Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation Grant Program

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation Grant Program focuses on enhancing the vitality of Indianapolis through targeted grantmaking in education, health, and economic development. The program prioritizes support for tax-exempt organizations that align with its goals, addressing critical issues such as public health, academic outcomes, and workforce development. By fostering collaboration and sharing data-driven insights, the Foundation aims to create a more vibrant, equitable city where all residents can thrive.

NOTE: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, we welcome inquiries that include information about your organization, program or project, and overall alignment with the Foundation. For more information, please read about our grant application process.
Grants are awarded by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Board meets four times a year, and grantees are generally notified of the Board’s decision within one business day of the meeting.
Our Work
Advancing the vitality of indianapolis and the well-being of its people
The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation strives to achieve its goals through grantmaking, research, communications, and collaboration with grantees, other foundations, civic leaders, policymakers, and employers.
The Foundation awards grants that align with our three focus areas:

• Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis.

We also share compelling data and evidence-based policy and program recommendations to help local and state partners better understand and address critical issues affecting Indianapolis. In addition, we evaluate the impact of our grants and track the progress made by focus area.
Education
The Foundation believes that a well-educated population is critical to the vitality of Indianapolis and the continued global competitiveness of the U.S. Unfortunately, the U.S. continues to lag behind other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations in literacy, numeracy, science, and critical thinking skills. In Indianapolis and elsewhere across the state, too few students demonstrate proficiency in core academic subjects such as math, science, and reading, and too few students graduate from high school adequately prepared for college or careers. This is especially true for students from low-income families and Black and Hispanic/Latino students. Additionally, employers report that they continue to struggle to identify a sufficient supply of skilled talent.
To address these challenges, the Foundation has established two goals in this focus area:

• Improve academic outcomes for Indianapolis students by supporting the conditions necessary to grow the supply of high-performing schools and programs.
• Minimize underemployment and the workforce skills gap in Indianapolis by supporting the delivery of cost-effective education and training programs.
• Health

Good health is a necessary condition for success in life and is integrally linked to the ability of children and adults to thrive in school and in the workplace. Unfortunately, Indianapolis ranks at or near the bottom of almost every measure of public health and healthy living, including infant and maternal mortality, mental health, and death by overdose and cancer. Two primary drivers of Indianapolis’ poor public health outcomes are tobacco use and misuse of other substances. Substance use disorder and addiction to tobacco are often intertwined with systemic factors such as poverty, poor mental health, and involvement with the criminal justice system.
To address these challenges, the Foundation has established two goals in this focus area:

• Reduce the rate of tobacco use and eliminate youth nicotine use.
• Prevent and address substance use disorder.
• Vitality of Indianapolis

Technological advancements and ongoing globalization are rapidly reshaping the U.S. economy. To remain competitive when it comes to attracting and retaining employers and talent, the greater Indianapolis area must continue to focus on creating more of what the Brookings Institution refers to as “good and promising jobs” that are relevant for the 21st century economy.
Dick Fairbanks created his namesake Foundation to enhance the vitality of Indianapolis. He believed that the Foundation could accomplish this vision by supporting key economic drivers – like talent attraction and development initiatives – that could help ensure Indianapolis remains a thriving city.
Goals
The Foundation has established the following goal in this focus area:
Identify and support key economic drivers that will help to create a more vibrant Indianapolis. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation will:

• Support efforts to grow the supply of good and promising jobs in greater Indianapolis, with an emphasis on talent development, attraction and retention.
• Identify and address the systemic conditions that prevent the adult workforce from securing good and promising jobs.
• Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation awards grants to tax-exempt organizations serving greater Indianapolis, Indiana. We support organizations that are classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and as public charities under section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) of the Code, or to public organizations that are designated under section 170(c) of the Code.

Ineligibility

The following is a list of organizations or activities that we do not support:Supporting organizations controlled by disqualified persons to the Fairbanks Foundation, or non-functionally integrated Type III supporting organizations (as such terms are defined by the Internal Revenue Service in the Internal Revenue Code). For more information, please visit The Council on Foundations website and search for Supporting Organization or the 2006 Pension Protection Act.
Grants, loans, or scholarships for individuals.
Most for-profit organizations.
Initiatives that do not impact the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.We do not award international grants.