Grants to Grow Healthcare Talent in East Central Indiana Among $5M Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation, a family foundation committed to place-based grantmaking in Indiana for nearly a century, has awarded more than $5 million in its second round of grants for 2025.
A major focus of this round supports projects that strengthen East Central Indiana’s healthcare workforce pipeline. This funding will help expand medical education, launch new healthcare credential programs, and provide hands-on experiences for high school and college students preparing for healthcare careers.
Among the largest of the healthcare-related grants is $75,000 to Indiana University School of Medicine–Muncie to support expanded physician training. Funding will build upon several IUSM–M programs, including a comprehensive mentorship network connecting medical students, residents, and Ball State University undergraduate students aspiring to become physicians. This funding will also support a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention summer internship program and IUSM-M’s standardized patient training programs which allows students to practice diagnosing and communicating with real patients in a supervised setting. IUSM-M’s standardized patient programs is one of the largest in the state.
“Across the nation, healthcare organizations are facing physician shortages due in part to unprecedented challenges in physician recruitment and retention,” said Dr. Derron Bishop, associate dean and director of IU School of Medicine–Muncie. “Our strategy to address physician shortages is built on long-term investment in education, relationships, and our community—work that begins years before formal recruitment. We’re now proud to see that investment paying off in Muncie, where our physician training pipeline now supports future physician training from high school all the way to board-certified physician.”
Building on that early-stage investment, Indiana University Health Foundation received $20,000 from Ball Brothers Foundation to expand its Healthcare Career Exploration program, which introduces high school students to a wide range of medical professions. The initiative will take hundreds of local students into IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for tours of clinic spaces, interactions with healthcare professionals, and career path exploration activities.
Complementing this hands-on hospital experience, Ivy Tech Community College received $25,000 for its Healthcare Pathways to Pipeline initiative. In partnership with IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, the program will offer dual-credit and dual-enrollment options in Pharmacy Technician and Central Service Technician (sterile processing) tracks for local high school students. Up to 40 students will gain early training and industry-recognized credentials—strengthening the direct pipeline from area schools into jobs.
Additional related grants include:
Ball State University – $30,000 to support the Healthy Lifestyle Center and live-learn communities for IU School of Medicine–Muncie students, expanding interprofessional training and encouraging future healthcare professionals to stay in East Central Indiana.
Taylor University – $20,000 to enhance its new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program through student lab kits, demonstration models, and task trainers that strengthen clinical preparedness.
Open Door Health Services – $10,000 to support Open Door’s medical assistant training program.
Meridian Health Services – $10,000 to expand its Physician & Provider Speaker Series in spring 2026, advancing continuing education in behavioral health, primary care integration, and trauma-informed care.
Delaware County Health Department – $10,000 to strengthen the Health First Delaware County initiative and launch a Public Health Apprentice program, offering local students valuable experience in public health service and outreach.
These projects reflect an ongoing commitment to preparing local students and professionals for healthcare careers. Since 2016, Ball Brothers Foundation has supported this work through its Optimus Primary funding initiative, helping strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce pipeline and building East Central Indiana’s reputation as a center of excellence in medical education.
“Optimus Primary represents what’s possible when local organizations come together,” shared Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “In this case, it’s helping prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals right here in East Central Indiana so that our families, friends, and neighbors can get the care they need close to home long into the future.”
Other grants awarded by the foundation this round included:
Arts and Culture
Cornerstone Center for the Arts - $100,000 to support ongoing operations, programming, and facility management/planning.
Delaware County Historical Society - $20,000 for staffing to support Delaware County’s Bicentennial, America’s 250th, and planning for the future of the historic Moore-Youse-Maxon home.
Indiana Humanities - $25,000 to support ongoing operations, programming, and civics/democracy offerings in conjunction with America’s 250th.
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens - $2,775,000 for ongoing operations and facility improvements.
Muncie Arts and Culture Council - $25,000 for operations and capacity building.
Muncie Civic Theatre - $75,000 to support 2025-2026 season and facility renovations.
Orchestra Indiana - $15,000 in general operating support for 2025/26 season.
Education
Ball State University - $60,000 for Longfellow Elementary’s Family/School/Community Coordinator position.
Burris Laboratory School - $150,000 for K-12 school improvements and innovations.
East Central Indiana Robotics - $15,000 to create three robotics classrooms at their facility in Matthews.
ecoREHAB - $80,000 to hire a Design Build Coordinator, provide staff training, support instructors in youth job training program, and improve office space.
Huffer Memorial Children’s Center - $40,000 to support childcare, including technology, supplies, and educational materials.
Independent Colleges of Indiana - $105,000 for Ball Venture Fund seed funding supporting innovative projects at private colleges/universities across Indiana and a colloquium for past winners.
Muncie BY5 - $75,000 for operating support and continuation of the Professional Learning Institute for childcare workers.
Muncie Community Schools - $425,000 for PreK-12 innovations and academic/extracurricular enhancements.
NearSpace Education - $50,000 to expand high-altitude balloon launch programs to six schools in Delaware County.
Nextech - $30,000 for 6-week paid computer science internships for high school students in summer 2026.
TeenWorks - $50,000 to support 2026 summer employment program for Delaware County teens.
Environment
The White River Alliance - $10,000 to engage local leaders, businesses, and partners in water sampling.
Public/Society Benefit
East Central Indiana Regional Partnership (FORGE-ECI) - $80,000 for general operations, READI program management, and regional marketing.
Muncie Action Plan - $15,000 for operations, neighborhood mini-grants, and IDEA conference.
Muncie Land Bank - $250,000 for operations and housing development in the Old West End.
The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. - $55,000 to support Nonprofit Support Network operations and programming.
Human Services
Brothers to Brothers United - $25,000 for support of youth mentoring program, including alternative to detention programming for those who are justice-involved.
Muncie Mission Ministries - $45,000 for purchase of box truck to transport food, clothing, and household items.
The Arc of Indiana - $50,000 for the Erskine Green Training Institute’s job training programs for individuals with disabilities.
Urban Light Community Development - $20,000 for general operating support including marketing, recovery housing, and increasing staff capacity.
YMCA of Muncie - $500,000 for renovation and expansion of the dining hall and kitchen at Camp Crosley.
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About Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation is one of the state’s oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation pays out more than $8 million in grants to support arts and culture, education, the environment, health, human services, and public/society benefit. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city, county, and state.