Franklin County Community Foundation Inc logo

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Brookville, IN EIN: 35-2034336 Website

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Brookville, Indiana. It supports community grantmaking and scholarships for Franklin County students through endowment and other funds.

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Franklin County Community Foundation Inc gave $801K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Indiana. 63% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$800,792
-13.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
24
+60.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$33,366
-45.7% vs 2024
Median grant
$11,150
Total assets
$20,294,372
+7.4% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
63% first-time grantees (15 of 24, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Indiana (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Franklin County Community Foundation Inc

How to Apply

For unrestricted community grants, complete the application process when applications become available in December for the following year’s cycle. Special assistance and discretionary grant applications may be submitted at any time, subject to available funds and endowment criteria.

Review Cycle
The listed deadline for the unrestricted community grant program is December 31, 2026.
Deadline
The listed deadline for the unrestricted community grant program is December 31, 2026.
Next open deadline
December 31, 2026 (FCCF Grant Application (Unrestricted Community Grants))
Contact

Mailing address: 527 Main Street, Brookville, IN 47012
Phone: (765) 647-6810
Website: https://fccfin.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Franklin County Community Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Margaret Mary Health Foundation Inc: $240KMargaret Mary HealthFoundation Inc$240KTown of Brookville: $125KTown of Brookville$125KMain Street Brookville Inc: $81KMain Street Brookville Inc$81KWhitewater Canal Trail: $56KWhitewater Canal Trail$56KFranklin County Arts Council: $53KFranklin County Arts Council$53KAvian Education and Research Institute: $50KAvian Education and ResearchInstitute$50KMiami University: $28KMiami University$28KFranklin County Commissioners: $20KFranklin County Commissioners$20KDrewersburg Volunteer Fire Department: $19KDrewersburg Volunteer FireDepartment$19KFraternal Order of Eagles #1129: $15KFraternal Order of Eagles#1129$15K

The largest 2025 recipient was Margaret Mary Health Foundation Inc ($240K). Together the top 10 received $687K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($7,800), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

71 grants across all recorded years

56<$50K8$50–100K4$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 56 grants of 71 (79%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s community grant program is for projects that benefit Franklin County, Indiana. In filing year 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 4% to recipients in Ohio.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.

States

Cities

BrookvilleBatesvilleMetamoraHarrisonCedar GroveIndianapolisMadisonOldenburgOldendburgOxfordWest College CornerWest HarrisonMuncie

Is Franklin County Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

63%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 15 of 24 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $65K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $53K repeat.

  • 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M7 grants2019 10 grants2020 11 grants2021 12 grants2022 9 grants2023 15 grants2024 24 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $64K (2019) to $922K (2024). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $801K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Margaret Mary Health Foundation Inc Batesville, INMatching Grant$240,000
Town of Brookville Brookville, INPool Pass, Sportsplex$124,770
Main Street Brookville Inc Brookville, INGeneral Support; General Pass Through$80,600
Whitewater Canal Trail Brookville, INGeneral Support and Endowment Fund Grant$56,380
Franklin County Arts Council Brookville, INGeneral Support for the Art Council$53,320
Avian Education and Research Institute West College Corner, INResearch Project$49,570
Miami University Oxford, OHAvian Research Project$28,230
Franklin County Commissioners Brookville, INBike Ped Planning Grant$20,000
Drewersburg Volunteer Fire Department West Harrison, INEquipment$18,999
Fraternal Order of Eagles #1129 Brookville, INBowling Ball Retrieval System$15,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing type: Form 990 (a public charity).

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$20,294,372$1,400,978$1,528,148$800,79224$552,016
2024$18,893,169$7,157,801$1,679,559$922,44315$293,631
2023$10,933,884$833,669$790,071$209,3509$275,797
2022$10,276,110$1,524,370$1,096,203$619,14112$390,611
2021$10,900,308$2,273,231$2,362,600$597,29911$778,363
2020$6,891,230$1,440,861$950,843$272,42010$42,313
2019$6,385,195$1,716,232$454,141$64,3157$78,787

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s stated mission is “to nurture and facilitate a spirit of giving and giving back for the betterment of Franklin County.” Its 2023 filing describes community grants and college scholarships for Franklin County students; that year, it reported distributing 55 scholarships and 66 grants to schools, governmental units, and tax-exempt organizations.

