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. Each grant represents a partnership and a step forward for our region. We’re inspired every day by the people and organizations we work with and look forward to what we can accomplish together in the year ahead.
January
A fresh look for Maplewood Guest House
In January, the foundation completed major bathroom renovations at Maplewood Guest House, a historic Ball family home operated by Ball State University as an immersive learning site where property management and hospitality students apply skills learned in the classroom. The house also serves as a home-away-from-home for IU School of Medicine–Muncie students visiting Muncie as part of their clinical training. During renovations, contractors even discovered vintage Ball jars hidden in the walls!
Sagamore of the Wabash
Prior to leaving office in January, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb presented BBF’s President & CEO Jud Fisher with a Sagamore of the Wabash award. Governor Holcomb recognized Jud for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, his continued commitment to public health and improving the quality of life in Indiana, and his spirit of collaboration.
February
Chris Fisher joins the board
Chris Fisher joined the foundation’s board of directors this year as a fourth-generation Ball family member and longtime participant in BBF’s Associate Director program. This program serves as a pipeline for family members interested in future board service and reflects the foundation’s enduring family leadership. BBF is one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations still primarily governed by descendants of its founding donors, alongside non-family board members who live and work in Muncie and Delaware County.
March
Celebrating the opening of the new downtown YMCA
March marked the long-awaited opening of the new YMCA in downtown Muncie, a transformative project years in the making and supported by BBF with grants totaling $2 million. The Ball family has a long history of support for the YMCA of Muncie that stretches back for more than a century.
April
Breaking ground on the final phase of the Kitselman Trailhead
BBF joined Cardinal Greenways in April to celebrate the groundbreaking of the final phase of the Kitselman Trailhead. The project is reshaping a former industrial corridor into a signature gateway on Muncie’s eastside and connecting two major trail systems, the 62-mile Cardinal Greenways and the 5-mile White River Greenway.
Welcoming the 2025 BBF Fellows
Ball Brothers Foundation introduced our 2025 Fellows, Missy Modesitt of Muncie BY5 and Joy Rediger of Urban Light Community Development, marking the 20th anniversary of the foundation’s leadership development program.
May
Daleville’s Maleah Parrish received BBF’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Ball Brothers Foundation recognized Daleville first-grade teacher Maleah Parrish as this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award winner for her creative approach to learning and honored finalists Sarah Hofmann (Muncie Community Schools) and Danielle Phelps (Burris Laboratory School) for the meaningful ways they inspire students each day.
BBF Staff Retreat in Leland
BBF hosted its first staff retreat in the foundation’s history, traveling to Leland, Michigan, a place that has long been dear to the Ball family. While in Northern Michigan, we spent time with a number of our board members and Associate Directors, spent time delving into our strategic plan priorities, and spent time with leaders of several nonprofit organizations who helped us gain insight into funder/grantee relationships.
June
Public art efforts among $3M awarded in first round of grants
The foundation announced more than $3 million awarded in its spring grant round, supporting initiatives in education, health, arts and culture, the environment, and community development. This round included a $75,000 grant to support new public art installations and long-term maintenance, helping strengthen Muncie’s creative landscape.
Indiana colleges awarded Ball Venture Fund grants for innovative projects
Through our funding of the Ball Venture Fund — a competitive grant program administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana — BBF supported $100,000 in grants to four Indiana colleges to pilot creative, community-minded initiatives. These include digital literacy training for seniors, immersive healthcare simulations, and hands-on workforce skill experiences for students, all designed to strengthen learning and innovation across the state’s private college campuses.
July
Investments in cyber training and aerospace
Ball Brothers Foundation highlighted two growing talent pipelines in East Central Indiana, visiting NearSpace Education in Upland which supports hands-on STEM and aerospace programs and strengthening local cybersecurity training through Project Sybertooth.
