By Kallie Sulanke—
MUNCIE, IN—The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County awarded $1,001,186 in Community Grants this week.
Community Grants provide nonprofit organizations serving Muncie and Delaware County the opportunity to apply for funding to support their work. Grants are awarded to address the broad needs of Muncie and Delaware County.
Organizations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to connect with the Foundation’s Program and Nonprofit Relations team. Through these conversations, Foundation staff and volunteers develop a deeper understanding of the needs within the community, identify resources and support beyond grantmaking, and provide nonprofits more time to focus on their mission work.
Community Grants are announced quarterly. The Board of Directors of The Community Foundation approved 26 Community Grants totaling $1,001,186 during the first quarter of 2026.
A Better Way Services received $65,000 to support the cost of operations. This grant is the final year of a three-year commitment totaling $195,000. This grant was funded by the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, J. Robert and Joanne N. Baur Fund, and Beulah M. Frogge Fund.
Action for Animals received $25,000 for operational support. This grant was funded by the Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals.
Ambassadors for God’s Creatures received $25,000 to support pet wellness clinics and provide spay/neuter assistance. This grant was funded by the Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals.
Ball State University Foundation received $100,000 for the performing arts center. This grant is the third year of a six-year commitment totaling $500,000. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Stefan and Joan Anderson Unrestricted Fund, Bassett Family Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Francis Lafferty Fund, Jay and Karen Moorman Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, and Faye Wingate Fund.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Muncie received $75,000 to support the cost of operations. This grant was funded by the Morris Youth Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Jeanne and John Smith Unrestricted Fund, and Youth as Resources Fund.
Brothers 2 Brothers United received $25,000 for operations support. This grant was funded by the Mutual Legacy Fund.
Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Inc. received $50,000 to support the cost of operations. This grant was funded by the MutualBank Charitable Foundation Fund, Hamer and Phyllis Shafer Fund, and Shafer/Muncie Power Products Legacy Fund.
EcoREHAB of Muncie received $40,000 to support program development. This grant was funded by the Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund, Ronald Brown Family Fund, Gayle and Jeannine Harrold Fund, Greg and Molly Harty Fund, Mid-West Metal Products Fund, and Mutual Legacy Fund.
Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, Inc. received $77,000 to support its 2026 housing program and strategic planning. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and Mutual Legacy Fund.
Home Savers of Delaware County received $25,000 for operational support. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Day Star Center Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, and Jeanne and John Smith Fund.
Huffer Memorial Children’s Center, Inc. received $9,866 to support technology upgrades for safety and training. This grant was funded by the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund.
Indiana University Health Foundation received $10,000 to implement an outdoor pediatric rehab playground. This is the second year of a three-year commitment totaling $30,000. This grant was funded by the Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund.
Junior Achievement of Central Indiana received $10,620 to support career readiness programs. This grant was funded by the Gaston Town Endowment Fund and Mutual Legacy Fund.
Muncie Delaware County Area Senior Citizens Center received $11,000 to support the cost of professional consulting. This grant was funded by the Alpha Center Fund, Jack and Thelma Peckinpaugh Fund, Martin D. and Helen B. Schwartz Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, and Mary Kate Pingry Fund.
Muncie OUTreach received $5,000 for strategic planning. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation.
National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. received $7,500 to support Camp Invention, a summer program focused on STEM, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. This grant was funded by the Edgar Faulkner Sr./Ermal S. Roundtree Fund, Liberty Perry Selma Town Endowment Fund, and Louisa and Waldo Beebe Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Project Leadership, Inc. received $30,000 to support the cost of operations. This grant was funded by the Pat and Jane Botts Funds, Patrick and Marilyn Cleary Fund, Gordon and Pam Cox Fund, Edgar Faulkner Sr./Ermal S. Roundtree Fund, Ron and Cheryl Fauquher Fund, John C. Kelly and Marcia Ressler Kelly Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Jim and Mary Rosema Fund, James Updike and Munjot Sahu Family Fund, Joseph and Janet Wilson Unrestricted Endowment Fund.
Ross Community Center, Inc. received $50,000 for operations support. This grant was funded by the Bassett Family Fund, Jeff and Sue Bird Fund, Linda and Connie Gregory Fund, Jane E. Hughes Fund, John C. Kelly and Marcia Ressler Kelly Fund, Maxon Foundation Fund, Laura Stanley Keppler Fund, Charles and Claudia Sursa Unrestricted Endowment Fund, and Gary and Amy Thomas Fund.
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc. received $25,000 to support the cost of operations for Delaware County initiatives. This grant was funded by the Jeanne and John Smith Fund.
Sustainable Muncie received $25,000 for interior lighting upgrades. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation.
Union Grove Church of the Brethren received $12,500 to support the Paper Pantry program. This grant was funded by Buckles Family Fund, Gaston Town Endowment Fund, Ray Family Fund, and Ross Family Fund.
United Day Care Center received $95,000 to add three additional classrooms to its existing building. This grant is the second year of a two-year commitment totaling $190,000. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, 1924 Community Trust Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, Harry and Janet Kitselman Fund, Jeff and Beth Lang Fund, Morris Youth Fund, Mutual Legacy Fund, Anna Winick Schwartz Memorial Fund, Martin D. and Helen B. Schwartz Unrestricted Named Endowment Fund, and Mac and Lila Warrell Endowment Fund.
Whitely Community Council received $50,000 to support the development of the Centennial Resource Hub. This grant is the second year of a five-year commitment totaling $250,000. This grant was funded by the Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Fund, John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund, and Mutual Legacy Fund.
YMCA of Muncie received $75,000 for the facility which opened in 2025. This was the third annual grant of a five-year commitment totaling $500,000. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation, Economic Development Fund, and John and Janice Fisher Quality of Place Endowment Fund.
Yorktown Fire Department received $2,700 for CPR equipment. This grant was funded by the Town of Yorktown Endowment Fund.
YWCA Central Indiana received $75,000 for operations support. This grant was funded by the Unrestricted Fund of The Community Foundation and Mutual Legacy Fund.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Grant requests are reviewed and approved quarterly. Community Grants are awarded to fund projects and programs for which there is a demonstrable community benefit in one of the following areas of interest: arts and culture, community betterment, economic development, education, and human services. For more information on Community Grants, contact The Community Foundation at 765.747.7181 or grants@cfmdin.org.
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 $100 million, the Foundation has distributed nearly $80 million in grants and scholarships to date.
