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Nonprofits
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Overview
For charitable organizations, putting ideas into motion takes funding. The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana is dedicated to helping nonprofits improve the quality of life in our community.
The information below will help our nonprofit partners better understand the resources available to them from the Community Foundation as well grant opportunities that can help them serve our region:
- Capacity Building Grant Program
- Community Assist Grants
- Emergency Grants
- Youth Philanthropy Council Grants
- Community Needs Assessment
- United Community
Capacity Building Grant Program
The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s Capacity Building Grants Program focuses on improving organizations’ operating capacity so that they may continue to provide their essential services to the community.
A capacity building grant is intended to allow an organization to highlight their vision and strategic planning efforts in order to grow and sustain their operations. Capacity building is not a one-time effort to improve short-term effectiveness, but rather a continuous improvement strategy toward the creation of a sustainable and effective organization.
The year-round program is intended to serve nonprofits in both Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana, with funding requests between $5,000 – $25,000 accepted quarterly.
Community Assist Grants
The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s Community Assist Grants fund small requests to support projects, programs, or activities that will positively impact the community served by the nonprofit.
Requests must align with the identified areas of need in the Priorities for Progress in Southern Indiana: 2025 Update, which explores the community’s aspirations for building on its assets to address the area’s highest priorities and greatest challenges.
The year-round program is intended to serve nonprofits in both Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana, with one-time funding requests between $1,000 – $5,000 accepted quarterly.
Emergency Grants
Nobody expects the unexpected. We understand that emergencies happen and your organization may be in need of emergency funding. That is why the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana offers Emergency Grants.
To be considered for this program, prospective grantees are encouraged to apply for grants through the Community Assist Grant Program or Youth Philanthropy Council Grant Program. Emergency Grant requests will only be considered by the Foundation if it is determined by the Foundation that:
- The request is time-sensitive in nature and could not have been predicted or reasonably planned for and a response for the emergency is needed in 45 days or less.
- The request is to support a true community emergency need or an emergency need of an agency, such as essential equipment repairs, that would prevent it from carrying out its primary mission.
Emergency grants will only be made to organizations serving Clark & Floyd counties.
Youth Philanthropy Council Grants
The Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC) project is designed to encourage youth to give and serve in their communities and to make philanthropy a habit for future generations.
Annually, the YPC awards grants to nonprofits who focus on youth related activities and with programs or projects that benefit the youth of Clark and Floyd counties. Nonprofits can apply for up to $1,000.
Community Needs Assessment
Nonprofits considering applying for a grant from CFSI should utilize the Foundation’s Community Needs Assessment to ensure their grant would address a community need.
While the 2015 and 2020 assessments offered comprehensive overviews of community assets and aspirations, the 2025 update takes a more focused approach. It builds on past work while incorporating the voices of residents who are often underrepresented in traditional research – particularly low- to moderate-income households.
The 2025 Update is not a comprehensive community assessment, but it offers an important look at how priorities have evolved since 2020. Housing, education, workforce development, and youth remain at the forefront, with basic needs and health continuing to shape residents’ daily lives.
This report also complements CFSI’s recent housing study, Housing: The Affordability Challenge in a Growing Region. Together, the two studies provide valuable insight into the realities families face and highlight opportunities for collaboration and action.
United Community
United Community is a community-wide initiative to deploy an innovative shared technology platform to initiate and close referrals across many organizations. It reduces barriers to access for citizens by streamlining navigation across the multitude of services offered by our health, education and human services sectors.