By Kallie Sulanke—
MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $3,769,621 in grants and scholarships in 2024, strengthening its mission to enhance the quality of life for Delaware County residents. Most grants were awarded through permanently endowed funds, ensuring a greater Muncie and Delaware County today, tomorrow, and always.
Community Grants Program
Local nonprofit organizations received $1,581,311 through the competitive Community Grants Program. Community Grants are awarded to address the broad needs in arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services.
This year, the Foundation reviewed 77 grant applications totaling over $2 million. Each application was carefully evaluated by committees of local volunteers who made recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Community Grants were funded through The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, named unrestricted funds, discretionary field-of-interest funds, committee-driven field-of-interest funds, and donor-advised funds.
A full list of grants awarded through the Community Grants Program can be found at cfmdin.org/news/2024grants.
Strategic Grants Program
The Foundation’s Strategic Grants Program awarded $215,000 to initiatives focused on economic development, arts, and internal improvement.
- $100,000 to Delaware Advancement Corporation for Vision 2027.
- $85,000 for consulting and action related to the Creative Space Action Plan (cfmdin.org/csap).
- $30,000 for internal priorities, including DEIB consulting and targeted capacity building for supporting organizations.
Strategic grants are awarded through the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation.
Targeted Programs of The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation awarded $275,489 through targeted or permanent programs, including:
- $10,253 for creative and innovative classroom projects through the Robert P. Bell Teacher Grant Program.
- $43,435 for preservation efforts through the Land Conservation Fund Program.
- $100,000 to support nonprofit organizations beyond grantmaking through the Nonprofit Support Network.
- $55,000 to support early childhood education through BY5 Early Childhood Initiative.
- $25,000 for institutional strengthening and capacity building for three organizations through the Resiliency Grants Program.
- $41,800 for local and regional planning work through special funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Collaborative Grantmaking
Through the Funders Forum Collaborative, the Foundation convened local funders for shared learning and collaborative grantmaking. This year, the Funders Forum Collaborative awarded $53,300 in grants supporting:
- Muncie Area Career Center Early Childhood Education Pathways
- BY5 Early Childhood Initiative
- Nonprofit Support Network.
Designated Grants
Permanently endowed designated funds, established by donors or organizations to support specific missions, provided $1,088,962 in ongoing support.
Scholarships
The Foundation awarded $269,539 in scholarships to graduating seniors and college students to support post-secondary education.
Donor-Advised Grants
Through 32 donor-advised funds, donors recommended $286,020 in grants, adding personal philanthropy to the Foundation’s impact.
Total Impact
These grants reflect The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County’s commitment to addressing community needs while stewarding growth and enhancing the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County.
For more information about the Foundation’s programs and how to get involved, visit cfmdin.org.
The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has been serving the local community since 1985, supporting philanthropy, assisting donors in building a permanent source of charitable assets, and investing in initiatives that enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County. With an endowment of over $93 million, the Foundation has distributed nearly $68 million in grants and scholarships to date.
