capacity.

Youth Opportunity Center received $10,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Ron and Cheryl Fauquher Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Daniel and Catherine Stewart Fund, and Gary and Amy Thomas Fund) for an email service migration necessary to meet industry standards for privacy and security.