2021 Year in Review
As we wrap up our 95th year of grantmaking, we are honored to continue to carry on the stewardship legacy of the Ball brothers and their families. This year, organizations throughout Muncie and Delaware County have done outstanding work and have undertaken incredible initiatives, and we look forward to seeing how the community will continue to flourish in the years ahead.
Fall 2021: Record funding, drones, and more
More than $6.5 million awarded to healthcare, education, and more in second round of 2021 grants
Ball Brothers Foundation awards more than $6.5 million in second round of 2021 grants
Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations, approved over $6.5 million in its second round of funding for 2021. The grants support a variety of efforts, from bolstering local healthcare organizations to supporting schools in the wake of the pandemic.
ecoREHAB’s Heather Williams recognized with 2021 Fisher Governance Award
Ball Brothers Foundation presented its annual Fisher Governance Award this year to Heather Williams, former board president of ecoREHAB. Williams was recognized with the award at Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 127th Annual Meeting Celebration on Oct. 28.
Grants fund purchase of drones, training—essential tools for law enforcement
Mark Carter was tired. But it was a good tired. He’d spent several days in a kind of show-and-tell with Randolph County first-graders, teaching them about unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), why they are important to public safety efforts, and how to operate them.
Deadline approaching for youth-serving nonprofit consultation grant
Nonprofit leaders often wear many hats, reflects Laura Williamson—who wears both the executive director and artistic director hats at Muncie Civic Theatre. This can make it difficult to find the time and resources to take a step back from the day-to-day and address larger organizational capacity needs.
Mid-Summer 2021: Spurring workforce development, driving innovation, and more
Currently, “one issue that Muncie faces is our inability to develop the skilled workforce that is needed to meet the staffing requirements of our local employers,” shared Jane Ellery, chairman of the board for Sustainable Muncie in a recent grant request to BBF. But now, new efforts are underway to tackle that challenge head-on.
Ball Venture Fund drives innovation in higher education
Throughout recent years, college enrollment nationwide has seen a steady decrease. To stay relevant, David Wantz, president and CEO of Independent Colleges of Indiana, said colleges need to do one thing: innovate.
How local organizations are ‘flipping the script’ on workforce development efforts
Muncie and Delaware County have recently welcomed a multitude of economic development announcements rife with job opportunities. But the region has long faced a shortage of qualified workers—a shortage that was only further fueled by the pandemic. Ball Brothers Foundation recently made two grants to support local workforce development efforts, hoping to help Muncie to be more competitive and ready for post-pandemic ventures.
Deadline for 2021 Fisher Governance Award nominations approaching
Delaware County nonprofits have until Aug. 15 to nominate one of their board members for Ball Brothers Foundation’s annual John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award, which recognizes board members who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their organization.
One month left to submit nominations for the Fisher Governance Award
The Fisher Governance Award—named in honor of Delaware County philanthropists John W. and Janice B. Fisher—is given annually by Ball Brothers Foundation to recognize a board member of a local nonprofit.
Summer 2021: Grants, Cybercrime Training, and More
In its first round of grants for 2021, Ball Brothers Foundation’s Board of Directors approved more than $3.3 million in funding. The grants included COVID-19 vaccine distribution and messaging support to local health organizations, recovery and rebuilding support to Delaware County schools, and support to many of Muncie’s steadfast, long-term organizations as they recover from the pandemic.
Ball Brothers Foundation awards more than $3.3 million in first round of 2021 grants
In its first round of grants for 2021, Ball Brothers Foundation’s Board of Directors approved more than $3.3 million in funding, including COVID-19 vaccine distribution and messaging support to local health organizations, and recovery and rebuilding support to Delaware County schools.
2020 Annual Report
Champions of Resilience
Muncie is a city built on resilience. From the industrial revolution through the Great Depression and two World Wars, the community’s tenacious spirit continually propelled the city through hardships, always coming out stronger than before. But the inherent resilience that lives within Muncie has perhaps never been more evident than this past year.
Project Sybertooth: Ball Brothers Foundation partners with Ivy Tech, local law enforcement agencies to enhance cybercrimes training
As technology grows, so too does the threat of cyber attacks on the community.
“Cybercrimes are the crime of the future. It's so rapidly evolving, and we see how it can really have such a detrimental effect on our community,” said Jim Duckham, chief of the Ball State University Police Department.
Daleville’s Melissa Crist recognized with Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Respect. That’s the leading principle in Melissa Crist’s classroom.
An English and journalism teacher at Daleville Junior/Senior High School, Crist puts “relationships first, subject matter second.”
Spring 2021: Supporting momentum in our community
Coming off of 2020, we are optimistic about seeing light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel: local hospitalizations are down significantly from their peak, vaccines are now readily available to Hoosier adults, and our healthcare partners can see hope with every vaccine shot they give.
Optimus Primary grants propel Muncie’s medical training programs beyond pandemic
Especially evidenced by the pandemic, there is value in having a united, collaborative network of healthcare entities within a community. Recognizing this value, Ball Brothers Foundation has been funding a strategic partnership of healthcare anchor institutions in the community since 2016.
Don’t miss your shot!: Everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine helps you, your friends and family, your neighbors, and the entire community defeat the pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy.
Celebrating 95 Years
In 1926, Edmund Burke Ball left an estate gift of $3.3 million to form the bedrock of Ball Brothers Foundation, believing that philanthropy is more powerful than charity.