Grants

Since 1991, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Whitley County, Indiana to make their philanthropic giving as impactful as possible. We are a public charity serving Whitley County citizens who share a common concern—improving the quality of life in Whitley County. To do this, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations have made donations to the Greater Good Fund of Whitley County and instructed the Foundation to direct their gifts wherever the need is the greatest. These funds are invested and twice a year the Foundation’s volunteer Grants Committee reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Community Foundation of Whitley County

December 2022 Grants Awarded

For the past three decades, many local residents have made gifts to the Community Foundation with the instructions “Use it wherever it’s needed the most.” Thanks to that spirit of generosity the Foundation’s Board of Directors was recently able to grant over $138,000 to local non-profit organizations that are working hard to make a difference to those in need.

What We Grant

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The Community Foundation’s Greater Good Fund responds to the ever-changing issues facing Whitley County.

Twice a year (April 1 and November 1) the Foundation’s volunteer Grants Committee reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. Grants are made possible by donors who have instructed the Foundation to direct their gifts wherever the need is the greatest.

The Community Foundation directs grants to charitable projects that will make a positive impact on Whitley County and its people, with particular interest in projects that shed new light on local needs and provide innovative, long-term solutions. Categories of support include: Arts & Culture, Health, Human Services, Recreation, Community Development, Welfare, and Education.

Unless there is compelling evidence that such support is vital to the success of a program meeting priority needs, the Foundation is unlikely to support: annual campaigns, political activities, private schools, advertising, religious/sectarian causes, organizations outside our service area, and debt retirement.

Recent Grants

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2021 Greater Good Grants

Agency Fund Grants
Acres Inc $1,455.71
B.A.B.E. $638.36
Bear Lake Camp $15,000.00
Camp Whitley $5,813.55
Churubusco Public Library $1,111.30
Columbia City United Methodist Church $16,540.00
Cornerstone Christian School $10,000.00
Easterseals Passages $15,184.27
Faith Christian Academy $5,577.61
Freedom Academy $1,852.72
Honeywell Center $401.62
Humane Society of Whitley County $102,881.41
Jay County Christian Academy $15,000.00
Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana $8,822.33
Loon Lake Property Owners Association $2,292.40
Methodist Federation for Social Action $362.62
Mission 25 $4,447.97
Oak Grove Church of God $5,229.28
South Whitley Community Public Library $2,699.88
South Whitley United Methodist Church $187.00
Stepping Stones Preschool $2,059.73
T.R.O.Y. School $377.79
The Center $4,799.32
The Peabody Public Library $8,413.47
United Way of Whitley and Kosciusko
Counties
$5,369.61
Whitko Community Schools $1,052.46
Whitley County Council on Aging $1,870.27
Whitley County Historical Society $673.36
Whitley County YMCA $61,045.92
YWCA of Fort Wayne $352.98

Unrestricted Grants
A Hope Center at Columbia City $1,000.00
American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana $5,000.00
Aspire Indiana $2,000.00
B.A.B.E. $100.00
Brightpoint $5,000.00
Camp Whitley $25,150.00
Cancer Services of Northeast IN Fund $5,000.00
Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana $2,500.00
Churubusco History Center $500.00
Churubusco Parks Department $3,000.00
Churubusco United Methodist Church $10,000.00
Community Harvest Food Bank $5,000.00
Dekalb County Parents Group $10,000.00
Difference Makers $7,116.00
Easterseals Passages $20,000.00
Erin’s House for Grieving Children $5,000.00
Forklift $11,000.00
Giving Gardens of Indiana, Inc $8,500.00
Helpline of Whitley County $3,500.00
Humane Society of Whitley County $915.00
Joe’s Kids, Inc $7,500.00
Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana $2,500.00
Matthew 25 $2,500.00
Mission 25 $3,116.43
Old Settler’s Association $10,800.00
One Community, Inc $100.00
Questa Foundation for Education $5,000.00
Respect Team $2,000.00
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc. $5,000.00
Salvation Army of Whitley County $5,000.00
Sonshine Childcare Ministry $645.00
South Whitley Park Department $3,100.00
South Whitley Public Library $450.00
T.R.O.Y. School $6,350.00
The Center for Whitley County Youth $10,000.00
The Otis R Bowen Center for Human Services $500.00
Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church $5,500.00
Visiting Nurse $2,500.00
Whitley County 4-H, Inc. $2,000.00
Whitley County Consolidated Schools $3,700.00
Whitley County Council on Aging $350.00
Whitley County Farmers’ Market $5,000.00

Apply Here

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How to Apply

Grant Applications are due May 1st and December 1st of each year. All applications are processed online.

If you are having difficulties applying for a grant, please contact Brooks Walker at the Community Foundation at 260.244.5224.

Brooks Walker, Program Officer
400 N. Whitley Street
Columbia City, IN 46725
(260)244-5224

FAQ

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What type of requests does the Community Foundation grant?

Giving is the heart of what we do here at the Community Foundation. Every year, we give over $1 million dollars to non-profits, community entities, and college-bound students here in Whitley County. We fund a variety of causes that promote sustainable impact towards the betterment of Whitley County. Your project may be next!

Although we expect to remain flexible in our grant-making decisions, the Community Foundation traditionally addresses needs that fall into the categories of Arts, Human Services, Health, Education, Community Development, recreation, Scholarship, and animal welfare.

When are grant requests due?

Grant requests are due online by May 1st and December 1st each year.

How do you apply?

Follow the Apply now button below. If you have any problems, please contact the Foundation at 260.244.5224.

Give 'em a High Five!

The Foundation grants twice a year to worthy projects in Whitley County. To see the results of their good works, we ask each nonprofit to present to the community a five-minute, five-slide PowerPoint about their grant.

This year, due to COVID 19, the nonprofits couldn’t present. However, they are still sending their PowerPoints, and you can watch them here.

The first two nonprofits highlighted are Whitley County Consolidated Schools and The Respect Team.

T.R.O.Y. Alternative School

“ After years of watching a caring organization fi nd student success while struggling with a location, the Community Foundation found itself in a position to help make a lasting diff erence. Funds from a generous, anonymous, donor allowed the Foundation to fund a $100,000 grant to help acquire a permanent home for TROY School in 2017”

Grants

Scholarships

Grants

Community Foundation of Whitley County

December 2022 Grants Awarded

2021 Greater Good Grants

How to Apply

What type of requests does the Community Foundation grant?

When are grant requests due?

How do you apply?

Give 'em a High Five!

T.R.O.Y. Alternative School

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