Community Investment Grants are funded by the unrestricted resources entrusted to the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. These grants reflect our mission: to improve the quality of life in Elkhart County by inspiring generosity.
What Are Our Grantmaking Priorities?
The Community Foundation focuses on three priority areas that guide both our grantmaking and our community leadership efforts. These areas are informed by population-level data and local needs.
We invite you to explore the guiding frameworks and data:
The First Step to Apply for a Grant: Contact a Program Officer
Each of our program officers focuses on one of the Community Foundation’s three priority areas. They are your best first contact as you consider applying. A short conversation can help ensure your project is a strong fit, answer questions early, and save you time.
We encourage you to reach out. These conversations are often the start of strong partnerships that lead to meaningful community impact.
Applying for a Grant
Who Is Eligible?
We make grants to 501(c)(3) public charities serving Elkhart County. In some cases, schools, municipalities, chambers of commerce, and other qualifying entities may also apply. Religious organizations may apply, but grants may not be used for religious instruction or worship.
Note: For large entities like school districts or cities, the highest-ranking official (e.g., superintendent or mayor) must approve the application.
We do not award grants to individuals, though scholarships are available.
When Can I Apply?
- Grants under $25,000: Accepted year-round.
- Grants over $25,000: Application deadlines are mid-February and mid-August.
Please contact a program officer before submitting an application.
What’s the Process?
A program officer will work alongside you to strengthen your proposal and help anticipate reviewer questions.
- Applications are submitted online.
- Program officers assist in account setup and access.
- You may preview the Grant Application Questions.
- You may also review sample formats:
- Sample Program/Project Budget (PDF)
- Sample Organizational Budget (PDF)
For larger or newer organizations, we may also explore board structure, financial health, and sustainability plans.
For requests over $25,000:
After initial review, you may receive follow-up questions and be invited to present your proposal to the grant committee. These presentations typically last ten to 15 minutes and include Q&A. You’ll receive a funding decision two to three weeks after the meeting.
What Projects Are Not Eligible?
- Direct assistance to individuals or scholarships
- For-profit ventures
- Religious instruction or facilities without broad community use
- Political campaigns or lobbying
- Activities outside Elkhart County
- Debt reduction or retroactive costs
- Travel for bands, sports, or school groups
- Food pantry requests
- Research projects
- Projects lacking sustainability or planning (e.g., recurring deficits, no contingency funds)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting without first speaking with a program officer
- Lack of collaboration with other community partners
- Requesting more than 50% of project cost from the Foundation
- Proposals not clearly aligned with your mission
- No measurable goals or baseline data
- Key leaders (e.g., CEO, mayor) unaware of the proposal
Who Reviews and Approves Grants?
Community members remain at the heart of our decision-making. Each priority area is served by a volunteer grant committee, supported by Foundation staff.
- Grants under $25,000 are reviewed by program staff.
- Larger grants go to a volunteer committee, with final approval by our board of directors.
How Are Decisions Made?
We use an internal evaluation rubric to help assess proposals, but decisions are never based on scoring alone. We value thoughtful conversation and alignment with our shared priorities.
Key considerations include:
- Potential for long-term impact
- Evidence of community support (including financial)
- Sustainability of the project
The Community Foundation is rarely the first or largest funder. Our goal is to help leverage other investments.
When Will I Hear Back?
- Under $25,000: Decisions within 6 weeks
- Over $25,000: Decisions two to three weeks after committee review
Reporting and Site Visits
Most grantees will submit a progress report and may participate in a site visit within the first year. Multi-year grants require annual updates and may include additional reporting at the end of the grant period. We’ll send reminders in advance.
Sharing the News
We love celebrating with our grant recipients. Please download our press kit for logos and a sample press release. You’re also welcome to connect with our Marketing & Communications team to coordinate media or social coverage.
What About Sponsorships?
In addition to grants, we offer sponsorships for fundraising events that benefit nonprofits serving Elkhart County. These are available even if you already have an active grant. As always, start by talking with a program officer.
We do not sponsor:
- Athletic leagues or teams
- Most school fundraising events
- Events held on behalf of other organizations
Contact a Program Officer to begin your application:
Career Pathways
Guy Fisher
Chief Program Officer
guy@inspiringgood.org
(574) 295-8761
Kids & Families
Vonnie Trumble
Program Officer
vonnie@inspiringgood.org
574.295.8761
Placemaking
Ray Caldwell
Program Officer
ray@inspiringgood.org
574.295.8761
Scholarships
Jackie Rodriguez
Program Officer
jackie@inspiringgood.org
(574) 295-8761
