August 2026: The Beginnings of Ball State, Flooding Response, Q&A with MuncieArts, & Jud Fisher on Healthcare Pipeline
In 1917, a struggling college in Muncie sat on the auction block, its future uncertain. Worried an out-of-town buyer might snap it up, several Ball brothers anonymously placed a bid—and won.
Among them was Frank Ball, who had bigger plans than just saving the campus: he wanted to make it the best school in Indiana.
BBF 100: Historical Ties to Ball State University
The origins of Ball State University trace back to 1899, when Muncie began efforts to establish a local institution for higher education. Several attempts followed, including the Eastern Indiana Normal Institute, Palmer University, and Indiana Normal School and College of Applied Sciences, but each struggled with financial challenges and enrollment issues. By 1917, the campus buildings had deteriorated and the future of higher education in Muncie was uncertain.
Grantee Spotlight: Q&A with MuncieArts
Muncie Arts and Culture Council was established in 2011 to celebrate and support arts in Muncie. Since then, MACC (now known as MuncieArts) has evolved significantly.
Today, MuncieArts finds itself at an important moment. Following the completion of several major public art projects, the launch of a new monthly newsletter, the revival of community programs like Box!Box!, and preparation for a new strategic plan, the organization is reimagining its role as a backbone organization for Muncie's creative sector.
East Central Indiana's Answer to the Healthcare Talent Shortage is to Grow Your Own
Op-Ed by Jud Fisher
Indiana needs healthcare talent, and East Central Indiana is demonstrating what it takes to grow your own.
The state’s healthcare workforce challenges won’t be solved by recruiting talent alone. We must grow our own. The strongest workforce pipelines begin years before a student ever applies to medical school or a nursing program—they begin the moment young people can envision a future in healthcare.
Jud Fisher guest on “Delaware County Today;” discusses community developments
Ball Brothers Foundation President and CEO Jud Fisher recently joined Steve Lindell on WMUN’s Delaware County Today to discuss several developments across Delaware County. This month’s feature includes the latest Project Blueways updates, from a new White River canoe/kayak launch coming soon to Memorial Drive to BBF’s support for White River Rising, a new documentary following a paddle from Muncie to Indianapolis.
July 2026: Camp Crosley's Next Chapter, Jud Fisher Named to Indiana 250, and the History of BSU Teachers College & Burris
Nearly 100 years ago, Ball Brothers Foundation made its first grant to Camp Crosley—and the partnership is still going strong today.
The Muncie YMCA had been camping on borrowed land for years before Edmund and Bertha Ball gave a gift in 1921 that helped the camp find its permanent home on Lake Little Tippecanoe, given as a memorial to their young son, Crosley.
Jud Fisher Named to Indiana 250
Jud Fisher, President & CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation, has been selected as one of IBJ Media's 2026 Indiana 250, an annual recognition honoring Hoosier leaders whose influence and leadership are helping shape the future of Indiana across business, philanthropy, government, economic development, and the nonprofit sector.
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.