The foundation’s 2025 grants included support for community facilities and recreation, arts, trails, research, public planning, and fire department equipment. Among the grantees, Whitewater Canal Trail describes its work as trail development, maintenance, and construction to promote visitors’ and residents’ health and well-being and the beauty of natural habitat. Metamora Volunteer Fire Department says it assists victims of fires and vehicle accidents and helps in times of natural disaster and need. Franklin County 4-H Association describes its work as providing educational opportunities for youth to develop life skills and leadership abilities.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $800,792. Grant amounts ranged from $5,003 to $240,000, with a median of $11,150. Its largest reported grants included $240,000 to Margaret Mary Health Foundation Inc for a matching grant; $124,770 to the Town of Brookville for pool pass and sportsplex support; $80,600 to Main Street Brookville Inc for general support and general pass-through; and $56,380 to Whitewater Canal Trail for general support and an endowment fund grant.

The foundation’s website says grants are paid from unrestricted and designated endowment funds, as well as non-permanent and special assistance funds. Its unrestricted community grant applications become available in December for the following year’s funding cycle. The listed eligibility requirements are that applicants be 501(c)(3) charitable organizations or similar eligible entities, that projects benefit Franklin County, Indiana, and that applicants complete the full application process. The foundation also says special assistance and discretionary grants may be applied for at any time, with awards dependent on available funds and the applicant meeting endowment criteria.

The foundation also offers scholarships established through community endowments for graduating high school students, non-traditional students, and Franklin County residents. Its 2023 filing describes scholarship procedures that include a student agreement, acceptance or declination of the award, proof of enrollment, and payment to the school after proof is received.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Molly Brier as president, Rhonda Kerr as vice president, John Seale as treasurer, and Deborah Gross as secretary. It also lists Mike Bentz, Carrie Rupp, Jenny Meier, Tammey Robben, Greg Mehlbauer, and Beverly Metz as board members.

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc is led by Michelle Lunsford, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Michelle Lunsford

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $47K (2019) → $60K (2025)

  • Molly Brier

    President

    Board Member → Vice President, 2022

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Seale

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rhonda Kerr

    Vice President

    Board Member → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Barb Reed

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carrie Rupp

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Bentz

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jenny Meier

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tammey Robben

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beverly Metz

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deborah Gross

    Secretary

    Board Member → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Greg Mehlbauer

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beth Kaiser

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alex Dudley

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shelly Fohl

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (13)
  • Former: Andy Shultz (2019–2024) — Past President
  • Former: Carrie Gillman (2019–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Jeff Franks (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Chad Mears (2019–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Laura Frondorf (2019–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Jake Linkel (2019–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Linda Rosenberger (2019–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Rhonda Hofer (2019–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Jannet Baker (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Mike Fain (2019–2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Mark Oglesby (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Patti Wilhelm (2019–2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Andrea White (2019) — Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Michelle Lunsford — Executive Director: $60KMichelle LunsfordExecutive Director$60K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $60K, to Michelle Lunsford (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Franklin County Community Foundation Inc

How much does Franklin County Community Foundation Inc give each year?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc gave $801K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $922K across 15 grants.

What is Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $11,150, and its average grant was $33,366, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Franklin County Community Foundation Inc that year got $14K on average.

Where does Franklin County Community Foundation Inc give grants?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brookville, IN (13 grants), Batesville, IN (3 grants) and Metamora, IN (2 grants).

Does Franklin County Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 17% of Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Designated Grant" (3 grants).

Who are Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Margaret Mary Health Foundation Inc ($240,000), Town of Brookville ($124,770) and Main Street Brookville Inc ($80,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($7,800), which are not listed by name. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Franklin County Community Foundation Inc?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc reported $20.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.

What does Franklin County Community Foundation Inc fund?

The organization’s stated mission is “to nurture and facilitate a spirit of giving and giving back for the betterment of Franklin County.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Franklin County Community Foundation Inc?

For unrestricted community grants, complete the application process when applications become available in December for the following year’s cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's EIN?

Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2034336. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 4, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 21, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 5, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 3, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 10, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Live grants for the work Franklin County Community Foundation Inc funds

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Franklin County Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/franklin-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_6c44a6e97ef6418cb171fc982f324f2c

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352034336_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Franklin County Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/franklin-county-community-foundation-inc-morg_6c44a6e97ef6418cb171fc982f324f2c},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Franklin County Community Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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