GRANTS
What We Fund
Ball Brothers Foundation provides funding to organizations operating in Indiana. Historically, the vast majority of our funding has been targeted to organizations in East Central Indiana with a particular emphasis in the Muncie/Delaware County area. While organizations outside the Muncie/East Central Indiana area are welcome to apply for support, please be aware that funding for organizations outside this footprint is rare.
The foundation prefers to provide funding for:
Capacity-building initiatives that strengthen an organization’s ability to achieve greater performance and impact, such as through strategic planning, board development, collaboration, communications, professional development, and operational improvements
Innovative approaches for addressing traditional or emerging community needs that result in long-term, systematic, sustained solutions that consider the use of community impact models and result in measurable outcomes
Specific program/project initiatives or endeavors
General operating support
Seed money to help launch new programs, projects or initiatives
Learn more about our grant opportunities and what we don’t fund with our Frequently Asked Questions.
Our Areas of Focus
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Education
Environment
Health
Human Services
Public & Society Benefit
Types of Grants
Ball Brothers Foundation offers two types of grants throughout the year: General Grants and Rapid Grants. If you are unsure about which type of grant is best for your organization’s needs, please contact Susan Brumley to arrange a meeting with one of our staff members.
General Grants*
Typically range from $5,000 to $100,000
Usually cover specific program/project requests or operating support (or a combination of the two)
Awarded every spring and fall (awardees are typically notified by the third week of May/October)
Round 1: Preliminary Applications due by 4 p.m. February 15; full proposals due by 4 p.m. April 1*
Round 2: Preliminary Applications due by 4 p.m. July 15; full proposals due by 4 p.m. September 1*
Rapid Grants
Up to $5,000
Provided for immediate funding needs which may include funds to provide professional development, to assist with travel or equipment needs for a new project or initiative, to act as seed money for a new project, or other related needs
Awarded between February 1 and November 30 annually (awardees are typically notified within one to two weeks of submission)
*Preliminary Application must have been approved by the president/CEO
Our Past Grants
Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded over $5 million in its fall round of grants for 2024, supporting 36 organizations across East Central Indiana. Among the recipients is United Day Care Center, which was awarded $125,000 to add on to its existing facility on the east side of downtown Muncie.