January 2025: A Look Ahead with Jud Fisher, Q&A with Muncie Community Schools, 10 Tips for Your Grant Application, and more
Building on Legacy, Focused on the Future
The start of the new year is always exciting for Ball Brothers Foundation’s board and staff. This year marks our 99th year of grantmaking, and we are honored to be the stewards of this remarkable legacy. While a lot has changed over the century since the foundation was established, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to improving the quality of life in Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and Indiana.
Through good times and bad, Ball Brothers Foundation has worked to support organizations and projects that make life better for those who live, work, and visit our communities. Our approach is grounded in the belief that meaningful community improvement requires foresight, patience, and responsiveness. We proudly support long-term projects that span decades—building a foundation for sustained impact—while remaining nimble to address emerging opportunities and challenges.
As we look to the year ahead, we are excited about what is to come. You can stay up-to-date through our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn while keeping an eye on your inbox for our monthly e-newsletters.
Sincerely,
Jud Fisher
President & CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation
Q&A with Chuck Reynolds from MCS
In 2018, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) and Ball State University formed a partnership that has gained national recognition as a model for collaboration between a public university and a public school system.
Now, we sit down with newly appointed Director of Public Education/CEO Chuck Reynolds to discuss ongoing efforts across the district, including:
Right-sizing facilities
Renovations at Muncie Central High School
A Montessori program in the works
Expanding extracurricular offerings
Our hearts go out to those impacted by the devastating wildfires in California. While BBF’s funding support is solely focused on grantmaking in Indiana, on occasion when large-scale disasters impact geographies beyond our boundaries, BBF makes Rapid Grants to the Indiana Region-American Red Cross.
A $5,000 BBF Rapid Grant made earlier this month will support efforts to deploy Indiana Red Cross volunteers to California to help with relief efforts.
Thinking About Applying for a Grant?
Crafting a successful grant application can feel daunting, so we've compiled a few key tips to help strengthen your request:
Schedule a Meeting with BBF Staff: A meeting gives our staff a chance to help guide you in drafting an application.
Clarify Your Language: Ditch the jargon and spell out acronyms. Clear communication will make your proposal shine.
Connect the Dots: Clearly link your project’s goals with community needs and BBF’s funding interests to make your case compelling.
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
If your organization plans to apply for Round 1 General Grant funding (Preliminary Applications due February 15), please contact Susan Brumley to set up a time to chat with BBF staff to share your proposal idea and get feedback from our team.
New Year, New Adventures
The new year brings fresh opportunities, and our team was excited to hit the ground running alongside our grantees. Here are a few January highlights:
Catching up with Red-tail Land Conservancy at their downtown Muncie office in the historic Rose Court building, discussing plans for the year ahead.
Visiting Muncie Central High School to see Project Leadership in action, helping seniors complete their FAFSA applications.
Supporting renovations at Maplewood Guest House, a home for IU School of Medicine students in Muncie, where contractors uncovered something special hidden in the walls...