Community Grant

The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County offers Community Grants aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana. This program supports initiatives in arts, culture, education, and community betterment, encouraging nonprofits to provide compelling cases for funding. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis to 501(c)(3) organizations and other public charities, focusing on projects that yield substantial benefits and foster long-term change for the community.

Note:

1. The application process requires two steps for nonprofit partners:

Letter of Intent (indicated above as Letter of Inquiry): Available on a rolling basis. Once received, staff will engage in conversation to best understand your needs.Application (as Full Proposal above): Staff will approve the Letter of Intent and extend an invitation to apply in the system.

1. While both the Letter of Intent and Application will be accepted on a rolling basis, the deadlines indicated above serve as helpful guides (with grant decisions made accordingly in February, May, August, and November each year).

The Community Foundation's purpose is to contribute to improving the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana for today, tomorrow, and always. The Community Foundation's philosophy for our grantmaking is designed specifically to best accomplish this mission.
Program Information
The Community Grants program meets the mission of The Community Foundation to exercise leadership in directing resources to enhance the quality of life for residents of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana. Additionally, it reinforces the Foundation’s vision to impact and empower Muncie and Delaware County by enabling philanthropy as a trusted community leader promoting positive change now and for generations to come.
To that end, grants are awarded in the following areas of interests: arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. Community betterment includes but is not limited to recreation, public safety, neighborhood revitalization, animal welfare, beautification and preservation, environment, community well-being, and community development.
Grants are awarded from the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, named unrestricted funds, and select field of interest funds and align with the priorities established by the Board of Directors of The Community Foundation. Grants are generally awarded to 501(c)(3) organizations and may also be awarded to units of government, schools, etc., that are classified as public charities.

Eligibility

Grant applications are encouraged from nonprofits that:Provide a clear and compelling case for need both for the community and from The Community FoundationLink to pre-defined community wide goals (ex: TogetherDM) within the five broad areas of interestYield substantial benefits to the community for the resources investedOffer the potential for lasting change for future generationsProvide a catalyst for action and community participationReach a broad segment of the community with services which are presently not providedPromote collaboration among two or more agencies without duplicating servicesProvide startup money for innovative programs and projects that are not duplicativeLeverage matching gifts or additional funding from other funding sourcesProvide core mission support for nonprofits with impactful programs and a clear and compelling need for funding from The Community Foundation

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, for religious purposes, for political activities, for reduction of debt or excessive budget deficits, for travel expenses, for fundraising specific events or projects, for contributions to endowments or for specific program or project expenses that are already covered by planned tax distributions received by a government agency for current year state approved budgets.The Foundation does not typically award to statewide (IN), out of state or national organizations unless the monies are to be used  to benefit citizens of Delaware County, Indiana.The Foundation does not award grants that provide direct benefit to a donor or donor’s family.