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Grantmaking

Our vision is to make central Indiana an attractive, vibrant and safe place for its residents, and a region of choice that attracts and retains a creative and highly educated workforce.

CICF’s grants program invests in effective central Indiana not-for-profit organizations that promote a thriving community. We are committed to providing support to a diverse group of not-for-profit organizations that improve quality of life for residents in the region.

We allocate funding in three ways:

  • Competitive grants
    CICF and its affiliates respond to ideas and proposals from the community, enabling organizations to provide effective programs.

  • Proactive grants
    These grants are designed to anticipate community needs on vital issues including Inspiring Places, Family Success and College Readiness.

  • Donor grants
    CICF has numerous donor-advised funds that enable the donors to engage in their own philanthropic goals. These funds do not invite unsolicited proposals; however, staff may ask organizations to submit information at a donor’s request.

Our funding is grounded in our Seven Elements of a Thriving Community.

The framework is a vision of what strong community life could look like and how philanthropy can play a role in creating it.

We make grants to not-for-profit organizations whose work falls into one or more of these elements:

Basic Needs

  • Efforts that provide safe and affordable housing and support services for vulnerable populations
  • Efforts that increase access to nutritious food

Economic Stability

  • Efforts that provide job readiness, training, and educational opportunities that increase the wages and assets of low-skilled individuals
  • Efforts that remove barriers to achieving economic self-sufficiency, such as lack of child care and transportation

Health and Wellness

  • Efforts that promote healthy and active lifestyles
  • Efforts that increase access to health care services for low income and vulnerable populations

Education

  • Efforts that prepare middle and high school students to gain entry into post-secondary opportunities and be successful once accepted
  • Efforts that increase life skills that lead to increased independence
  • Efforts that are creative and effective in promoting academic success and healthy youth development outside of school

Vitality and Connectivity of Neighborhoods and Communities

  • Efforts and activities that increase the vitality and attractiveness of neighborhoods and communities
  • Efforts and activities that engage and involve neighborhood residents in community-building and community change

Arts and Culture

  • Efforts that provide intensive curriculum-based arts education for students
  • Efforts that increase the quality of arts programming and accessibility for residents

Environment

  • Efforts that preserve existing natural spaces and resources
  • Efforts that improve physical spaces for community benefit

 

What We Don't Fund

The Central Indiana Community Foundation and its affiliate funds do not fund, through our Thriving Community Grantmaking Program:

  • Organizations that are NOT tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Multi-year grants
  • Grants to individuals
  • Projects aimed at promoting a particular religion or construction projects for religious institutions
  • Operating, program and construction costs at schools, universities and private academies unless there is significant opportunity for community use or collaboration 
  • Organizations or projects that discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation
  • Political campaigns or direct lobbying efforts by 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Post-event, after-the-fact situations or debt retirement
  • Medical, scientific or academic research
  • Publications, films, audiovisual and media materials, programs produced for artistic purposes or produced for resale
  • Travel for bands, sports teams, classes and similar groups
  • Annual appeals, galas or membership contributions
  • Fundraising events such as golf tournaments, walk-a-thons and fashion shows
     

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