Grantee Spotlight: Shafer Leadership Academy Strengthening How Organizations Grow People
Organizations of all types face a challenge that rarely shows up on a balance sheet: building strong leadership.
They need people who can not only do the job, but also communicate clearly, navigate conflict, motivate others, and guide organizations through change.
Ball Corporation Headquarters and Ivy Tech: Marking the 50 Year History of a Downtown Landmark
Fifty years ago, in April 1976, Ball Corporation formally dedicated its new international headquarters at 345 South High Street in downtown Muncie.
Five decades later, the building remains a defining feature of the city’s landscape—its history reflecting the evolution of Muncie itself, from education to industry to workforce development.
Grantee Spotlight: Ivy Tech Muncie Building Programs That Keep Pace with the Workforce
Walk into almost any hospital, manufacturing floor, or tech office in East Central Indiana, and chances are you’ll find someone who got their start at Ivy Tech Community College.
March 2026: BBF welcomes 2026 Fellows, Q&A with Cardinal Greenways about construction plans, and more
Ball Brothers Foundation is pleased to welcome Jena Ashby of Nonprofit Support Network and Ken Hudson of Whitely Community Council as our 2026 Fellows.
Over the next several months, they’ll join BBF's team in conversations around leadership, philanthropy, and the role foundations play in supporting our community. Get to know Ken and Jena and learn more about the Fellows program.
Ball Brothers Foundation Welcomes 2026 Fellows in Program’s 21st Year
In its 100th year, Ball Brothers Foundation is continuing a long-standing tradition of learning alongside the community it serves. The foundation is pleased to welcome two new Fellows for 2026: Jena Ashby, Relationship and Resource Director at Nonprofit Support Network, and Kenyonta (Ken) Hudson, Executive Director of Whitely Community Council.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses MadJax, nonprofit leadership training, and Excellence in Teaching
BBF’s President & CEO Jud Fisher joined Steve Lindell on Delaware County Today earlier this month to talk about what’s ahead for Ball Brothers Foundation. In 2026, BBF is projected to award nearly $9.6 million in grants—one of the largest totals in our history.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with Cardinal Greenways
For more than three decades, Cardinal Greenways has connected communities across East Central Indiana. Stretching across five counties and weaving through cities, towns, and rural landscapes, Cardinal Greenways is Indiana’s longest rail-trail—and a defining regional asset. In this Q&A, Angie Pool, CEO of Cardinal Greenways, shares updates on major projects underway and on the horizon.
2025 Annual Report
Approaching a Century
For Ball Brothers Foundation, 2025 was a year marked by both reflection and anticipation. It offered an opportunity to consider how a long-standing commitment to place continues to shape our work today—and into the future.
Ball Brothers Foundation Celebrates 100th Anniversary in 2026, Announces Updated Grantmaking Focus Areas
Ball Brothers Foundation is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, placing it among the state—and the nation’s—oldest grantmaking foundations.
The foundation was formed in 1926 to continue the philanthropic legacy of the five Ball brothers and their families, who established Ball Brothers Manufacturing Company in Muncie to produce cans, bottles, and jars. Created to exist in perpetuity, Ball Brothers Foundation has supported countless initiatives over the past 100 years that have strengthened Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and the state of Indiana.
February 2026: A Century of Health-Related Grantmaking, Q&A with IU Health Ball Hospital, and more
As we begin Ball Brothers Foundation’s 100th year, I’m reminded what a rare milestone this is. Founded in 1926, BBF is one of the oldest family foundations in Indiana—and among the longest-standing in the nation. For a century, we have remained focused on East Central Indiana, building enduring relationships and providing steady, place-based support. That long view continues to shape how we approach our work today.
Throughout 2026, we’ll mark this milestone by sharing more of our history and by highlighting the partners who help define our community. You'll see the first of these features in this month's newsletter.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses 2026 grantmaking, outdoor learning, youth sports, and more
Ball Brothers Foundation President & CEO Jud Fisher was a guest of WMUN’s Steve Lindell on the February 10, 2026 episode of “Delaware County Today.” The duo discussed BBF’s plans for grantmaking in 2026 and projects currently in the pipeline including outdoor learning and nature play and youth sports and recreation.
Shaping the Next Generation of Healthcare in East Central Indiana
In East Central Indiana, the future of healthcare is being built close to home. Over the past eight years, a growing network of hospitals, colleges and universities, and community partners has worked to strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline—connecting education, training, and clinical practice so local students can pursue meaningful careers while helping improve community health.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital COO
Ball Memorial Hospital has long been shaped by strong local leadership and a deep commitment to the communities it serves.
Local leadership in Muncie remains central to the hospital’s work. Kreigh Cook, Chief Operating Officer of IU Health Ball Hospital will work closely with Dr. Ryan Johnston, Chief Medical Officer, and Melissa Hicks, Chief Nursing Officer, to guide day-to-day operations, patient care, and community engagement.
Jud Fisher guest on “Our Call to Beneficence” podcast with BSU President Mearns
BBF’s President & CEO, Jud Fisher, recently sat down with Ball State University President Geoff Mearns for a thoughtful conversation about the Ball Brothers Foundation’s history, connections to Ball State University, Jud’s path to leadership, and what it means to steward an organization with deep and personal ties to its community.
January 2026: Celebrating 100 Years, Youth Sports, Wes-Del Graduation Pathways, and more
This year, Ball Brothers Foundation marks 100 years of grantmaking in Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and across the state. While the Ball brothers and their families could not have predicted the many changes, challenges, and opportunities that would shape our community over the past century, their commitment to improving the quality of life in the city and region that meant so much to them continues to guide the foundation’s work today.
BBF Hosts Youth Sports & Recreation Gathering
Earlier this month, Ball Brothers Foundation convened local sports and recreation leaders for a conversation focused on youth sports and recreation, access, and coordination across Delaware County. The gathering brought together nearly 40 representatives from local leagues, school athletic directors and administrators, nonprofits that offer sports programming, tourism representatives, and city officials to share perspectives on what is working well—and where challenges and gaps exist—in the local sports and recreation landscape.
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.