Community Foundation of Elkhart County Invests $3.4 Million with Spring Grants

The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $3,405,732 of new grants to dozens of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County.

The grants were given in the categories of kids and families, career pathways, and placemaking, including for Connect in Elkhart County, a trail-making initiative focused on expanding Elkhart County’s trail network. The community foundation is also supporting Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative.
 
“We are proud to be the stewards of community resources that can continue to make Elkhart County a better place to live, work and play,” President Pete McCown said. “These grants will inspire good and are milestones for improving our community.”
 
The grants awarded between October 20, 2022, and mid-April 2023 are:

Career Pathways Grants = $1,141,000

• Elkhart Education Foundation, Summerscape 2023, $50,000
• Goshen College, capital campaign for nursing and health sciences, $1,000,000
• Six grants of $25,000 or less totaled $91,000

Kids & Families Grants = $1,116,401

• Faith Mission of Elkhart, family shelter on Middlebury Street, $157,000
• Maple City Health Care Center, expanding maternal and children’s health services, $150,000
• Oaklawn Psychiatric Center, Growing The SOURCE, $643,000
• 13 grants of $25,000 or less totaled $166,401

 
Placemaking Grants = $551,200

• enFocus, Institute for Entrepreneurial Community operational support, $50,000
• Goshen Historical Society, capital campaign — building renovation phase two, $75,000
• Historic Elkhart River Queen, $50,000, boat renovation
• Potawatomi Zoological Society, $100,000, The Concession Lodge and Bear Habitat
• Premier Arts, $140,000, new theater space
• Ten grants of $25,000 or less totaled $136,200

Connected Network of Trails Initiative Grants = $202,823

• Elkhart County, Dunlap roundabout bike/pedestrian engineering, $105,000
• Town of Middlebury, River Mill Trail, $96,125
• Two grants totaling less than $25,000 each totaled $1,698

Opportunity Fund = $394,308

• 73 grants for sponsorships, memberships and similar expenses

 
Grant requests are reviewed by staff and volunteer committees comprised of a diverse range of community members who are engaged with their respective sectors and make every effort to be aware of emerging and ongoing initiatives. Staff members can make decisions on grants of $25,000 or less. The board of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County approves all grants.

About Community Foundation of Elkhart County
 
Community Foundation of Elkhart County partners with donors to leverage their philanthropy in ways that transform lives. Since 1989, the Community Foundation has helped generous donors to meet community needs, provide scholarship opportunities to local students, and made grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve Elkhart County. The Community Foundation strives to be a local entity known for inspiring good and impacting success. To learn more, go to www.InspiringGood.org.