Ball Brothers Foundation Hosts 2024 Fellows Program Alumni Luncheon
The annual Ball Brothers Foundation Fellows Program began its 19th year in April. This 9-month program provides East Central Indiana nonprofit leaders and outstanding community leaders the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the foundation world.
August 2024: Construction Underway, Grantee Spotlight: Rony's Story, and more
Construction of the new 73,000-square-foot YMCA on the Muncie Central High School campus is well underway. In our latest Q&A, Chad Zaucha (President and CEO of the YMCA of Muncie), shares more about the construction timeline and how the building will spark vitality in this part of the city.
Grantee Spotlight: Helping individuals with disabilities lead an independent life
Erskine Green Training Institute (EGTI), located in the heart of downtown Muncie, is helping individuals with disabilities pave a new path to their independence. Finding a job as someone with a disability can be a challenge. In fact, the unemployment rate among people with intellectual disabilities is more than twice as high as the general population.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with YMCA of Muncie
In April 2023, the YMCA of Muncie announced plans to construct a new 73,000-square-foot facility on the Muncie Central High School campus to consolidate its previous locations and ensure better reinvestment in equipment and programs to meet community needs. After a successful capital campaign supported by many organizations, including Ball Brothers Foundation, construction is underway and exciting developments are taking shape.
Deadline approaching for 2024 Fisher Governance Award nominations
Delaware County nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate a board member for the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award before the deadline on August 15. The award, given by Ball Brothers Foundation, recognizes the important role board members play in strategic planning and financial oversight to achieve their organization’s mission. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 grant for their organization.
July 2024: Cybercrime insights from Jud Fisher, Communications survey, and more
There's no question that technology has become deeply integrated into our everyday lives. As we've seen with the recent CrowdStrike outage and major data breaches, the security of our information and systems has never been more critical.
In his latest op-ed, Jud Fisher delves into the growing cybercrime threats facing Indiana communities and highlights the proactive steps East Central Indiana is making to address these tough issues.
Top 3 Takeaways from the Building the Cybersecurity Workforce Talent Pipeline Summit
On July 24, nearly 100 leaders from higher education, the military, law enforcement, and the private sector convened in Muncie to explore the cybersecurity workforce talent pipeline. Hosted by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education with support from Ball Brothers Foundation, the convening drew participants from around the state interested in cybersecurity and cybercrime.
Op/Ed: Cybercrime is a growing threat Indiana communities need to address
The threats we face in the digital world are evolving at a frightening pace. From phishing schemes and ransomware attacks to identity theft and deepfake impersonations, the list of cyber threats keeps expanding. As technology advances—and the internet becomes ever more integrated into our daily lives—the security of our information and systems has never been more critical.
Grantee Spotlight: Empowering Young Men and Strengthening Community Bonds in Muncie
Growing up on the streets of Muncie and struggling with alcohol abuse, Melvin Kelly, founder of Brothers to Brothers United (B2B), navigated many challenges. Now, he hopes his life story and vision for B2B can inspire change in the lives of young males in our community.
June 2024: $4 Million Awarded in Round 1 Grants, 2024 Ball Venture Fund recipients, and deadline reminders
$4M+ in New Grants Announced
Capital Projects in Downtown and Beyond Share in Funding
This spring, BBF's board approved over $4 million in grants, including support for capital projects underway by numerous organizations, several of which have long ties to the Ball family.
Capital Projects in Downtown Muncie and Beyond Share in $4M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations, awarded 33 grants totaling over $4 million in its first funding round of the year. Among the grants are funding for several organizations with long historical ties to the Ball family that are undertaking transformative capital projects: Ball State University, Camp Crosley (YMCA of Muncie), and the YWCA Central Indiana.
ICI Announces 2024 Recipients of Ball Brothers Foundation Venture Fund Grants
$100,000 in grants were awarded to five independent colleges in Indiana supporting innovative, start-up projects
Five Indiana independent colleges are the winners of the 2024 Ball Venture Fund competitive grant program: Franklin College, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Saint Mary’s College, Trine University and University of Evansville.
May 2024: Excellence in Teaching Award Winner, Q&A with Nonprofit Support Network, and more
We are pleased to announce that Chris Horner, a fire-science teacher at the Muncie Area Career Center, is the recipient of Ball Brothers Foundation's 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award.
Fire & EMT Teacher from Muncie Area Career Center Receives Ball Brothers Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award
Ambulance lights are flashing, radio traffic is on the scanner, and victims with minor and critical injuries are lying on the floor–it’s just another Monday morning for students in Chris Horner’s EMT and Fire/Rescue classes at the Muncie Area Career Center.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with the Nonprofit Support Network
Established in 2022, the Nonprofit Support Network (NSN) is a capacity-building organization dedicated to supporting nonprofits in Muncie-Delaware County. The organization provides workshops, peer networking opportunities, an on-line portal of resources, tailored support for nonprofits, and more.
Ball Brothers Foundation Welcomes New Program Officer Dan Wolfert
Ball Brothers Foundation is pleased to announce that Dan Wolfert will join the Foundation’s team as a new Program Officer. His role with the foundation begins June 3.
April 2024: On the Road, 10 Tips, Q&A with IU School of Medicine-Muncie, and more
This month, we've been on the road here in our hometown (and beyond) to see what's "springing up."
Fundraising Campaign Preparation: 10 Tips from a Funder
Thinking of launching a fundraising campaign? Ready to approach funders? Each year, BBF staff meet with organizations with bold dreams for the future. Whether your organization is planning to construct a new facility, build on to an existing facility, undertake renovations, or significantly expand programming, significant fundraising campaigns require careful planning and preparation.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A on Medical Education in East Central Indiana
For the past eight years, local healthcare providers and colleges/universities have been working together to build East Central Indiana’s reputation as a statewide leader in medical education. The region’s medical school, largest hospitals, rural clinics, urban neighborhood centers, nursing schools, and others are reimagining healthcare training in ways that have the potential to change the future of healthcare delivery.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with the AMA on Flight Kits Set to Enhance STEAM Education in Muncie
Located on the southeast side of Muncie, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) stands on over 1,000 acres of land and is home to the largest model aviation field in the world. Having moved to Muncie in the 1990s, the AMA’s international headquarters and museum are now home to dozens of events each year from model aviation flying days that draw hobbyists from across the country to rocket launches, kite festivals, drone competitions, remote control helicopter events, and more.