Elkhart County Foundation Awards Over $2.7M in Grants

RV Business

ELKHART, Ind. – The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $2,707,390 of new and multi-year grants to dozens of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County, according to a press release from the organization

The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation, which annually receives salient support from the U.S. RV industry, much of it based in Elkhart County. The organization is helping lead two community initiatives and grantmaking is supporting the efforts of Connect in Elkhart County, focused on expanding Elkhart County’s trail network, and Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative.

“Elkhart County benefits from many nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life for our community in so many ways,” said Chief Program Officer Candy Yoder. “We are proud to join other philanthropists to support these organizations. Together we can make a difference.”

The grants awarded between July 1, 2022 and mid-October 2022 are:

Placemaking grants totaling $599,500

Elkhart County Symphony Association, operational support, $80,000
Elkhart County Parks Department, Corson Riverwoods County Park, $203,000
City of Elkhart, New River Greenway Trail, $100,000
20 grants to local events and festivals totaled $202,000
Four grants of $25,000 or less totaled $14,500

In addition, one grant was awarded from Connected Network of Trails Initiative reserved funds:

City of Nappanee – Pedal Party Community Bike Ride $1,484

And expenditures of $3,656 were approved from reserved funds to support the Connected Network of Trails Initiative.

Kids and Families grants totaling $769,330

Women’s Care Center, operational support, $100,000
First Light Mission, capital campaign, $75,000
Goodwill Industries of Michiana – Nurse Family Partnership $182,730
Council on Aging, Life Enrichment Activity Center 1:1 Challenge, $47,000
Lacasa, building community in South Central Elkhart, $100,000
Susanna’s Kitchen, relocation project, $55,000
Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative, reserved, $100,000
10 grants of $25,000 or less totaled $109,600

In addition, expenditures of $15,000 were approved from reserved funds to support Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative.

Career Pathways grants totaling $884,545

Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County, Jimtown Teen Center, $75,000
enFocus, Civic Innovation fellowships and internships, $50,000
ETHOS, operational support, $200,000
Ivy Tech Foundation, dental lab, $125,000
Lifeline Ministries, capital campaign: phase II, $300,000
uLEAD, leadership pilot with Elkhart Community Schools, $50,538
University of Notre Dame, Center of Civic Innovation internships, $49,377
Two grants of $25,000 or less totaled $34,630

Opportunity Fund totaling $454,015

30 grants for sponsorships and memberships

Grant requests are reviewed by staff and volunteer committees comprised of a diverse range of community members who are engaged with their respective sectors and make every effort to be aware of emerging and ongoing initiatives. Staff members can make decisions on grants of $25,000 or less and the board of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County approves all grants.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/elkhart-county-foundation-awards-over-2-7m-in-grants/