August
Visited capital projects across Muncie
We visited construction sites across the city, including Ball State’s new Performing Arts Center coming to The Village, new infant and toddler classrooms at United Day Care, new trail connections at Kitselman Trailhead, and façade improvements at Madjax. Together, these projects are reshaping key spaces across Muncie—each one contributing to a more connected, creative, and livable city.
Community Officials Breakfast Held at Minnetrista
BBF hosted over 20 local community officials for breakfast and an update on our grant funding. We highlighted projects we’re proud to support, heard insights from our friends at Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, and shared opportunities to work together on priorities like strengthening public education, sustaining affordable and quality childcare, building trail connections, protecting land, redeveloping neighborhoods, supporting public safety, expanding public art, and bolstering cybersecurity in Muncie and Delaware County.
September
Hosted outdoor learning field trip
Ball Brothers Foundation brought nearly 40 K-12 teachers, peer funders, early childhood educators, and community leaders together for a tour of outdoor learning sites across Delaware County, from forest classrooms to nature playgrounds. The visit showcased how schools and nonprofit organizations are using nature to spark learning. Each site received a Rapid Grant to keep the momentum growing.
Celebrated White River Progress
We celebrated major developments in efforts to make the White River more accessible and safer for canoes, kayaks, and tubes with the addition of mile marker signs installed between Yorktown and Daleville to assist in the event of emergencies, supported in part by a Rapid Grant. We also shared updates on a new canoe/kayak launch coming in summer 2026 along Memorial Drive on the city’s eastside.
Celebrated 20th Year of Fellows Program
BBF hosted a special dinner for alumni of the foundation’s Fellows Program. Fellows shared reflections on their own leadership journeys and ways that the Fellows program has helped shape the way they lead their organizations. Retired Program Officer Neil Schmottlach was recognized for his facilitation of the program for the past 20 years.
October
White River Mussel Release
In winter coats and boots, BBF staff waded into the chilly White River to help the Bureau of Water Quality release 39 juvenile mussels that were grown in the new White River Freshwater Mussel Propagation Facility in Muncie. These released mussels will filter over 170,000 gallons of water from the White River over the next year, removing silt, excess nutrients, bacteria, algae, and zooplankton. The propagation and release of these mussels marked a major development in decades-long river restoration work supported by BBF and many other partners.
November
$5M awarded in Round 2 Grants to grow healthcare talent
The foundation announced $5M in grants, including funding for programs that train high school and college students for healthcare careers in East Central Indiana. Grants support hands-on experiences, dual-enrollment programs, and physician training to strengthen the local healthcare workforce pipeline.
Delaware County Futbol Club Recognized with Fisher Governance Award
This year’s Fisher Governance Award celebrated Tony Pierce, board president of the Delaware County Futbol Club. The annual award recognizes an outstanding board member of a Delaware County nonprofit. Pierce was recognized for helping to exponentially grow the club, developing a strong financial base for operations, doubling girls’ participation, and expanding opportunities for youth across the county. A $10,000 grant was awarded to DCFC in his honor to support ongoing operations and further board development.
BBF Presents at National Philanthropy Conference
BBF’s Dan Wolfert and Jenna Wachtmann presented a session at Exponent Philanthropy’s national conference, capping off a busy fall season of presentations by BBF staff from Muncie all the way to Oklahoma City. BBF staff enjoy the opportunity to share our own learnings with other peer foundations and with nonprofit organizations and to learn from others too!
December
Paying tribute to Rich Spisak on his retirement
Ball Brothers Foundation honored Rich Spisak as he retires after 18 years with the foundation, helping shape grantmaking, mentor colleagues, and champion community partnerships. His leadership and dedication leave a lasting mark.
Wraps up year with $8.9M in grants
BBF wrapped up its 99th year of grantmaking, paying out a total of $8.9M in grants. Included were 77 Rapid Grants which provide timely support for organizations facing unique opportunities or urgent needs. Together, the grants awarded by BBF represent our foundation’s commitment to advancing the quality of life in Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and Indiana.
