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.
2024 Annual Report
Grounded in Place
As Ball Brothers Foundation approaches its 100th year, we find ourselves reflecting on the impact of a nearly century-long commitment to our community, including the natural landscapes, people, and cherished traditions that have sustained that impact through generations.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A on The Village Revitalization Project
For decades, The Village served as a popular destination just off Ball State’s campus—home to locally owned shops, restaurants, and a lively social scene. It was a place where students, residents, and visitors mingled over drinks, music, and weekend plans. In more recent years, though, The Village has faced its share of challenges, with fewer businesses and less foot traffic than in its heyday.
Now, a major revitalization effort is breathing new life into the district.
July 2025: Exciting aerospace education in Upland, Cybersecurity Summit, Ball Venture Fund winners, and more
Last year, BBF awarded a small grant to Upland-based NearSpace Education to help launch an aerospace club for middle school students—a hands-on program designed to spark interest in STEM careers.
During a recent site visit, BBF staff learned more about NearSpace’s broader mission and future plans.
Building a More Vibrant Muncie: Capital Projects Advancing Quality of Place
From trailheads and childcare centers to creative hubs and performing arts venues, construction crews are hard at work across Muncie this summer on a range of capital projects aimed at enhancing quality of place. Together, these projects are reshaping key spaces across Muncie—each one contributing to a more connected, creative, and livable city.
Grantee Spotlight: STEM, Space, and Small-Town Spark | NearSpace Education Takes Learning to New Levels
Ball Brothers Foundation staff recently visited NearSpace Education in Upland, Indiana—a nonprofit that’s turning heads with its hands-on, high-flying approach to STEM education. From launching weather balloons into the stratosphere to equipping classrooms with aerospace kits, NearSpace is making science exciting, tangible, and local right here in rural Indiana.
Deadline approaching for 2025 Fisher Governance Award nominations
Delaware County nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate a board member for the John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award before the deadline on August 15. The award, given by Ball Brothers Foundation, recognizes the important role board members play in strategic planning and financial oversight to achieve their organization’s mission. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 grant for their organization.
Grantee Spotlight: Grants awarded to Indiana colleges to stimulate creativity and innovation
Four independent colleges are the winners of the 2025 Ball Venture Fund competitive grant program. Indiana Institute of Technology, Marian University’s Saint Joseph’s College, Trine University and University of Saint Francis. They will share $100,000 in seed funding for initiatives to stimulate creativity and innovation and foster competition and collaboration among the state’s 29 private, non-profit campuses.
Ball Brothers Foundation Hosts Cybersecurity Summit, Announces $200K in Grants to Build Workforce Pipeline
Ball Brothers Foundation hosted a convening on June 11, gathering community leaders, law enforcement officials, and academic professionals to discuss the growing cyber threats facing East Central Indiana and the nation. In addition, Ball Brothers Foundation announced over $200,000 in grants for local efforts to develop a stronger workforce pipeline to address these threats and to support local law enforcement in building stronger cyber capabilities.
June 2025: $3M+ awarded in spring round of grants, Q&A with Urban Light CDC, and more
This spring, Ball Brothers Foundation awarded over $3 million in grants to support education, arts, the environment, health, and other efforts that strengthen communities across East Central Indiana.
Among the grants was a $75,000 award to The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County to grow public art efforts across the city.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with Urban Light
Urban Light Community Development Corporation (CDC), located on Muncie’s southside, is dedicated to holistic, place-based community development. Ball Brothers Foundation first began supporting Urban Light CDC in 2018 with a small Rapid Grant to help the organization develop a strategic plan. Learn more about more about Urban Light CDC in this new Q&A.
Public Art Investment Among $3M in Grants Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded over $3 million in its spring round of grants for 2025.
Among the funding awarded was a $75,000 grant that will significantly bolster public art efforts in Muncie—funding new installations, supporting long-term maintenance, and enhancing the city’s cultural landscape. The grant was awarded to The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County.å