Earlier this month, Ball Brothers Foundation joined more than 20 community leaders, funders, and local officials for a tour of the Kitselman Trailhead construction site on Muncie's east side.

The project is transforming the area into a safer and more welcoming gateway for trail users and for vehicles. In addition to rebuilding the levee that protects nearby neighborhoods and downtown from flooding, the work will realign the Cardinal Greenway to remove a dangerous road crossing and create a smoother, safer connection along the 60+ mile trail.

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.

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.

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.

Several weeks ago, BBF partnered with Cardinal Greenways to host a groundbreaking for the final phase of the Kitselman Trailhead, a project that is 20+ years in the making.  

What was once a 14-acre superfund site—home to the towering Indiana Steel & Wire complex—is being reimagined into a vibrant eastern gateway into Muncie.

East Central Indiana is home to the headwaters of the White River—and how we care for it has ripple effects far beyond our community. 

In a recent op-ed, BBF President & CEO Jud Fisher reflects on decades of progress and explains why this natural resource is vital to our region's identity, economy, and environment.

Clean water, healthy land, and thriving outdoor spaces need care and investment. That’s why BBF recently awarded a grant of $75,000 to support the launch of The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County’s Environmental Impact Fund.

Designed to support conservation projects—like improving water quality and expanding recreation amenities—this fund ensures a lasting investment in the natural resources that make our community special for future generations to enjoy.

Exciting progress is happening along the White River and across our region. At a recent convening with BBF grantees and friends from Muncie, Delaware County, and nearby communities, local leaders shared updates on new canoe and kayak launches, a fresh White River branding campaign, dam removal efforts, and enhancements at Prairie Creek Reservoir.

The start of the new year is always exciting for Ball Brothers Foundation’s board and staff. This year marks our 99th year of grantmaking, and we are honored to be the stewards of this remarkable legacy. While a lot has changed over the century since the foundation was established, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to improving the quality of life in Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and Indiana. 

We can’t believe how quickly 2024 has flown by! This year was filled with exciting projects, inspiring partnerships, and moments that made a real difference in our community.

Take a look back with us at some of the highlights that made this year so special.

In our latest op-ed, BBF's Jud Fisher and Trevor Friedeberg (President & CEO of East Central Indiana Regional Partnership), detail how local community colleges, universities, the IU School of Medicine-Muncie, and hospitals are teaming up to train healthcare professionals who are choosing to stay here and serve our communities.

We're excited to announce our latest round of grants, totaling over $5 million to support 36 organizations across East Central Indiana. As part of this round, the foundation awarded $125,000 to United Day Care Center to help add new infant/toddler classrooms to support local families in need of affordable, quality childcare.

Once built on glass jars, auto batteries, headlamps, and transmissions, East Central Indiana is now redefining itself for a brighter future.

In his latest op-ed, BBF's President & CEO Jud Fisher highlights exciting initiatives transforming ECI—from establishing our identity as an 'eds and meds' hub to our growing reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation in the Midwest.

Construction of the new 73,000-square-foot YMCA on the Muncie Central High School campus is well underway. In our latest Q&A, Chad Zaucha (President and CEO of the YMCA of Muncie), shares more about the construction timeline and how the building will spark vitality in this part of the city. 

There's no question that technology has become deeply integrated into our everyday lives. As we've seen with the recent CrowdStrike outage and major data breaches, the security of our information and systems has never been more critical.

In his latest op-ed, Jud Fisher delves into the growing cybercrime threats facing Indiana communities and highlights the proactive steps East Central Indiana is making to address these tough issues.

$4M+ in New Grants Announced

Capital Projects in Downtown and Beyond Share in Funding 

This spring, BBF's board approved over $4 million in grants, including support for capital projects underway by numerous organizations, several of which have long ties to the Ball family.

We are pleased to announce that Chris Horner, a fire-science teacher at the Muncie Area Career Center, is the recipient of Ball Brothers Foundation's 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award.

This month, we've been on the road here in our hometown (and beyond) to see what's "springing up." 

For many years, BBF has supported disaster response efforts across the state following major tornadoes and other natural disasters. Through our Emergency Management grantmaking initiative, the foundation has also worked to provide specialized training and equipment to local agencies to prepare for large scale disasters.

On March 14, the response needs hit close to home with a tornado impacting both Delaware and Randolph counties.