
Celebrating 95 Years
In 1926, Edmund Burke Ball left an estate gift of $3.3 million to form the bedrock of Ball Brothers Foundation, believing that philanthropy is more powerful than charity.

‘The last mile’: Ball Brothers Foundation announces grants to support COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Hospitals, public health departments and healthcare organizations are carrying the brunt of COVID-19 efforts: caring for the ill, monitoring the spread of cases, educating the public about prevention methods, running testing sites and, now, managing the monumental task of carrying out the largest vaccination efforts in the nation’s history.

2021 BBF Calls for Teacher Nominations, Excellence in Teaching Judging Panel Announced
Ball Brothers Foundation will again honor Delaware County teachers in 2021 through the Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award. Nominations from school districts are due on Monday, February 1.

2020 Year in Review
2020 was a momentous year—for Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and the rest of the world. Marked largely by unprecedented events and hardship, the year forced us all to rethink the way we do things.

Amidst COVID Surge, Funding to Support Hospital Caregivers, Vaccine Distribution Planning Awarded by Ball Brothers Foundation
As the year draws to a close, BBF is responding to the surge in COVID cases with additional support for local hospitals. Additionally, encouraged by the promise of COVID vaccines, the foundation awarded funding for local vaccine distribution planning.

The Future of Work: How Muncie organizations are preparing for advancements in technology, changes to the workforce
The future of work is changing. Soon—perhaps by the time the next generation of employees enter the workforce—nearly every job will have been impacted by technology, automation, advanced cloud computing or artificial intelligence, said Corey Sharp, director of Purdue Polytechnic Institute Anderson.

Local Childcare Centers Challenged by Pandemic Receive BBF Support
Throughout the pandemic, challenges related to childcare have gained significant attention. BBF has focused early childhood funding throughout the year on helping local childcare centers reopen safely, support staffing needs, and even reconfigure spaces for improved safety.

Spreading some good news in 2020
FALL 2020 NEWSLETTER
2020 has been a long, challenging year, to say the least. Providing a hopeful look ahead, Ball Brothers Foundation is excited to share some good news during these difficult times.

Looking to improve quality of life beyond COVID-19, Ball Brothers Foundation awards over $6 million in grants to support education, workforce development, more
In its final round of grants for the year, Ball Brothers Foundation awarded more than $6 million to local nonprofits, schools, workforce development organizations and other entities

Ron Fauquher of Innovation Connector recognized with annual Fisher Governance Award
This year’s Fisher Governance Award, annually presented by Ball Brothers Foundation, was awarded to Ron Fauquher, chair of the Innovation Connector Board of Directors. Fauquher was honored with the award at the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 126th Annual Meeting Celebration on Oct. 15.

2020 Fisher Governance Award nomination deadline approaching
The deadline to nominate a board member for Ball Brothers Foundation’s annual John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award is fast approaching. Delaware County nonprofits have until Aug. 15 to nominate one of their board members for the award.

BBF’s Rich Spisak Honored with “Spirit of Muncie Award”
BBF’s Rich Spisak was announced today as the Muncie-Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 “Spirit of Muncie” award winner.

Supported by local philanthropies, Academic Innovation Plan sparks ‘new sense of optimism for what is possible in Muncie Community Schools’
In the summer of 2018, Muncie Community Schools made headlines when it partnered with Ball State University to establish a new model of leadership for the corporation. But there’s one aspect to the partnership that many people may not know about: the substantial support from local foundations.

Ball Brothers Foundation approves $1.7 million in first round of annual grants
Last month, Ball Brothers Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $1.7 million in its first round of grants for the year. Overall, the funding provides support to local efforts in arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment; human services; and public society benefit.

Ball Brothers Foundation Office Status Update
Ball Brothers Foundation’s offices remain closed to the public. Our staff continues to work from home while we begin to return to the office using a staggered schedule.

BBF Awards Special Funding to Support BSU and Ivy Tech COVID Efforts
As the impact of COVID continues to be felt in our community, Ball Brothers Foundation is supporting special efforts at Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College.

Burris’ Stefanie Onieal named recipient of Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award
Stefanie Onieal is not a teacher, she says. She’s a researcher.
“I'm a researcher of my students. I am researching what they know, what they can do, and I'm trying to take them to the next place, to where they need to go,” said Onieal, a second-grade teacher at Burris Laboratory School in Muncie.

Ball Brothers Foundation Awards $75,000 to Local Hospitals, Continues COVID-19 Support for Front-Line Workers
As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in East Central Indiana, Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded a $75,000 grant to the IU Health Foundation. The grant will support the needs of hospital employees in Delaware, Jay and Blackford Counties who are working around the clock to fight COVID-19.
A Note from Jud Fisher
We are all adjusting to tremendous changes in our family lives, professional lives, and social lives. In the midst of this change, it has been inspiring to see the ways that our community has risen up over the past month to use the skills, talents, and resources we have to meet pressing needs.

Muncie Star Press-Ball Brothers Foundation focuses on frontline during COVID-19
Earlier this week, reporter Corey Ohlenkamp from The Star Press contacted BBF’s Jud Fisher to learn more about the Foundation’s responses to COVID-19.