Our mission:

To mobilize people, ideas and investments to make this a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter place, race or identity.

We have goals that will take years—if not decades—to achieve. We know this work is complicated and we will make mistakes. We need this community to learn with us, hold us accountable and become our partners.

We are committed to doing the work, but we cannot do it alone.

Our values

Our institutional values guide us every day—within the walls of our organization, out in the community and in our personal lives. We have five core values:

  • ANTI-RACISM  We work intentionally against racism and all forms of oppression.
  • AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS  We build partnerships with diversity, integrity and truth—honoring one’s lived experiences.
  • INCLUSIVITY  We promote shared power and unheard voices in processes, activities and decision making.
  • LEADERSHIP  We influence actions, beliefs and culture for justice and the common good.
  • EFFECTIVENESS & SUSTAINABILITY  We produce results with our current resources while still considering the future.

Our foundation has existed for more than 100 years. In that time, we’ve created lasting and truly meaningful change in Central Indiana. Yet still, people are being left behind.

The teams at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), The Indianapolis Foundation and Hamilton County Community Foundation, have studied the growing body of research that tells a dismaying story about the American Dream. Studies from The Brookings Institution, nationally, and locally in partnership with Indy Chamber and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP); Stanford researcher Raj Chetty; and several others, confirm three things:

  • There is a growing gap between the affluent and poor in Central Indiana.
  • The chances of making it out of poverty or doing better than your parents are slim.
  • A person’s race has a profound impact on whether they have access to opportunity.

If we want Central Indiana to be a healthy and thriving community with inclusive economic growth, something has to change. We cannot get comfortable. It’s time to reach for more—more opportunities and a more equitable playing field.