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
November 14, 2025
The year is winding down! As you look ahead to the next few weeks, consider that now is a key moment for Central Indiana nonprofits to double down on fundraising efforts. Although overall giving among affluent households has increased over the past decade, the number of those households making donations has declined. This means that fewer donors are shouldering the burden of philanthropy, and for nonprofits in our community, proactive outreach has never been more critical.
November 14, 2025
The year is winding down! As you look ahead to the next few weeks, consider that now is a key moment for Central Indiana nonprofits to double down on fundraising efforts. Although overall giving among affluent households has increased over the past decade, the number of those households making donations has declined. This means that fewer donors are shouldering the burden of philanthropy, and for nonprofits in our community, proactive outreach has never been more critical.
November 14, 2025
Nonprofits serving Central Indiana families are working tirelessly to meet growing demand. Whether acute challenges from time to time are triggered by a political stalemate, a natural disaster, or broader economic factors, the community foundation stands beside you. We know that nonprofits are on the front lines of every crisis, and we want to share a few strategies to help you sustain and grow the support your organization needs during this and other periods of uncertainty.
November 10, 2025
The 2025 Survey of Food Assistance Need in Central Indiana is a detailed look at how households across our nine counties are experiencing hunger. The major takeaway from this year’s survey: hunger is a region-wide struggle. Hunger does not stop at the county line, and neither should our response. People live, work, learn, worship, and seek services across county boundaries every day. The data show that food insecurity exists in rural, suburban, and urban communities. It is not an “Indianapolis issue” or a “small town issue.” It is a regional issue that touches every part of Central Indiana. Whether you are a food provider, school, library, health system, employer, faith community, arts organization, or neighborhood group, there are ways you can help.
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.