Over a decade ago, Muncie’s business, school, and nonprofit leaders came together to rally around the opportunity to better prepare our community’s youngest learners for kindergarten—and beyond. With the support of local funders and other donors—including Ball Brothers Foundation—BY5 was created. While the organization continues to evolve to meet changing needs, its commitment to providing a strong foundation for early learning remains unchanged. 

Being a college student is a full-time job. For student parents, it’s double the challenge. Between classes, homework, and raising a child, young parents face enormous obstacles. Ball Brothers Foundation has long invested in efforts to strengthen family resources and improve access to education. In 2024, the foundation began to support a new community initiative that does just that.   

For over a decade, BBF has been supporting the work of Project Leadership, a nonprofit organization serving East Central Indiana’s students, families, and schools. Project Leadership’s programs are laser-focused on preparing students for education and career journeys after high school.

In 2018, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) and Ball State University embarked on a groundbreaking partnership, creating a national model for collaboration between a public university and a public school system. This innovative alliance began amidst significant challenges, as MCS faced financial crisis and declining enrollment. Since then, the district has made remarkable strides in reimagining its future with the support of Ball State, the local community, and dedicated funders like Ball Brothers Foundation.

Erskine Green Training Institute (EGTI), located in the heart of downtown Muncie, is helping individuals with disabilities pave a new path to their independence. Finding a job as someone with a disability can be a challenge. In fact, the unemployment rate among people with intellectual disabilities is more than twice as high as the general population.

In April 2023, the YMCA of Muncie announced plans to construct a new 73,000-square-foot facility on the Muncie Central High School campus to consolidate its previous locations and ensure better reinvestment in equipment and programs to meet community needs. After a successful capital campaign supported by many organizations, including Ball Brothers Foundation, construction is underway and exciting developments are taking shape.

Growing up on the streets of Muncie and struggling with alcohol abuse, Melvin Kelly, founder of Brothers to Brothers United (B2B), navigated many challenges. Now, he hopes his life story and vision for B2B can inspire change in the lives of young males in our community.

Established in 2022, the Nonprofit Support Network (NSN) is a capacity-building organization dedicated to supporting nonprofits in Muncie-Delaware County. The organization provides workshops, peer networking opportunities, an on-line portal of resources, tailored support for nonprofits, and more.

Located on the southeast side of Muncie, the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) stands on over 1,000 acres of land and is home to the largest model aviation field in the world. Having moved to Muncie in the 1990s, the AMA’s international headquarters and museum are now home to dozens of events each year from model aviation flying days that draw hobbyists from across the country to rocket launches, kite festivals, drone competitions, remote control helicopter events, and more.

Transforming Communities Through Sustainable Development and Construction Trades Training

In the heart of Muncie, there's an organization powerfully reshaping the landscape—and the workforce—one house at a time and one life at a time. ecoREHAB, a nonprofit headquartered in Muncie’s Old West End, is on a mission to help revitalize the community's neighborhoods through sustainable design, rehabilitation, and education.

Over the past decade, Ball Brothers Foundation has dramatically increased its support for public schools in the heart of Muncie’s Central City: Muncie Community Schools and Burris Laboratory School.

Meet Trevor Friedeberg, President/CEO of East Central Indiana Regional Partnership. Trevor is helping to lead East Central Indiana’s pursuit of up to $75 million in state funding through the READI program. The program is designed to infuse regions with funding that will help to attract and retain talent.

In 2018, Ball State University Professor John West, who had been working with the City of Muncie to start a land bank under new State legislation, approached Ball Brothers Foundation for assistance in making the new institution as effective as possible. The challenge was to make it happen in Muncie.

Five Indiana independent colleges are the winners of the 2023 Ball Venture Fund competitive grant program: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, University of Evansville, Valparaiso University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and University of Notre Dame.

In the 1970s, the Garland E. Ross Recreational Center was a popular, bustling gathering place on the southside of Muncie. The city-run center was located in a proud working-class neighborhood where many residents were employed at the nearby Chevrolet plant and other local factories.

In January of this year, Minnestrista Museum and Gardens welcomed Brian Statz as its new President & CEO. Ball Brothers Foundation sat down with him for a Q&A to learn more about his initial feelings about Muncie and what he finds exciting about his work with Minnestrista so far.

Over the past decade, Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded over 60 “Emergency Management” grants totaling $1.1 million. This initiative was originally designed to support community preparedness, professional development for public safety personnel, and specialized equipment allowing Muncie & Delaware County to stand out as a leader in safety and preparedness.