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The Marshall County Community Foundation (MCCF) announced the Spring 2024 grant awards from Community Funds totaling $55,000 and the Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Fund totaling $15,000.
Twice each year, nonprofit organizations are invited to submit funding requests for projects that improve the quality of life in Marshall County. MCCF Grants Committee members evaluate the proposals during a competitive application process. The Spring 2024 grant awards will fund a variety of projects and programs.
Marshall County Community Foundation Community Fund grant awardees were recognized at an awards event on April 18 at the Marshall County Philanthropy Center.
Community Funds are the most flexible and responsive of the Foundation’s funds in addressing current and emerging needs. Grants from unrestricted endowment funds typically support projects focusing on the arts, education, health and human services, recreation, and the environment.
The first grants from unrestricted Community Funds at MCCF were awarded in 1995; since then, the MCCF has awarded over $5.4 million in total grants from these funds alone. In addition to the Marshall County Community Fund, the following ‘named’ unrestricted funds support competitive grant rounds in Marshall County. These funds include the Barbara and Ralph Winters Community Fund, the Billy and Vickie Ellinger Community Fund, the Brian and Patricia Kitch Family Community Fund, the C & M Overmyer Unrestricted Endowment Fund, the Eleanor & Randy Danielson Community Aesthetic Improvement Fund, the Gibson Community Fund, the First Merchants Bank Community Fund, the Janet Newberg Community Fund, the John and Kay Finlay Community Fund, the Philip and Sylvia Bieghler Community Fund, the Paul and Carol Nye Community Fund, and the Will and June Erwin Community Fund.
Spring 2024 Community Fund Grants:
Bourbon United Pentecostal Church DBA Kids Kingdom Daycare. $7,500 for expansion of After-School Care Program.
Marian University Ancilla College. $25,000 towards expansion of the hydrophonics program to enable year-round cultivation and a more reliable and sustainable local food supply with produce supporting distribution to Marshall County families in need.
Maxinkuckee Players. $7,500 to fund “Shrek the Musical” this summer.
PBS Michiana-WNIT. $10,000 to purchase local production equipment in support of expansion of locally-produced programs by 25%.
The Ladybug Foundation. $5,000 to fund a county-wide 12-week pilot childbirth preparatory program designed to address infant mortality rates with evidence-based strategies.
The Ralph C. Vonnegut Jr. Fund was established to provide annual funding for environmental, educational, or recreational projects directly related to Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver. This grant cycle, a $15,000 grant was awarded to the following group:
Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund: $15,000 to purchase a lake buoy to monitor lake conditions and collect water quality information in real time.
