Vanderburgh Community Foundation Celebrates 30 Years of Giving

June 21, 2023

The Vanderburgh Community Foundation celebrated 30 Years of Giving on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at City View in Evansville. The 30th Anniversary celebration honored the past, present, and future by announcing grants to local nonprofits serving Vanderburgh County and a special matching gift opportunity.


The 30 Years of Giving celebration provided the opportunity for the Vanderburgh Community Foundation to award a Transformational Change Grant in the amount of $300,000. This grant was awarded to Potter’s Wheel in support of the Evansville Promise Network. The grant supports collaboration between Potter’s Wheel and Dream Center Evansville to increase the number of students in the Glenwood school neighborhoods who are participating in a Cradle to Career Continuum of education support and wrap-around services. Two additional $30,000 grants were awarded to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville and the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana to support programming which addresses the underlying contributors to inter-generational poverty in our community.


For the past 30 years, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation has proven that the journey together is united in purpose and vision. With more than one hundred established endowment funds, it is truly remarkable to note the growth experienced since the foundation’s inception. The endowed assets are over $31.8 million which has supported $15.8 million in charitable grants to help Vanderburgh County flourish.


“This celebration served as a testament to the power of collaboration and the unwavering commitment citizens in Vanderburgh County have shown to making our community a better place,” said Sarah Wagner, Regional Director of Development for the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. She added, “The ability to truly impact people is given to each of us. How we utilize our time, talents, and treasure is up to us. It is a responsibility that our generous fund founders have embraced wholeheartedly.”


To memorialize this special year, the Support & Sustain Agency Fund Matching Gift Program was created to allow nonprofits with already established agency funds a way to significantly increase their endowments. This opportunity will be available now through December 31, 2023.


At the celebration, the Vanderburgh Community Foundation announced recently awarded grants totaling $112,694.10 through their Community Good Grant Program. These grants were awarded to the following organizations: 


·       Albion Fellows Bacon Center for computer technology to support the Survivor Advocacy Services;

·       Ark, Inc. to support the Ark Crisis Nursery 2-Gen program;

·       Aurora to support the Homeless Outreach and Re-Entry programs;

·       Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana for the One-to-One Mentoring program;

·       Bread of Life Ministry for the Feeding the Hungry program;

·       Children’s Center for Dance Education for “The Children’s Nutcracker” education video project;

·       Easterseals Rehabilitation Center for training, education, and services addressing mental health needs in our community;

·       Evansville Christian Life Center to support the Food Co-op;

·       Holly’s House to support advocacy services;

·       Little Lambs of Evansville for services to support building a community of safe and healthy children;

·       Meals on Wheels of Evansville to support meal delivery services;

·       Spirit of Southern Indiana to support expenses for the Spirit Cheer and Dance inclusive program;

·       United Methodist Youth Home for the Independent Living Support for At-Risk Youth program; and

·       YWCA of Evansville for the Say YES! program.


“Nonprofits are the heart and soul of our community. The Vanderburgh Community Foundation is honored to be in a position to support the passion and dedication of those who believe in making a positive difference. The hope, compassion, and care provided by our community organizations ensure Vanderburgh County continues to thrive for generations to come,” said Sidney Hardgrave, Regional Director of Community Impact and Engagement for the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. 

Applications are Open for the 2025 Community Good Grants Program

By Eve Baughman • January 24, 2025
The Vanderburgh and Warrick County Community Foundations are now accepting applications for their annual Community Good Grants Program. Community Good grants provide funding to charitable organizations for new or ongoing programs and projects that meet a broad range of local needs. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Community Good Grants are awarded to charitable organizations located in or directly serving Vanderburgh and/or Warrick Counties. Funding is available to support various local needs, with priority given to organizations that demonstrate: Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management Project methodology with a preventative approach to addressing issues and solving problems Clear, actionable plans for program/project evaluation A commitment to promoting collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services A focus on long-term planning, financial stability, and sustainability For full details on funding requirements and to access the grant application, visit vanderburghcf.org/community-good-grants-program or warrickcountycf.org/community-good-grants-program  New prospective grant applicants are encouraged to attend the virtual Grant Application Orientation Session on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. To RSVP, please email Sidney Hardgrave at shardgrave@communityfoundationalliance.org

Vanderburgh Community Foundation Announces the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program Recipients

By Eve Baughman • December 19, 2024
The Vanderburgh Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Vanderburgh County - Addison Greaney, Signature School, Simon Theby, Reitz Memorial High School, and John Vogel, Signature School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship is often a life-changing opportunity for students,” said Sidney Hardgrave, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “This scholarship is extremely competitive and requires the completion of a rigorous process including an extensive application, essays, and interview. We are fortunate in Vanderburgh County to have many talented students with a heart for service to their communities.” Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. “I am very grateful to the Lily Foundation for this honor,” said Addison Greaney, 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. “It is like an affirmation of all my years of hard work, and it will be a tremendous boost to my future educational goals.” In determining Vanderburgh County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to academic ability, community involvement, extracurricular activities/employment, honors and awards, personal statement and goals, application essay, and finalist impromptu essay and interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1997-98 school year. Since then, grant funding in excess of $490 million has supported more than 5,300 Indiana students who have received scholarships through the program. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

