Impact in Real Life

In this letter marking her two-year anniversary as CEO, Jennifer Bartenbach shares CICF’s renewed vision and strategic plan for Central Indiana. She outlines the region’s significant potential, the critical role of the nonprofit sector—which contributes $43 billion annually and employs 1 in 10 private-sector workers—and CICF’s commitment to being a trusted partner through it all. With a goal to make Central Indiana the most connected, philanthropic, and impactful community in the country, CICF is stepping forward with a plan—and with the message that we’ve got our region’s back.

Staniford “Stan” Cox broke barriers as Eli Lilly’s first Black chemist, but his most powerful legacy lives outside the lab. Through two philanthropic funds at CICF, Cox has invested more than $1 million to preserve Black historic sites across Indiana, from churches and neighborhoods to resorts and community spaces. His quiet generosity has brought new life to places once nearly forgotten, helping ensure that the stories of Black resilience, community, and excellence are remembered and celebrated for generations.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, a couple of friends who work in philanthropy were having a socially distanced conversation about how nonprofit organizations with meaningful endowments were weathering the pandemic much better than ones that didn’t have those financial resources.

Central Indiana Community Foundation recently hosted a Senior Fund webinar exploring the evolving landscape of health policy and its impact on older adults.

With public education funding in decline, the CICF Collaborative hosted a May 14 bus tour to show fundholders how philanthropy can help fill critical gaps. Attendees heard from education leaders and visited two schools, Providence Cristo Rey and Brookside Elementary, to see innovative solutions in action. The day highlighted both urgent needs and long-term opportunities, encouraging donors to support education in ways that align with their values.