Search Results for Innovation connector

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $340,000 in Community Grants during the second quarter of 2023, including a $25,000 grant to Project Leadership to support the cost of operations. A similar grant last year supported programs, including Scholar Success Program labs at Muncie Central, pictured.

Non-Profit June 5, 2023

$340K Awarded to Community Organizations

By Kallie Sulanke— MUNCIE, IN – The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $340,000 in Community Grants this month. 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. The flexibility of Community Grants allows the Foundation’s Program and Nonprofit Relations team to develop…

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Techwise Academy students. File photo

Business May 30, 2023

Teaching Youth the Languages of the Next Generation

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director— MUNCIE, IN—Over the past two years, I have written several articles about the scope of services and activities at the Innovation Connector.  From leasing office space to entrepreneurs, coaching and advising business owners and entrepreneurs, hosting workshops and events, and providing opportunities for networking and coworking, the Innovation Connector has served the Muncie community well. We know that students are encouraged to learn foreign languages as part of their school work, such as Spanish…

Ted Baker is pictured providing one-on-one business coaching services to a client. Photo provided.

Business March 24, 2023

Starting and Operating a Business is Hard…and a BIG Announcement

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—Starting or growing a business is not easy.  If you have been involved at any level of business ownership, you know this.  Throughout my life, I have started several businesses and worked hard to see them grow.  I know firsthand the long hours I invested in ensuring details were taken care of and deadlines met.  (Many times, 60+ hours per week.)  From taking care of legal business startup details,…

Cradle to Career Muncie Middle Grade Math Collaborative Action Network Members brainstorm collective strategies and solutions. Photo by Maggie Manor

Non-Profit March 10, 2023

George and Frances Ball Foundation First Quarter Grants

By Kelsey Harrington, Program and Analytics Officer— MUNCIE, IN—More than $365,000 was awarded to ten community organizations by the George and Frances Ball Foundation. On February 24th, members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors met to review and make funding decisions for first quarter requests. Many of the funded efforts will build the capacity and fuel strategic, collective action of Cradle to Career Muncie, a community-wide and equity-centered educational attainment initiative driven by more than 40 community organizations and facilitated…

Photo provided

Non-Profit March 10, 2023

Nonprofit Support Network Announces New Peer Groups and Spring Programming

By Carly Acree King, Nonprofit Support Network— MUNCIE, IN —Nonprofit Support Network is excited to announce the kickoff of 2023 Network Huddles, which will dive into topics relevant to the needs of nonprofits serving Muncie-Delaware County. Network Huddles are free peer group meetings hosted and facilitated by Nonprofit Support Network. The Huddles provide a supportive and collaborative environment that allows nonprofits to connect with peers and learn from each other. The new topics include community food service, board leadership, and shared…

The Innovation Connector is located at 1208 W. White River Blvd in Muncie.

Business February 24, 2023

Side Gigs and Side Hustles

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—Over the past years, the Innovation Connector has become the Muncie community’s hub for business startup and growth assistance.  Calls and emails come to us nearly every day from entrepreneurs and hopeful business startup owners asking for assistance in some way.  Regular requests include the need for funds to start or grow a business, help formally organize the business as an LLC or S-Corp, and some turn to us…

The Innovation Connector is located at 1208 W. White River Blvd. Muncie, IN 47303

Business January 24, 2023

Empowering Entrepreneurs in 2023

By Ted A. Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector— MUNCIE, IN—After a successful initiative last year, Celebrating Entrepreneurs in 2022, the Innovation Connector has chosen a new theme for 2023: Empowering Entrepreneurs in 2023. While we will continue celebrating entrepreneurs, we believe the next step is to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners to be empowered – to learn, collaborate, and share their knowledge with others.  As I have expressed in prior articles, one key trait of a successful…

Grissom Elementary improved attendance. Photo provided

Non-Profit January 9, 2023

George and Frances Ball Foundation 2022 End of Year Recap and Grantmaking Focus

By Kelsey Harrington, Program and Analytics Officer, GFBF— George and Frances Ball Foundation Convenes 50+ Community Organizations Through Collective Impact Initiative: Cradle to Career Muncie, Awards a Record $5.4 Million in Grants MUNCIE, IN—In 2022, The George and Frances Ball Foundation (GFBF) continued its commitment to extending equitable educational assistance and support to families and youth in the historically underserved neighborhoods of Muncie (Promise Neighborhoods), starting at birth and extending through to successful employment that provides a greater opportunity to…

Pictured L-R: Entrepreneurs of the Year— Tiara Hicks, Mayor Dan Ridenour, Lynn Moore, Bernisa Elliott, Peggy Cenova, and Kurt Harrington.

Business December 23, 2022

Entrepreneur Showcase Week – A Great Week for Muncie Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

By Ted Baker, CEO/Executive Director, Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc.— MUNCIE, IN—A little over eight months ago, our creative Innovation Connector team began planning a new event that we hoped would impact both entrepreneurs and business owners. We wanted this event to be something that had never been done before. As we worked through our thoughts and dreams for this event, the idea of Entrepreneur Showcase Week began to take shape. As we plotted our strategies to make this event unique, and…

Leigh Carter Edwards with Muncie Mission Ministries and Carl Schafer with Muncie Arts discuss fundraising best practices during a training hosted by Nonprofit Support Network in November 2022. In 2023, Shafer Leadership Academy and Nonprofit Support Network are collaborating to provide year-long educational programs for nonprofits in Muncie and Delaware County. Photo provided

Non-Profit December 19, 2022

Nonprofit Support Network and Shafer Leadership Academy Announce Joint Programming for 2023

By Carly Acree King, Relationship & Resource Director— MUNCIE, IN—Nonprofits serving or located in Muncie-Delaware County will have access to expanded educational programming in 2023 thanks to a collaboration between Nonprofit Support Network and Shafer Leadership Academy. Launched in the fall of 2022, Nonprofit Essentials is designed to address a gap in the training resources available to nonprofits in the east central Indiana region. This collaboration comes after almost two years of work between the organizations as Shafer Leadership Academy was…