Grantee Spotlight: Wes-Del Community Schools Expands Pathways for In-Demand Technical Careers
Technology is transforming the way we work, live, and solve problems. In response, Wes-Del Community Schools is redefining what career preparation looks like in a rural district. As employers across East Central Indiana are on the hunt to find skilled technical talent, Wes-Del has built a system where students graduate with a diploma, hands-on experience, industry certifications, and a clear sense of where they want to go next.
December 2025: 2025 Year in Review Recap, Old West End Redevelopment, Grants Process in 2026, and more
Before we turn the page to a new year-and the foundation's 100th anniversary-we wanted to pause and look back at 2025. This year, Ball Brothers Foundation paid out $8.9 million in grants to organizations across Muncie and East Central Indiana—supporting the people and programs working every day to strengthen our community.
2025 Year in Review
As Ball Brothers Foundation looks ahead to its 100th year of grantmaking in 2026, we’re grateful for the opportunity to support this community. Our roots in Muncie and East Central Indiana run deep, and our place-based grantmaking approach reflects a long-held belief: that strong communities grow from local leadership, shared vision, and long-term commitments. This year, BBF paid out $8.9 million in grants supporting arts and culture, education, health, human services, the environment, and community initiatives.
The Old West End as a Model for Housing Redevelopment
Op-Ed by Jud Fisher
Muncie’s Old West End (OWE) is on the cusp of major redevelopment. Empty lots have plans attached to them, long-vacant properties have been mapped for future use, and the community has aligned around a vision for what’s next. Block by block, a historic neighborhood adjacent to downtown Muncie is gaining new life.
Q&A With Senior Program Officer, Rich Spisak
As Ball Brothers Foundation prepares to bid farewell to longtime Senior Program Officer Rich Spisak, we wanted to share a more personal look at his time with the foundation. Rich has been a steady presence at BBF for 17 years—known for his straightforward style, deep commitment to nonprofit partners, and his good humor. In the Q&A below, Rich reflects on the experiences, relationships, and moments that shaped his work and his perspective.
Ball Brothers Foundation Announces Retirement of Senior Program Officer Rich Spisak
Ball Brothers Foundation is marking the retirement of Senior Program Officer Rich Spisak, who will conclude 18 years of service with the foundation at the end of the year. Rich joined Ball Brothers Foundation in 2008 and has been a central figure in the foundation’s growth—helping strengthen its grantmaking approach, deepen relationships with nonprofit partners, and advance major community initiatives throughout Muncie and East Central Indiana.
November 2025: Announcing our 2025 Fisher Governance Award Winner, New Grant Awards, and more
Congratulations to Tony Pierce, board president of Delaware County Futbol Club, on being named the 2025 Fisher Governance Award recipient. From his early days of coaching on the sidelines to his leadership today of the club’s rapidly growing recreation and travel soccer programs, Tony’s dedication and vision have helped more kids get in the game.
Delaware County Futbol Club’s Tony Pierce Recognized with 2025 Fisher Governance Award
Ball Brothers Foundation has presented its 2025 John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award to Anthony (Tony) Pierce, board president of the Delaware County Futbol Club (DCFC). Pierce was recognized with the award at the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner on November 18.
The Fisher Governance Award honors a nonprofit board member in Delaware County whose strategic leadership, planning, and oversight have strengthened their organization’s mission, financial health, and general effectiveness.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses funding for healthcare talent, housing, education, and more
Ball Brothers Foundation President & CEO Jud Fisher was a guest of WMUN’s Steve Lindell on the Nov. 4, 2025 episode of “Delaware County Today.” The duo discussed recent BBF funding for developing the healthcare talent pipeline in East Central Indiana, supporting collaborative housing development projects, and more.
Grants to Grow Healthcare Talent in East Central Indiana Among $5M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded more than $5 million in its second round of grants for 2025.
A major focus of this round supports projects that strengthen East Central Indiana’s healthcare workforce pipeline. This funding will help expand medical education, launch new healthcare credential programs, and provide hands-on experiences for high school and college students preparing for healthcare careers.
