Louder Than Words Grant Program
Funding Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Three cycles a year
- Next expected
- October 15, 2026
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Deadlines each year: May 15 · July 15 · October 15
From the program guidelines: “Cycle 1 (Due May 15th: Health and WellnessCycle 2 (Due July 15th): Workforce DevelopmentCycle 3 (Due October 15th): Safe Communities”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Geography
- Support efforts to alleviate the impact of race-based discrimination and disparities
Required status
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Other requirements
- Have demonstrated commitment and capacity to deliver culturally competent services
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: The Foundation will not grant:Political campaigns, or attempts to influence public officials
- Not eligible: Organizations that unlawfully discriminate as to race, religion, income, gender, disability or national origin
- Not eligible: Projects or programs aimed at promoting the teachings of a particular church or religious denomination, or construction projects of churches and other religious institutions
- Not eligible: Fraternal, veterans or labor organizations
- Not eligible: Foundations affiliated with a for-profit entity
- Not eligible: Endowments
- Not eligible: Beauty or talent contests
- Not eligible: Individuals
- Not eligible: Medical, scientific or academic research
- Not eligible: Pay for travel or trips
Overview
The Louder Than Words Grant Program, supported by the Finish Line Youth Foundation, focuses on empowering diverse and underserved communities in Indianapolis and beyond. With grant cycles addressing areas like health, workforce development, and safe communities, organizations can request up to $10,000 to support impactful programming. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to fostering positive change, particularly for communities of color, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.
NOTE: Each grant cycle has a different focus.
Cycle 1 (Due May 15th: Health and WellnessCycle 2 (Due July 15th): Workforce DevelopmentCycle 3 (Due October 15th): Safe Communities
About the Youth Foundation
The Finish Line Youth Foundation (FLYF) supports life's biggest possibilities as the philanthropic arm of Finish Line. FLYF is a national partner of Special Olympics and dedicated corporate citizen to the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. FLYF also provides financial support for diversity and inclusion initiatives, opportunities for those with special needs and resources for disadvantaged youth.
Our Louder Than Words grants serve as part of Finish Line's Louder Than Words platform and our goal to support diverse and underserved communities. These grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that make a difference in our corporate Indianapolis neighborhood as well as communities across the country.
Cycle 1 Focus: Health & Wellness
Programming or activities for participation in programs that place an importance on personal development, an active and healthy lifestyle or mental healthScholarships that provide full or partial funding to participate in programs provided by organization
Cycle 2 Focus: Workforce Development
Programming or activities for participation in programs that place an importance on higher education, vocational training, and/or career developmentScholarships that provide full or partial funding to participate in programs provided by organization
Cycle 3 Focus: Safe Communities
Programming or activities for participation in programs that emphasize public safety, building trust between communities and police, and/or reforming the criminal justice systemImprovements and/or renovations to existing buildings, grounds, and property or for new facilities and/or groundsEmergency needs that would somehow be keeping the organization from providing current services such as natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances that require special funding to help
Available Funding
Organizations can request up to $10,000.
Eligibility
Must be currently filed under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue CodeMust create positive impact specifically on diverse communities:51% or more of the population/participants are people of color Have demonstrated commitment and capacity to deliver culturally competent services Support efforts to alleviate the impact of race-based discrimination and disparitiesIneligibility
The Foundation will not grant:Political campaigns, or attempts to influence public officials Organizations that unlawfully discriminate as to race, religion, income, gender, disability or national origin Projects or programs aimed at promoting the teachings of a particular church or religious denomination, or construction projects of churches and other religious institutionsPast recipients of this program
Recent awards under this program (from JD Finish Line Foundation Inc's IRS filings)
Old Hickory, TN · 2024
$10K
Family Connections of NE Ohio
Cleveland, OH · 2024
$10K
Paws and Think
Indianapolis, IN · 2024
$10K
Bellwood, IL · 2024
$10K
Denver, CO · 2024
$10K
146 grants in JD Finish Line Foundation Inc's 2020–2024 filings reference “Louder Than Words Grant Program” in their stated purpose. Amounts and places as reported by the funder.
What JD Finish Line Foundation Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 131
- Total given
- $2.16M
- Median grant
- $10K
- Range
- $20–$338K
- By dollars: Indiana 49%, Illinois 14%, Georgia 13%. Top recipient cities: Indianapolis, IN; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH.
- 6% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana · Indianapolis, IN
Mobile Pantry Program and Huddle for Hunger
$338K
Girls Inc National Resource Center · Indianapolis, IN
national partnership payment; together sponsorship
$265K
100 Black Men of America · Atlanta, GA
National Partnership Payment
$251K
Feeding America · Chicago, IL
National Partnership Payment
$250K
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc · Indianapolis, IN
General Operating Support
$70K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofits
- Youth programs
- Workforce development
- Mental health
- Minorities
Categories
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