Western Indiana Community Foundation- Rapid Response Grants

The Western Indiana Community Foundation offers Rapid Response Grants aimed at enhancing community services and supporting local nonprofits in Fountain and Vermillion Counties. This streamlined grant process encourages proposals from tax-exempt organizations addressing diverse community needs, including health, education, and cultural affairs. The Foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate community impact and collaboration, ensuring funds are utilized effectively to meet urgent local needs. Applications are accepted monthly, fostering timely support for vital initiatives.

NOTE: Apply by the 15th of each month for a decision the following month.
The WICF Board of Directors plays a vital role in ensuring the foundation's grants have the greatest possible impact on our community. Most grants are funded through Unrestricted Funds, which address a wide range of community needs.
Grant Overview
The Western Indiana Community Foundation is dedicated to improving county services and increasing financial support for local nonprofits. The 2025 grant process has been updated to better meet community needs, address county-wide issues, support organizations of all sizes, and encourage community partnerships.
Rapid Response Grants involve a shorter application process compared to Impact and Legacy Grants.
Grant Focus
In Fountain County, the Attica, Covington, and Southeast Fountain Community Foundations focus on local needs within the geographical boundaries as set by the Board of Directors (i.e. the school corporation boundaries), with consideration given to the areas of health, charitable service, education, cultural affairs, and community improvement.
In Vermillion County, the needs of the entire County are addressed in its entirety.
All endowment funds, which stipulate in the fund agreement the areas to be supported from the income, earned on the fund assets will be honored regardless of location of grant recipient.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations. The Community Foundation welcomes grant proposals from organizations serving Fountain or Vermillion Counties defined as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code or non-501(c)(3) organizations with charitable causes.Only organizations in good standing with the Community Foundation may apply for grants. Good standing means that the organization has followed these guidelines, submitted final reports for previous grants in a timely manner that were approved and has returned any unused portions of grants.Faith-based organizations may apply for program funding provided there are no requirements to participate in religious instruction and/or take part in religious activities and the program or project will have a large benefit or impact to a community.What kinds of grants are likely to be considered?Startup costs for new programsOne time projects.Capital needs beyond an organizations capabilities.Projects that affect a broad scope of people.Projects that fill a gap in service or meet a need.Projects that enable an organization to better serve the people of Fountain or Vermillion Counties.Projects that, when possible, demonstrate cooperation or partnership with other organizations.

Ineligibility

What kinds of grants will not be funded? Projects that do not affect people locally.Projects which are “third party” projects (ex. Someone who wants to bring a performance to area schools but has not received an invitation from school administrators or teachers).Projects whose effectiveness can’t be measured or for which there is no evidence of need.Requests from individuals (except for scholarships – does not include professional CEUs), or proposals designed to support a named individual.Requests to support regular operating budgets or provide long-term funding for projects or events.Post-event situations such as requests for reimbursement of expenses which occurred prior to a grant application.Those for political organizations.Those for religious purposes (please see additional information possible exceptions).Those from organizations not in good standing with the Community Foundation.Those for projects that are not core to the mission of an organization.National organizations (except for local chapters serving Fountain or Vermillion Counties) are not eligible for funding through the Foundation’s grant program.