By Kallie Sulanke—
MUNCIE, IN—Grants totaling $686,726 were awarded from The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County to benefit the community between June and August 2022. Most grants are awarded through permanently endowed funds that benefit our community today and always.
The Community Foundation serves all residents of Delaware County. The Town Endowment Program benefits three towns across Delaware County – Gaston, Selma, and Yorktown. Each community’s fund has grown through the generosity of community members. A committee of residents reviews applications.
The following grants were awarded from the Gaston Town Endowment Fund:
Gaston Volunteer Fire Department received $2,500 for technology upgrades. New personnel alerting equipment will replace obsolete radio pagers, allowing firefighters better communication.
Gaston Lions Club received $1,400 to purchase and install an automated external defibrillator. The AED will be located in the Community Building at the Gaston Lions Club Park.
The following grants were awarded from the Liberty Perry Selma Town Endowment Fund:
Liberty Perry School Corporation received $500 for Ropin’ Raiders. Students will have new jump ropes for physical fitness and start a jump rope club.
Liberty Township Fire Department received $590 for equipment upgrades. Firefighters and the community will benefit from new safety equipment and education.
Selma Athletic League received $700 for facility updates. Repairs will enhance the restrooms, and a new credit card machine will enhance the concession stand at the ball diamonds.
The following grants were awarded from the Town of Yorktown Endowment Fund:
Yorktown Farmers Market and Grow Market Inc. received $3,000 for technology equipment and operating expenses. New technology will support educational initiatives and programs.
Yorktown High School Band Boosters received $2,000 for uniforms. Student musicians will benefit from the replacement, repair, and alterations of marching band uniforms.
Yorktown Reach Ministries received $2,000 for food. This funding will offset the rising cost of food.
Quarterly Competitive 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. The following grants were awarded through the Quarterly Competitive Grants Program:
Ambassadors for God’s Creatures received $8,250 (from the Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals) to address pet and community cat overpopulation in Delaware County by offering financial assistance for spay/neuter surgeries to low-income households and colony keepers of community cats.
College Mentors for Kids, Inc. received $9,000 (from the Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, and Jeff and Beth Lang Fund) to support the long-standing mentor program, matching children in Delaware county with Ball State University college student volunteers.
East Central Indiana Chamber Orchestra received $4,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to provide concerts of orchestra music that appeals to the community.
Indiana Youth Institute received $5,000 (from the Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to increase the professional capacity of 136 local youth-serving individuals by offering timely and relevant training.
Little Red Door Cancer Agency received $12,155 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, and the Jeanne and John Smith Fund) to support the Nutritional Supplements Program.
Masterworks Chorale received $4,000 (from the Bassett Family Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, and Old National Bank Fund) to support the cost of operations.
Muncie Land Bank received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund) to support the cost of operations.
Muncie OUTreach received $11,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to run a targeted outreach and marketing campaign over the next 12 months to engage more LGBTQ+ youth in East Central Indiana.
Soup Kitchen of Muncie received $18,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, and the Bassett Family Fund) to support the cost of food and a security officer.
Ten organizations were awarded $115,000 in grants from donor advised funds managed by The Community Foundation. One donor advised grant complemented the quarterly competitive grants program, including $3,000 to Hoosiers Feeding the Hungry for their “Meat” the Need program.
An additional $392,968 was awarded to nonprofit organizations with designated funds. Designated funds are established by donors or by nonprofits to provide ongoing support for specified organizations.
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 $88 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 more than $63 million to enhance the quality of life of the residents of Muncie and Delaware County.
