Resources to Support your Philanthropy
Explore resources created by the CICF team and its partners.
November 4, 2025
Indy Hunger Network (IHN), in partnership with Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) and the City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS), today released the 2025 Survey of Food Assistance Need in Central Indiana. For the first time, the survey broadened its scope beyond Marion County to include all nine Central Indiana counties, providing the most comprehensive snapshot yet of how households are accessing and experiencing the region’s food system.
October 31, 2025
Beginning Nov. 1, nearly 600,000 Hoosiers who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will lose access to their benefits — including 150,000 of our Central Indiana neighbors.
We are deeply grateful for your partnership and the outpouring of requests on how to help. Together with our partners across Central Indiana, we’ve outlined several ways to ensure that no neighbor goes hungry during this critical time.
October 17, 2025
We’re proud to help donors create meaningful impact through flexible charitable giving vehicles like donor-advised funds. This article celebrates DAF Day 2025 and highlights the benefits of establishing or transferring a donor-advised fund to CICF, where donors enjoy the same tax advantages as national firms plus the added value of local expertise, personal guidance, and strong community connections. By keeping fees and support local, CICF ensures your charitable dollars make a lasting difference in Central Indiana.
October 17, 2025
At CICF Collaborative, we encourage donors to review their charitable giving plans before year-end, especially as new tax laws may impact existing strategies. This article outlines six key tips for evaluating your philanthropy, including updates on estate tax exemptions, charitable deduction rules, and smart giving techniques like bunching and Qualified Charitable Distributions. Our team is available to collaborate with you and your advisors to ensure your giving remains tax-efficient, strategic, and aligned with your philanthropic goals.
October 17, 2025
At CICF Collaborative, we partner with individuals, families, and businesses to turn their charitable goals into meaningful community impact. This article introduces our Values, Interests, Purpose (VIP) exercise, designed to help donors clarify their philanthropic mission, and explores key questions around timing, legacy, and fund structure. Whether you seek immediate impact, a lasting legacy, or a blend of both, CICF offers tailored giving strategies and flexible fund options to help you achieve your vision for change.
October 17, 2025
We’re hearing from more advisors whose clients are seeking deeper guidance on how to make their charitable giving truly impactful. This article highlights how our team helps structure philanthropy, engage the next generation, and connect clients with meaningful community opportunities. As Central Indiana’s original philanthropy advisors, CICF offers local expertise, trusted nonprofit connections, and flexible giving tools to help clients align their charitable goals with their overall financial and estate plans.
October 17, 2025
At CICF Collaborative, we’re seeing more families experience intergenerational conflict in their philanthropic efforts. This article explores ways advisors can help clients navigate these challenges by documenting family values, engaging younger generations, and formalizing giving structures. We also share how CICF can partner with advisors to create lasting, purpose-driven philanthropy plans that span generations.
September 25, 2025
Welcome to the CICF Collaborative fundholder newsletter. In this issue, we’re highlighting arts and culture – a more expansive giving area than many of us realize.
September 16, 2025
Despite–or perhaps in light of–the recent whirlwind of commentary about new federal laws and the implications for the charitable deduction and charitable giving, it is really important keep in mind that for most individuals, the decision to give is driven by deeply personal factors–such as compassion, moral obligation, empathy, or a belief in a cause—rather than financial incentives.
September 16, 2025
“Philanthropy” may sound like something reserved for wealthy, “mature” adults, but that’s not at all the case. At the CICF Collaborative we work with individuals of every generation, from young adults to retirees and everyone in between.
September 16, 2025
In an economic and legislative environment full of unpredictability, we encourage you to tap the knowledgeable team at the CICF Collaborative (which includes Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, IMPACT Central Indiana, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana).
August 16, 2025
Many people think of succession planning as something only relevant to businesses or nonprofits. However, it's equally important when considering the legacy you want to leave through philanthropy—including being intentional about what happens to your donor-advised fund after you're gone. The team at the CICF Collaborative can help structure provisions for your donor-advised fund to engage your family, tap the CICF Collaborative’s expertise, or a combination of both so that your donor-advised fund can become a multi-generational legacy that reflects your values.
August 15, 2025
It’s more important than ever to stay informed about how changes in the tax law may affect your charitable giving. The recently-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) creates challenges as well as opportunities for structuring your philanthropy. We encourage you to reach out to your attorney, CPA, and financial advisor to evaluate how the changes in the law impact your own situation.
August 15, 2025
It’s time for back-to-school planning! If education is on your mind, you’re in good company. Charitable giving to education rose in 2024 to more than $58 billion! If education and related causes are important to you, the team at the CICF Collaborative can help you explore a variety of meaningful ways to make an impact. Here are three ideas to inspire a deeper discussion:
June 18, 2025
Welcome to the CICF Collaborative’s fundholder newsletter. This bi-monthly email is created especially for those who hold funds with Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. This month—as temperatures rise, students go on break, and our memories of winter vanish—we focus on time spent outdoors.
April 15, 2025
Welcome to the second edition of our new fundholder newsletter. This bi-monthly email is created especially for those who hold funds with our philanthropic collaborative—including Central Indiana Community Foundation, Hamilton County Community Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation, and Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. Each edition highlights a key area of community need and impact. This month, we focus on education.