BBF Hosts Gathering of Fellows Program Alumni
This summer, as gatherings and networking opportunities ramp back up, BBF hosted a lunch for alumni of BBF’s Fellows Program. The Fellows program started 18 years ago to provide local nonprofit leaders with a 9-month opportunity to read books and articles about nonprofit leadership and governance, to engage with BBF staff in dialogue about nonprofit work and foundation operations, and to promote foundation transparency.
How we can all help preserve the White River, and why it matters
A perspective piece by Jud Fisher
Everything starts somewhere. For the White River, it’s in a farmer’s field in Randolph County just south of Winchester. The river winds its way through farms, woodlands, industrial sites, small towns, and even big cities, eventually feeding into other rivers that take the waters to the Mississippi River.
June 2022: Round 1 Grantees Announced
Our board met last month and approved over $2.4 million in funding in our first round of general grants for 2022. Take a look at some of this round's highlights:
Ball Brothers Foundation awards more than $2.4 million in first round of 2022 grants
Ball Brothers Foundation announced funding to 33 projects in its first round of grants for 2022, totaling over $2.4 million. The grants included approximately $220,000 in funding for projects related to the foundation’s Project Blueways initiative, which supports efforts related to local soil and water quality, watershed planning, and water recreation.
May 2022: We'd like your feedback + Updates from our team
We're in the process of rethinking our e-newsletters, and we'd greatly value your input. What content interests you most? How often would you prefer to hear from us? Please take our brief, 2-minute survey to let us know these and other things so we can best tailor future newsletters. Thank you in advance!
Yorktown’s Ginger Thompson recognized with Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Ginger Thompson didn’t always teach this way. When the high school Spanish teacher began her career 17 years ago, she said she was “a traditional teacher.”
“I had a textbook and that's what I used to teach my students. I used the methods that my Spanish teachers had used with me in high school and in college because that was the best methodology we had at that time,” she said.
April 2022: Updates from Ball Brothers Foundation | April Newsletter—Workforce Development Grantee Highlights, Fisher Governance Award, and More
We know that with continuous advancements in technology, work will soon look very different. Local and state leaders predict nearly every job will eventually be impacted in some way by technology, automation, advanced cloud computing, or artificial intelligence.
March 2022: Strategic Planning Kickoff, New Board Member Announcement, Documentary Trailer, and More
Ball Brothers Foundation is just a few short years away from celebrating our 100th year of grantmaking. As we approach this milestone, we are embarking on our “New Century" strategic planning process.
We’ll be collecting feedback in the months ahead from grantees, peer foundations, community leaders, board members, next generation Ball family members, and others.
Ball Brothers Foundation appoints new board member and kickstarts new strategic planning initiative
Rick Petty, a fourth-generation Ball family member, was appointed to the Ball Brothers Foundation board of directors at its February meeting and was also elected to serve as treasurer of the board.
February 2022: Preliminary Application Deadline Reminder, Funding Pipeline of Healthcare Workers, and More
As we strive to continually improve our grant application process, we launched our new online application platform, GoApply, on January 1. The new system will be more user-friendly and allow for expanded functionality for both applicants and foundation staff.
Muncie Furthers Reputation as Healthcare Education Center of Excellence
In the midst of growing concerns about healthcare worker shortages, Muncie is cementing its identity as a leader in training physicians, nurses, sonographers, and allied health professionals.
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.