By Kallie Sulanke—
MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $974,435 in Community Grants this week.
Beginning in 2023, The Community Foundation shifted to a Community Grants program. Nonprofit organizations have a wide-open door for applications instead of separate applications for multiple grants programs through the Foundation. Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to connect with Foundation staff. This quarter, The Community Foundation had 24 organizations reach out with initial requests for funding.
The flexibility of Community Grants allows the Foundation’s Program and Nonprofit Relations team to develop a deeper understanding of the needs within the community. That knowledge enables Foundation staff and volunteers to connect nonprofits to resources and gives nonprofits more time to focus on their mission work.
The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation approved 24 Community Grants totaling $974,435 during the first quarter of 2023.
A Better Way Services, Inc. received $60,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Bassett Family Fund, Julian and Suzanne Gresham Fund, Ron and Cheryl Fauquher Fund, Michael O. and Nicole T. Lunsford Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, and Jeanne and John Smith Fund) to support the cost of operations.
Animal Rescue Fund received $17,200 (from the Buckles Family Fund and Kid Aid Fund) to complete the renovation of their adoption center.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie received $65,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Waldo and Louisa Beebe Donor Advised Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, Morris Youth Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to support operations and defray expansion costs at their Madison Street location.
Cardinal Greenway Inc. received $35,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, LEAP Managed IT Fund, Jon and Barbara Moll Fund, Ontario Systems – Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Mac and Lila Warrell Endowment Fund, and Joseph and Janet Wilson Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations.
City of Muncie received $27,035 (from the Land Conservation Fund) to support the Riverview Park project.
The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County’s Funders Forum Fund received $2,500 (proactive support from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund) to engage in collaborative grantmaking with local funders. Additionally, a commitment for an additional $5,000 over the next two years for collaborative grantmaking was made.
Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Inc. received $50,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, The Endowment for the Arts Fund, Mike and Cathy Galliher Fund, Gayle and Jeannine Harrold Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Martin D. and Helen B. Schwartz Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, and Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations.
Delaware Advancement Corporation received $100,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) and $25,000 (proactive support from Mutual Legacy Fund) to support the Vision 2027 Campaign. Additionally, through the Mutual Legacy Fund, the Foundation committed to an additional $100,000 over the next four years to support Vision 2027.
Delaware County Emergency Communications Center received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Muncie Power Products Community Impact Fund, and Wayne E. and Caryoln K. Thomas Fund) to purchase radio equipment for Mobile Dispatch Vehicles.
ecoREHAB of Muncie received $50,000 (from the Bassett Family Fund, Waldo and Louisa Beebe Donor Advised Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, John and Katherine Littler Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, Ontario Systems – Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Gary and Amy Thomas Fund, and Youth as Resources Fund) to support the transformation of the YARD into a construction training center.
Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, Inc. received $75,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, John and Janice Fisher Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Beulah M. Frogge Fund, KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, Francis Lafferty Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund, and Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund) to support the cost of operations and the 2023 housing program.
Heart of Indiana United Way received $42,000 (proactive support from Mutual Legacy Fund) to support the 2022 Campaign.
Hillcroft Services Inc. received $7,500 (from the KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund and MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund) to support the cost of the year-long 70th Anniversary Awareness and Recognition Campaign in 2023.
Home Savers of Delaware County received $30,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Pat and Jane Botts Fund, Day Star Center Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund, Nancy J. Smith Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to fund urgent home repairs, including repairing and replacing roofs, furnaces, plumbing, electrical, and accessibility items like steps and wheelchair ramps.
Inside Out Community Development received $38,700 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Mary Kate Pingry Fund, Kent Shuff and Steve Fennimore Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, Daniel and Catharine Stewart Fund, and David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) for operations to launch a Fresh Market program.
Muncie Arts and Culture Council received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to support the cost of operations.
Muncie Children’s Museum received $57,500 (from the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, and Morris Youth Fund) to support the cost of new and upgraded exhibits that are part of the More to Explore capital campaign.
Muncie Civic Theatre received $20,000 (from The Endowment for the Arts Fund, J. Robert and Joanne N. Baur Fund, Patrick and Marilyn Cleary Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Old National Bank Fund, and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) to upgrade the rigging system.
Muncie Community Schools received $7,000 (proactive support from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund) for the Northside Middle School gym renovation.
Muncie Mission received $12,500 (from the Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, William and Margaret Dutton Fund, and Mary Kate Pingry Fund) to offset the cost of constructing a neighborhood of sober-living, transitional homes for men exiting residential addiction treatment.
Ross Community Center Inc received $40,000 (from the Gary Addison Fund, Esther Ball Fund, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Edgar Faulkner Sr./Ermal S. Roundtree Fund, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, 5000th Charitable Fund Inc. Fund, and Morris Youth Fund) to support the cost of operations.
Shafer Leadership Academy received $12,500 (from the J. Robert and Joanne N. Baur Fund and John and Janice Fisher Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support overall operations cost with an emphasis on nonprofit programming and community inclusion efforts.
YMCA of Muncie received $100,000 (from the Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, Economic Development Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Bill and Nancy Mitchell Living Well in Delaware County Fund, Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund, and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) to support the consolidation of membership branches and the construction of a new facility at Muncie Central High School to serve the community and significantly impact the health, education, and career development in Muncie and Delaware County. Additionally, the Foundation committed to an additional $312,500 over the next four years for the project.
YWCA Central Indiana received $50,000 (from the Bassett Family Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Beulah M. Frogge Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to support the cost of operating the emergency shelter and C.O.T.S. (complimentary, overnight, temporary, shelter) stay programs.
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.
About the Foundation
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.
