By Kallie Sulanke—
MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has announced that Michael Lunsford received the 2025 David Sursa Leadership Award to recognize his dedicated service to the YMCA of Muncie.
The YMCA of Muncie nominated Mike Lunsford in recognition of his exceptional leadership and service to the Muncie community. As a former board member, Mike’s visionary leadership, steadfast commitment, and passion for community development left a lasting mark on the YMCA. Mike has also served many other organizations across the community with transformational impact, including The Community Foundation, for decades.
Mike served on the YMCA of Muncie Board of Directors for more than ten years. In that role, he provided strategic insight, financial stewardship, and governance expertise that helped strengthen the YMCA’s ability to serve the community. Even after stepping away from the board, Mike continued as a dedicated advocate and supporter.
Recently, Mike’s leadership was paramount as the YMCA embarked upon and completed a $30+ million capital campaign to build a new facility in the heart of Muncie. Mike led as campaign co-chair, where he forged strategic partnerships with facility collaborators to ensure enhanced services within the facility, fundraised to surpass financial goals for the campaign and for long-term sustainability of the Y, and played a vital role in bringing the YMCA’s facility to reality.
“Mike’s service is defined by integrity, humility, and unwavering commitment to making a difference,” YMCA of Muncie CEO Chad Zaucha said in his nomination. “His ability to mentor future leaders, build meaningful partnerships, and inspire positive change has made a lasting impact on Muncie and Delaware County.”
Much like David Sursa did for The Community Foundation, Mike has blazed the trail for the YMCA of Muncie, generously offering time, talent, and treasure and setting an example of a strong nonprofit leader.
Mike’s contributions to the community extend well beyond the YMCA. Mike has served as a volunteer and board member for many years for organizations that broadly serve the Muncie community like the Heart of Indiana United Way, Meridian Health Services, and The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, where he spent 16 years on the Grants Committee and six years as a member of the Board of Directors.
The David Sursa Leadership Award was established in memory of the Foundation’s first leader. As Founding President, David Sursa blazed the trail for The Community Foundation. His visionary leadership contributed significantly to the Foundation’s success and the generous support it has provided to our community. The annual program rewards, recognizes, and encourages extraordinary nonprofit leadership by a board member displaying the characteristics and commitment to the community expressed by Mr. Sursa during his lifetime.
Additionally, in David Sursa’s honor and to commemorate the award, The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $2,500 to the YMCA of Muncie.
For more information about the David Sursa Leadership Award, please visit The Community Foundation’s website at https://www.cfmdin.org or contact Marcy Minton, President & CEO, at mminton@cfmdin.org.
About YMCA of Muncie
The YMCA of Muncie strengthens the community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA of Muncie provides health and fitness opportunities to residents of all ages, supports youth through early childhood education, out of school programming and residential and day camps, and meets community needs through a variety of specialized programs.
About The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County
The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County has been serving the local community since 1985, supporting philanthropy, assisting donors in building a permanent source of charitable assets, and investing in initiatives that enhance the quality of life in Muncie and Delaware County. With an endowment of over $93 million, the Foundation has distributed nearly $68 million in grants and scholarships to date.
