CF of Muncie & Delaware Co. Awards $340K in Community Grants

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 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 18 Community Grants totaling $340,000 during the second quarter of 2023:

• 8twelve Coalition received $25,000 (from the Mutual Legacy Fund, Bassett Family Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund, Claudia and Charles Sursa Unrestricted Endowment Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to support the cost of operations.
• American Red Cross received $5,000 (from the MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund) to provide immediate financial assistance to individuals and families impacted by home fires in Delaware County.
• City of Muncie Parks and Recreation Department received $40,000 (from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, and Maxon Foundation Fund) for the addition of an enlarged entry and seating area to the planned skatepark at Westside Park.
• The Compass Church received $2,500 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and the Liberty Perry Selma Town Endowment Fund) to purchase equipment, supplies, and plants to build and maintain raised gardens available to the community.
• Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary received $50,000 (from the Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals) to support the first phase of infrastructure needed in preparation for the sanctuary building.
• Innovation Connector, Inc. received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Mutual Legacy Fund, Ontario Systems - Wil Davis and Ron Fauquher Fund, Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund, and Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Endowment Fund) to support an awareness and marketing campaign.
• Hamilton Township Volunteer Fire Department received $5,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) for thermal imaging cameras.
• Kesem at Ball State received $5,000 (from Jane E. Hughes Fund, KAKATU Foundation/David and Joanna Meeks Fund, and Michael O. and Nicole T. Lunsford Fund) to support an overnight summer camp for kids who are impacted by their parent or caregiver's cancer.
• Meals on Wheels of Muncie, Inc. received $10,000 (from Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Fund, and Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund) to support the cost of meals. 
• Muncie Community Schools received $5,000 (from the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund) for East Washington Academy Pre-K Supplies.
• Project Leadership, Inc. received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, and Wayne E. and Carolyn K. Thomas Fund) to support the cost of operations.
• Sustainable Muncie received $55,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, and David and Mary Jane Sursa Fund) to construct a maker classroom space in MadJax.
• TeenWorks, Inc. received $25,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Old National Bank Charitable Fund, Jane Harrell Buckles Fund, Roni Johnson Fund, John C. Kelly and Marcia Ressler Kelly Fund, and Jeff and Beth Lang Fund) to support the wages of 100 teens in their Summer Program.
• United Day Care received $5,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to replace a heating and air conditioning unit.
• Urban Light Community Development Corporation received $40,000 (from the Keith and Elaine Miller Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, Ball Corporation Community Betterment Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, and Maxon Foundation Fund) to defray the cost of programming.
• The Villages of Indiana received $10,000 (from Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Pat and Jane Botts Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund) to purchase health and safety equipment and provide transportation support for families parenting young children.
• Yorktown American Legion Post 321 received $5,000 (from The Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation) to replace an outdated heating and air conditioning unit.
• Yorktown Council for the Arts received $2,500 (from the Town of Yorktown Endowment Fund) to complete the Ribbons of Time Sculpture.

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. 

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.