April Fundholder Newsletter // Your Philanthropy in Action: Education, Impact & Community Connections
Dear fundholder,
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.
We’re also excited to invite you to an opportunity to connect more deeply with the communities you care about. Join us for a series of Fundholder Learning Tours, where we’ll hop on a bus together and visit local organizations doing incredible work on the ground.
Upcoming Tours:
Education-Focused Tour – Wednesday, May 14, 1 – 5 p.m.
Hamilton County Tour – Tuesday, Sept. 9, time TBD
Marion County Tour – Wednesday, Sept. 17, time TBD
Click here to register for the May Bus Tour—and come ready to learn, ask questions, and see philanthropy in action.
So, with funding for schools a perennial issue in our state, what role can philanthropy play in strengthening Hoosier education?
We know our fundholders are serious about education support. In 2024, you gifted more than $9 million to education organizations and awarded an additional $2.9 million in scholarships.
There are a variety of ways to support education directly and indirectly through your philanthropy!
Want to support schools directly? Your local education foundations are a great option to explore, designed to raise private dollars that are granted to their local school districts to help fund the initiatives that public funding for schools simply cannot cover. They support and enhance education by raising funds for things like scholarships and grants, providing resources for school initiatives, supporting the unique needs of teachers for classrooms and clubs, barrier-busting dollars for student needs and more.
Interested in supporting the specific needs of students? In the wake of recent cuts to the USDA, in-school food programs and community food banks will need increased support. Marion Co. has historically been home to some of the nation’s worst food deserts. Organizations like the Patachou Foundation provide students from underinvested neighborhoods with healthy, fresh food options that may otherwise be inaccessible.
Interested in a specific demographic? Brightlane, another school partner organization, offers daytime and after-school tutoring for K–12 students experiencing homelessness. A recent statewide study found that a shocking 19,000 Hoosier students were living homeless at some point during the 2022– 2023 school year.
Finally, if you are interested in an in-depth discussion and demonstration of the role your philanthropy can play in education, we strongly encourage you to sign up for our Spring Bus Tour. Set for Wednesday, May 14, the tour will offer fundholders a chance to visit nonprofit organizations working specifically in education. Past tours have been extremely well-received, with attendees sharing that the tour gave them a new insight into the power of their giving.
Next Steps
Attend the May 14, 2025 (1-5 p.m.) bus tour focused on education
Come ready to learn, ask questions, and see your philanthropy in action.
- Registration is now closed.
Read our scholarship program annual report
Learn more about the impact and future needs with respect to scholarship giving.
Volunteer to join the scholarship review committee
Join us this Fall to help select qualified applicants for collaborative scholarship opportunities.
Reach out to your philanthropic advisor
They can offer guidance on how your gift can have the biggest impact on education in Central Indiana.
Making Volunteering a Family Tradition
April is National Volunteer Month—a perfect time to think about how your family can give back together. Volunteering as a family helps kids see the world beyond themselves, teaches empathy, and builds a lifelong habit of service. In fact, research shows that kids who volunteer with their families are significantly more likely to continue volunteering as adults.
Brandy Jemczura, founder and executive director of Seed of Caring, shares a thoughtful approach to making volunteering a family tradition. Start by deciding which issues matter most to you—whether it’s caring for the environment, addressing food insecurity, or supporting other kids.
For families in Central Indiana, Seeds of Caring offers hands-on service experiences and flexible projects designed specifically for children ages 2–12. And for those outside the area, tools like VolunteerMatch and United Way can help you find opportunities that welcome kids.
Building a tradition of volunteering doesn’t have to be complicated. It just starts with one step—and it’s a powerful way to grow together while making a difference in your community.
Upcoming Events
Join us for upcoming events across the CICF Collaborative
- Sunday, May 4, from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Family Day of Service with Seeds of Caring
- Wednesday, May 14, from 1- 5 p.m. | Spring Bus Tour on Education and the Impact of Philanthropy
- Thursday, May 15, from 9 – 11 a.m. | State of Aging in Central Indiana Webinar: How Will Health Policy Changes Impact Older Adults?
- Friday, May 16, from 1 – 4 p.m. | The Groundwater Approach: Virtual Racial Equity Workshops
- Thursday, May 29, from 9 – 11 a.m. | State of Women in Central Indiana: Mental Health and Public Policy Webinar
Fundholder Services
Grantee Research and Recommendations
As grantmakers ourselves, our teams are uniquely familiar with the local landscape of nonprofits. We can provide information on specific organizations you are interested in, make recommendations within a category you are looking to impact, and vet organizations.
Site Visits
Want to see an organization in action or get behind-the-scenes access? Let us coordinate an opportunity to see the work, meet the team, and learn more!
Succession Planning
There are various options for maintaining your fund’s legacy after your lifetime, from passing to future generations to being allocated to specific organizations or general impact areas. Working closely with in-house legal counsel, our philanthropy teams can help you explore and establish a plan for your fund.
Family Philanthropy
Engaging your family in your philanthropic work makes it more meaningful for them, you, and even the organizations you support. We would love to advise you on strategies involving your young or adult children, or even your grandchildren.
Values, Interests, and Purpose Exercise
This unique exercise, facilitated by our philanthropic advisors, is designed to help you identify and narrow a purpose for your fund. By exploring the alignment of your family’s values and the causes you care about, we can help outline key areas of impact for your fund, complete with a custom mission/purpose statement to help guide your grantmaking.
Fund Growth Support
We offer assistance with a variety of complicated assets at no additional charge and can support strategies that are a win-win for you and for the community as you grow your fund.