Philanthropy with Its Boots on the Ground
Ball Brothers Foundation has spent nearly a century investing in the well-being of Muncie, Delaware County, and East Central Indiana, staying true to its chartered focus on place-based philanthropy. Through grants spanning arts, education, environment, health, and community development, the foundation supports steady, long-term progress in the region.
For nearly a century, Ball Brothers Foundation (BBF) has stayed true to its founding charge: to provide philanthropy and leadership in Indiana, with special attention to Muncie, Delaware County, and the broader East Central Indiana region. This geographic focus—written into our charter 99 years ago—has proven to be one of our greatest strengths. By concentrating on a defined place, we can dig deep, remain responsive to evolving needs, and stay committed through decades of change.
As a private family foundation, our work is broad in scope but specific in geography. Within our community, BBF invests in arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services, and community improvements. Together, BBF’s grants aim to create a thriving, vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Like many similar rust-belt cities, our community has experienced its share of ups and downs, but BBF has been there all along the way—funding steady, incremental improvements.
Balancing Responsiveness with Proactivity
One of the most common questions we receive is about our approach to responsiveness. The truth is, we see ourselves as both a responsive and a proactive grantmaker.
From a proactive stance, we annually issue a number of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and occasionally launch special initiatives when we see an emerging opportunity. Our invitation to Ball State University to apply for $1 million to help transform our city’s public school system a few years ago and continued RFPs directly to Muncie Community Schools are a great example. Similarly, we’ve invited a number of local universities and law enforcement agencies to apply for cybersecurity-related grants as we work to address cybercrime locally and bolster the growing cyber workforce.
But a large portion of our grantmaking is intentionally responsive. We accept applications “over the transom” because we know we don’t have all the answers. We can’t fully predict what challenges or bright ideas will surface, and we believe our grantees are closest to the work and best positioned to see what’s possible. Because we want grantees to be successful in applying, we encourage prospective applicants to connect with us prior to applying for guidance on how to put their best foot forward if the funding request seems like a good match.
This philosophy also means we avoid imposing rigid goals or demanding that organizations reshape themselves to fit a predetermined agenda of our own. Communities are dynamic and ever-changing; our funding must be flexible enough to reflect that reality.
How We Listen and Learn
Assessing community needs is as much about listening as it is about funding. At BBF, our philosophy is simple: relationships and communication matter most. That principle guides how we operate every day.
Our team embraces what we call a “boots on the ground” approach. Quite literally, our staff keep boots in their cars—ready for construction site visits with grantees, trail walks with environmental grantees, or visits to evolving community spaces. We believe that showing up matters and that our own due diligence is best done side-by-side—and face-to-face— with those doing the work.
We also immerse ourselves in the life of the community: attending events, asking questions, and being present in both formal and informal settings. Years ago, one of our staff members even spent time riding the city bus to hear directly from drivers about what they were seeing—the positive momentum and the challenges on the ground.
At the same time, we keep an eye on the broader landscape. Service on statewide and national boards offers valuable perspective on trends and issues that will inevitably affect our local community.
Looking Ahead
As BBF approaches its 100th year, we remain deeply grateful for the foresight of our founders in establishing a clear, place-based mission. That clarity grounds our work.
Our approach is simple but enduring: stay rooted in place, remain responsive, build strong relationships, and never underestimate the power of being present. With boots on the ground—and an ear to the community—good grantmaking happens one step and one conversation at a time.