October 2025: A peek into our Outdoor Learning Field Trip, update on trailhead construction, Q&A with ecoREHAB, and more
Earlier this month, Ball Brothers Foundation joined more than 20 community leaders, funders, and local officials for a tour of the Kitselman Trailhead construction site on Muncie's east side.
The project is transforming the area into a safer and more welcoming gateway for trail users and for vehicles. In addition to rebuilding the levee that protects nearby neighborhoods and downtown from flooding, the work will realign the Cardinal Greenway to remove a dangerous road crossing and create a smoother, safer connection along the 60+ mile trail.
Ball Brothers Foundation’s Rapid Grants Provide Timely Support for Local Needs
Recognizing that nonprofit needs don’t always align neatly with traditional grant cycles, Ball Brothers Foundation established its Rapid Grant program in 2003 to provide timely support for organizations facing unique opportunities or urgent needs.
Awarded between February and November each year, Rapid Grants of $5,000 or less help nonprofits in Muncie and Delaware County—and occasionally throughout East Central Indiana—respond quickly to time-sensitive needs.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with ecoREHAB
ecoREHAB was founded in 2009 by a Ball State University faculty member with a vision: to breathe new life into vacant houses and provide architecture and design students meaningful, hands-on experience. What started as a university studio course has since evolved into an independent nonprofit working at the intersection of neighborhood revitalization, sustainability, and workforce development.
Ball Brothers Foundation Hosts Outdoor Learning Field Trip Showcasing Local Nature-Based Programs
Nearly 40 community leaders—including early childhood professionals, K–12 school administrators and teachers, nonprofit leaders, university representatives, and funders—joined Ball Brothers Foundation last month for a day-long Outdoor Learning Field Trip exploring innovative outdoor play and learning spaces across Delaware County.
September 2025: White River improvements, Celebrating 20 years of Fellows, Habitat homeownership story, and more
Last week, Ball Brothers Foundation marked two decades of its Fellows Program, bringing together nearly half of our alumni for a celebratory dinner.
Since 2005, the program has provided nonprofit leaders in East Central Indiana with opportunities to exchange ideas and strengthen dialogue between the foundation and grantees.
Jud Fisher’s Remarks at Fellows Program 20th Anniversary Celebration
This evening marks a special milestone: 20 years of the Fellows Program. When we started this program back in 2004, the idea was simple but powerful. We wanted to give nonprofit leaders in East Central Indiana the chance to step away from the daily whirlwind of running organizations, to sit down face-to-face with foundation staff, and to have the kind of honest, two-way dialogue that builds stronger leaders and stronger communities.
Ball Brothers Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Fellowship Program
Ball Brothers Foundation recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Fellows Program, bringing together nearly half of the program’s alumni for a special evening of reflection, connection, and recognition at the Delaware County Country Club.
The Fellows Program, launched in 2004, was created to provide two East Central Indiana nonprofit leaders each year with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the foundation world.
Ball Brothers Foundation Supports New Projects Expanding Access, Safety, and Recreation Along White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir
Ball Brothers Foundation has recently awarded grants supporting several new projects that will enhance outdoor recreation, safety, and connectivity along the White River and Prairie Creek Reservoir in Muncie.
“Ball Brothers Foundation is proud to support these projects, which reflect our interest in making East Central Indiana’s rivers and reservoirs more accessible, safe, and welcoming,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “From new trails to safe river access points, these initiatives expand opportunities for families, students, and visitors to explore and enjoy the water.”
Grantee Spotlight: How Habitat for Humanity is Expanding Homeownership in Muncie
In some neighborhoods across Muncie, vacant lots and aging homes tell the story of a community once built on industry—and the challenges that followed when those industries left. For families, the lack of stable and affordable housing often means living with uncertainty. Founded locally in 1986, Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity has spent nearly four decades working to change that story.
August 2025: Village updates from BSU President, New Annual Report, Capital projects making progress, and more
For decades, The Village has been a gathering place just off Ball State’s campus. Now, a bold revitalization effort is underway—rooted in arts, culture, and innovation. Ball Brothers Foundation was proud to invest $2.5 million toward the new performing arts center that will anchor the district and serve as a cultural and economic driver for the region.