Hamilton County Community Foundation Awards Over $175k in Grants

Hamilton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of CICF, approved grants and investments for Hamilton County not-for-profits, projects and initiatives totaling $175,804.

These grants were awarded towards increasing capacity, expansion, projects, and initiatives in Hamilton County that serve within at least one of the three community leadership pillars of the foundation. These pillars are mental health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth. Additionally, the central mission to equity plays an integral role in how each pillar supports the decisions and direction of the foundation.  

“Through our competitive grant process, Hamilton County Community Foundation is able to invest our own dollars back into Hamilton County not-for-profits working in our strategic pillars of family and youth empowerment, mental health, and inclusive economic growth,” said Jeena Siela, community leadership officer for Hamilton County Community Foundation. “We were incredibly impressed with the number of applications we received in our May grant round. We’re so grateful for the work these fourteen funded not-for-profits do every single day and look forward to partnering with them.”  

Some of the organizations receiving support include: 

Alternatives Incorporated ($10,000) – Alternatives Incorporated strives to eradicate domestic and sexual violence through education, prevention, and intervention in Central Indiana. The organization serves six counties including Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Madison, Marion, and Tipton. The people they serve are domestic and sexual violence survivors and their children. Their services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, housing, case management, flexible assistance, safety planning and danger assessments, and support and education groups. This award supports their services that include but are not limited to aiding in maintenance, insurance, housing, childcare, and travel for those being served. 

Faith in Indiana ($14,500) – Faith in Indiana is a faith-based coalition including 10 Hamilton County congregations that seek to build leadership and organize people on faith to advocate for effective changes. These congregations include Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, First United Methodist Church of Noblesville, Roots of Live Community Church, Faith Community Church, First Christian Church of Noblesville, Holy Spirit Parish at Geist Catholic Church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Bethel AME Church, and White River Christian Church. Their project aims to capture and break the multigenerational cycle of mental illness and the justice legal system’s dysfunction. This award will support their goal of training, educating, engaging, and mobilizing groups in Hamilton County.  

Roberts Chapel Church and Burial Association [Settlement] Inc. ($20,711) – Roberts Settlement Inc. is a Hamilton County African American cultural heritage site that aims to bring history, acknowledgment, education, and legacy of African American pioneering in the county. The 100th homecoming in 2023 presents the unique opportunity to showcase the impact, contributions, and roles of the Settlement throughout Indiana’s history. This award will support the installation and services of the Legacy Walk experience to celebrate the anniversary.  

SEE BELOW FOR FULL LIST OF INITIATIVES AND GRANTS FUNDED 

During this grant round, the endowment for Hamilton County directed $99,100 to grants for 14 different organizations. These grants align with the foundation’s three community leadership initiatives for Hamilton County: mental health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth. Additionally, field-of-interest funds with Hamilton County Community Foundation contributed $76,704. These field-of-interest funds are created by fundholders who wish to support a specific organization, cause, or area beyond their lifetime and stewarded by Hamilton County Community Foundation in fulfilling donor-intent. During this round of funding, Noblesville Fund, Northern Hamilton County Fund, Jack Arnold Russell Fund, Westfield Endowment Fund, and Dale Snelling Endowment Fund provide support in regional, county-wide, and area-specific served communities.