$180,000 in Grants Awarded by the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County

By Eve Baughman • November 25, 2024
Krista Wilson, Donna Logan, and Christin Eberhard

The Men’s Fund of Vanderburgh County Awards $40,000 in Grants

By Eve Baughman • November 18, 2024
The Men’s Fund of Vanderburgh County awarded $40,000 in grants to three local organizations. During their annual meeting at the Evansville Museum of Art, History, and Science in October, members of the Men’s Fund awarded their $30,000 Impact Grant to the Albion Fellow Bacon Center. Albion Fellow Bacon Center will use this year’s $30,000 Impact Grant to support expenses related to the renovation of the kitchen at their emergency shelter. Evansville Christian Life Center and Ozanam Family Shelter were each awarded $5,000 grants as finalists for this year’s Impact Grant. Men’s Fund Chair, Dave Mitchell is pictured with representatives from this year’s grantee organizations. (Katie Grunow – Evansville Christian Life Center, Ollie Wing – Albion Fellows Bacon Center, and Larry Cornett - Ozanam Family Shelter)

2024 Community Scholarship Applications Open

By Eve Baughman • November 18, 2024
Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships . Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!

Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Applications Open

By Sidney Hardgrave • July 15, 2024
Vanderburgh Community Foundation Now Accepting Applications for the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program

Women's Fund of Vanderburgh County Annual Grant Cycle Opens

By Sidney Hardgrave • July 15, 2024
Women's Fund of Vanderburgh County Accepting Grant Applications

Men's Fund of Vanderburgh County Accepting Grant Applications.

By Sidney Hardgrave • July 15, 2024
Men's Fund of Vanderburgh County Accepting Grant Applications

Vanderburgh Community Foundation Announces Community Good Grant Opportunity

January 8, 2024
The Vanderburgh Community Foundation is now accepting online applications for the Community Good Grants Program. In recognition of the ongoing challenges of local nonprofit agencies, this year’s grant cycle is accepting applications for both one-year and multi-year programs/projects. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, February 9, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. The Community Foundation awards Community Good Grants to charitable partners located in or directly serving Vanderburgh County. Funding opportunities are available to support a broad range of local needs. Consideration will be given to organizations that demonstrate: · Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management; · Project methodology utilizing a preventative approach to addressing the issues and solving problems; · Solid, realistic plans for program/project evaluation; · Desire to promote collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services; and · Commitment to long-range planning, financial stability, and sustainability. Charitable entities can view the full details related to funding requirements and access the grant application via the Foundation’s website at https://www.vanderburghcf.org/community-good-grants-program . A virtual orientation session will be hosted for interested applicants on Friday, January 12 th at 9:00 am. Interested individuals should submit an RSVP to Sidney Hardgrave at shardgrave@communityfoundationalliance.org.

Vanderburgh Community Foundation Announces the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Recipients

December 13, 2023
The Vanderburgh Community Foundation is pleased to announce the three recipients of the 2024 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Vanderburgh County – Amishi Gandhi and Jeremy Li from Signature School and Luke Woodyard from Reitz Memorial High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are known for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. “This year’s recipients impressed the committee with their accomplishments, leadership skills, and maturity,” said Sidney Hardgrave, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact for the Vanderburgh Community Foundation. Amishi Gandhi is the daughter of Kaushai and Shimoli Gandhi. She is interested in becoming an attorney. Amishi served on the Teen Advisory Board for the Newburgh-Chandler Public Library and the Vanderburgh County Teen Court. She also volunteers with Youth Resources, Tri-State Food Bank and the Browning Funeral Home Genealogy Project. Amishi participates in numerous activities at school including the Mock Trial team, Math Club, Model UN, French Club, and Rotary Interact Club. Jeremy Li is the son of David Li and June Pan. He is interested in a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. During high school, Jeremy founded a STEM tutoring program. He has also been active with Indiana Youth and Government and Tri-State Food Bank. He participated in the Youth Conference on National Affairs. At school, Jeremy has been involved with the USA Biology Olympiad, Mock Trial team, Student Council, and Model UN. Luke Woodyard is the son of James and Laura Woodyard. He is interested in studying industrial engineering. Luke has volunteered with Incognito Instructors, Boys and Girls Club, and been an active member of Scouts BSA, where he achieved recognition as an Eagle Scout. During high school, he participated in tennis, cross country, and track along with being a member of the Academic Team and International Club. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides for full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for required books and required equipment for four years. The scholarship is for full-time undergraduate students leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars may also participate in the Lilly Scholars Network (LSN), which connects both current scholars and alumni with resources and opportunities to be active leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Both the scholarship program and LSN are supported by grants from Lilly Endowment to Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and Indiana Humanities. In determining Vanderburgh County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholar nominees, consideration was given to academic achievement, involvement in the community, extracurricular activities, two essays, and an interview by the LECSP Nominating Committee. After the field of applicants was narrowed down, nominees were submitted to ICI, the statewide administrator of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program, which approves the final selection of scholarship recipients. “Our community has many students who excel both academically and in service to others. The selection process is never easy,” said Hardgrave. Lilly Endowment created the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program for the 1998-99 school year and has supported the program every year since with grants totaling in excess of $505 million. More than 5,200 Indiana students have received the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.
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