Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses healthcare workforce, nonprofit leadership, and Camp Crosley
What does it take to build a stronger healthcare workforce? How can we recognize the volunteer board members who help nonprofits thrive? And what's new at the YMCA of Muncie’s Camp Crosley?
IYI & BBF: More Than Two Decades of Strengthening Youth-Serving Nonprofits
For more than 20 years, Ball Brothers Foundation has partnered with Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) to help youth-serving nonprofit organizations build their organizational capacity and increase their long-term effectiveness.
Now in its twenty-fourth year, the “East Central Indiana Consulting Grant” provides selected organizations with customized consulting services designed to strengthen leadership, governance, fundraising, strategic planning, communications, and other aspects of organizational capacity.
BBF 100: Marking Nearly a Century of Support for Camp Crosley
On the shores of Lake Little Tippecanoe, surrounded by hundreds of acres of woodlands, wetlands, and open water, Camp Crosley has been helping young people discover adventure, independence, and belonging for more than a century.
A Century of Supporting Teaching and Learning: Ball State University and Burris Laboratory School
Ball Brothers Foundation’s support for education in Muncie is deeply connected to the origins of Ball State University and the Ball family’s long-standing belief in the importance of teacher preparation and public education.
In 1917, after community efforts to sustain a struggling private college failed, the Ball brothers purchased the land and buildings of the institution and donated them to the State of Indiana.
Grantee Spotlight: Grants awarded to four Indiana colleges for innovative, start-up projects
Four Indiana independent colleges are the recipients of the 2026 Ball Venture Fund competitive grant program: Butler University, Manchester University, Indiana Institute of Technology, and the University of Saint Francis. They will share $100,000 in seed funding for initiatives to stimulate creativity and innovation and foster collaboration among the state’s 28 private, non-profit campuses.
June 2026: Field trip highlights, on the air with Dr. Jeff Bird, and 10 years of Muncie Community Schools transformation
In early June, Ball Brothers Foundation gathered over 30 community leaders, educators, and peer grantmakers for an inside look at institutions shaping the region’s healthcare workforce.
BBF Guests on WMUN’s “Taking Flight: Chapter 2” with Dr. Jeff Bird
Ball Brothers Foundation’s staff were the first guests on Dr. Jeff Bird’s new WMUN radio show, “Taking Flight: Chapter 2.” The show—which originally aired on June 12—featured a wide-ranging conversation about the foundation’s work, history, and approach to philanthropy. The program began with President & CEO Jud Fisher sharing an introduction to BBF and personal reflections on the foundation’s work, followed by additional conversations that brought in staff perspectives across the 100 year-old grantmaking foundation.
Ball Brothers Foundation Hosts Tour Highlighting Healthcare Workforce Development Pipeline
More than 30 individuals gathered on June 11 for Ball Brothers Foundation's Optimus Primary Field Trip, a full-day exploration of the partnerships, facilities, and educational pathways helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals in East Central Indiana.
2026 Fisher Governance Award nomination deadline approaching
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 annually by Ball Brothers Foundation since 2011, recognizes the important role board members play in strategic planning, financial oversight, and organizational leadership to help nonprofits achieve their mission. The award recipient will receive a $10,000 grant for their organization.
Grantee Spotlight: Muncie Community Schools Transformation
Over the past decade, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has undergone one of the most significant periods of transformation in the district’s history. What began with difficult, but necessary decisions around consolidation and financial stabilization have evolved into an unprecedented collaboration that is positioning the district as a national model.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses outdoor learning, Muncie Community Schools, and BBF 100th celebration
BBF’s President & CEO Jud Fisher joined Steve Lindell on Delaware County Today earlier this month to talk about programs and initiatives supported by Ball Brothers Foundation. Jud shared about recent grants supporting outdoor learning programs in the county, continued investment in the future of Muncie Community schools, and a recap of the foundation’s 100th celebration at Minnetrista in May.
May 2026: Over $1.8M awarded in grants, 100th celebration highlights, Boulevard history, and more
The foundation recently awarded more than $1.8 million in its first round of grants supporting organizations and initiatives in Muncie, Delaware County, and East Central Indiana. This funding round placed a major focus on outdoor learning, helping schools and nonprofits create spaces where children can explore, discover, and learn through hands-on experiences.
Outdoor Learning Grants Among $1.8M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation in Centennial Year
Ball Brothers Foundation, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest family foundations, has awarded more than $1.8 million in its spring round of grants as the organization marks its 100th year of grantmaking in 2026. A major focus of this funding round supports outdoor learning and nature-based play initiatives across East Central Indiana.
Jim Fisher and Jud Fisher’s remarks at “Garden Party of the Century”
In remarks from the front porch of the E.B. & Bertha C. Ball Center, BBF Board Chair Jim Fisher and BBF President & CEO Jud Fisher reflected on the meaning of the moment and the enduring importance of partnership in philanthropy.
A Century of Philanthropy Celebrated Along Minnetrista Boulevard
As Ball Brothers Foundation marks its 100th year of grantmaking, the foundation celebrated May 14 with its “Garden Party of the Century,” an evening gathering held along Muncie’s historic Minnetrista Boulevard. The event brought together a small group of grantees, community leaders, peer funders, and board members to reflect on a century of philanthropy and partnership in East Central Indiana.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses Excellence in Teaching Award, Shafer Leadership Academy, and BBF’s 100 years
BBF’s President & CEO Jud Fisher joined Steve Lindell on Delaware County Today earlier this month to talk about programs and initiatives supported by Ball Brothers Foundation. Jud shared about Muncie Central High School teacher Katherine Hughes—the 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, the impactful work on the Shafer Leadership Academy, and plans to celebrate 100 years of the foundation.
White River Boulevard and Minnetrista Boulevard: A Gathering Place by the Water
Minnetrista Boulevard’s history goes back long before Muncie was founded, stretching back thousands of years.
Archaeological evidence suggests Native Americans lived along the north bend of the White River, between present-day Wheeling and Walnut streets, for thousands of years.
Jud Fisher’s Remarks at 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award Ceremony
First and foremost, congratulations to Katherine Hughes as the recipient of Ball Brothers Foundation’s 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award. Ball Brothers Foundation is a 100-year-old private family foundation that provides grant funding and leadership in the state of Indiana, mostly targeted in Muncie and Delaware County. This teaching award is given annually in recognition of the values and spirit that were paramount to our foundation’s founders regarding education and student achievement.
Ball Brothers Foundation Names Muncie Community Schools Teacher Katherine Hughes 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient
In Katherine Hughes’ classroom at Muncie Central High School, history moves and unfolds outside of a textbook.
On any given day, students might analyze symbolism in a modern Olympic ceremony, take on the roles of peasants, clergy, and nobles during the French Revolution, or debate and make decisions that mirror the tensions of the time they are studying. The lessons stick because students get to experience the materials for themselves, and the content intentionally supports their interests.
April 2026: Shafer Leadership Spotlight, Ball Corp HQ history, Ivy Tech, and more
Strong leadership shapes everything organizations do. For nearly 20 years, Shafer Leadership Academy has helped individuals across East Central Indiana build the skills to lead, communicate, and navigate change.
With long-standing support from Ball Brothers Foundation, the academy has grown from an early pilot initiative into a thriving organization serving thousands each year across East Central Indiana and beyond. Learn how this work is building a pipeline of leaders.