Grants & Resources
Support for Nonprofits Strengthening Central Indiana
Strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem is a key part of CICF’s Pathways to a Stronger Central Indiana. This page brings together grant opportunities offered through the entities and funds within the CICF Collaborative as well as resources developed by CICF and its partners.
Grants From Across the CICF Collaborative
Open
The mission of the Indianapolis Immigrant Legal Services Fund is to provide equitable access to legal support and representation to immigrant Hoosiers in Marion County.
Open
The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund consists of local, state, and national funders who are committed to catalyzing movement building at the intersection of climate, democracy, and environmental justice in Indiana.
Open
Media Center Enhancement Grants are for high school libraries to improve collections, technology, and access to resources for high school students.
Open
The Minde Browning Fund provides professional development grants to staff serving in any eligible Marion County library.
Closed
The Women’s Fund annual grant round is open to any organization serving Central Indiana women and/or girls. Additional grant opportunities may also be available.
Closed
Central Indiana Senior Fund is a donor-advised fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation. It financially supports programs and services that promote quality living for older adults ages 55+ in central Indiana (Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan, and Shelby Counties).
November 4, 2025
A good board can go a long way in establishing a more effective nonprofit. The right members can expand your reach, inform good decisions, and maintain continuity through leadership transitions. In my work with nonprofits in Central Indiana, I see two primary engines that must be maintained to move nonprofit boards forward: recruitment and retention.
October 17, 2025
At CICF Collaborative, we recognize that legacy and planned gifts are essential for building long-term sustainability and impact for nonprofits. This article offers practical strategies for integrating legacy giving into regular communications, donor conversations, and storytelling, making it a natural option for supporters who want to ensure your organization thrives for generations. Our team is available to help nonprofits strengthen both annual and legacy giving, including guidance on leveraging more complex assets to maximize lasting impact.
October 17, 2025
We know the fourth quarter is a critical time for year-end giving, especially with new tax laws creating both opportunities and questions for donors. This article offers guidance for nonprofits on encouraging accelerated giving in 2025, highlighting strategies such as gifts of appreciated stock and Qualified Charitable Distributions for donors over 70 ½. Our team is available to support organizations and donors in maximizing the impact and tax efficiency of their charitable contributions.
October 17, 2025
At CICF Collaborative, we recognize that today’s philanthropic landscape is increasingly “top-heavy,” with fewer households giving but larger gifts from high-net-worth donors. This article offers guidance for nonprofit fundraisers, emphasizing the importance of communicating impact, cultivating relationships with both new and long-term donors, and staying engaged with complex giving opportunities. We partner with organizations and donors to maximize charitable support, including gifts of complex assets, helping sustain meaningful impact across Central Indiana.
September 16, 2025
It’s certainly no secret that times are tough. Nonprofits in our community are facing mounting pressures as inflation drives up operating costs, pandemic-era relief funds have expired, and demand for services continues to climb. At the CICF Collaborative, we are honored to work with local charities that are powering through the obstacles to engage donors and keep charitable dollars flowing to support important work, all while keeping an eye on long-term prospects for legacy gifts and endowment growth. Here are strategies that are working for many charities:
September 11, 2025
The dust is settling on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025. Charities are beginning to wrap their arms around the new law’s significant shift in the tax treatment of corporate charitable donations.
September 4, 2025
Understandably, nonprofits often worry that donor-advised funds may delay or diminish their donors’ contributions. In reality, though, donor-advised funds can be very helpful to boost financial support for your mission. Three fundamental concepts are important to gaining a better understanding of how donor-advised funds work at the CICF Collaborative.
August 26, 2025
At Old National Bank’s Second Annual Nonprofit Summit, CICF’s Jeff Bennett and Women’s Fund’s Tamara Winfrey-Harris offered practical advice for nonprofits facing funding cuts, rising needs, and leadership burnout. Their guidance emphasized creative funding strategies, stronger collaboration, and building systems that support both efficiency and resilience.
August 16, 2025
It’s no secret that events can help drive fundraising revenue, build community, and foster engagement among your current donors and potential donors. One study even noted that 81% of U.S. donors attend fundraising events every year. As you plan your next gala or golf tournament, keep in mind the special rules that apply to receiving support from donor-advised funds, including within the CICF Collaborative or elsewhere.
August 16, 2025
Recent changes in federal tax law under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) bring both challenges and opportunities for nonprofit organizations in our community. The entities within the CICF Collaborative are here to help you prepare and consider how to update your strategies as the landscape shifts. We’re sharing answers to three frequently asked questions about how the new laws will impact giving, what you can do about it, and how we can help.