Strengthening Community Through Shared Action
Through special initiatives, we come alongside others in Elkhart County to support creative solutions, foster collaboration, and respond to needs as they arise. Whether we’re partnering on a long-term vision or stepping in to help during times of challenge, these efforts reflect our belief that lasting change happens when we work together.
We engage in this work not as the lead voice but as a partner, helping communities organize around shared goals, offering resources and connections, and learning alongside those doing the work every day. Our role is to listen well, help clear paths forward, and remain flexible as needs and opportunities evolve.
Some of our initiatives are sparked by urgent issues, while others grow through years of relationship and planning. From supporting early childhood learning to expanding local volunteerism, these efforts reflect our commitment to a more connected, vibrant Elkhart County.
Acts of Service is a community-wide initiative that helps people in Elkhart County find meaningful ways to serve. By connecting volunteers with local nonprofit organizations, this initiative helps turn good intentions into real impact. Whether you’re looking to give your time, share your skills, or get your business or faith group involved, Acts of Service is a simple way to connect to and support the causes you care about and strengthen the place we all call home.
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is proud to support Building Strong Brains, a growing movement to ensure every child in our community is ready to thrive by age five. This work brings together families, caregivers, educators, and leaders to create lasting change for young children.
Over the next decade, we’re partnering with dozens of organizations across Elkhart County—schools, libraries, nonprofits, healthcare providers, businesses, and more—to strengthen the systems that support early childhood. By working together, we’re helping families build strong foundations so that every child has the chance to grow, learn, and succeed.
Learn more and get involved at buildingstrongbrains.net »
100 Women Who Care Elkhart County is a group of women who come together with a shared purpose: to support local nonprofits doing meaningful work in our community.
Started in 2014 by Jenny Welch and Sheila Terlep, the group is built on a simple but powerful idea—when people pool their resources and act together, small efforts can lead to significant results.
Professional advisors play an essential role in helping individuals and families make decisions that reflect their values, provide for loved ones, and support causes they care about.
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County is here to support that work. Whether you’re an attorney, accountant, financial planner, or trust officer, we offer tools and expertise to help you serve your clients well—especially those who wish to include charitable giving as part of their legacy.
We understand that each client’s goals are unique. Our team works alongside advisors to explore giving options, facilitate complex gifts, and ensure that generosity is carried out in ways that are both meaningful and effective.
Learn more about the Elkhart County Estate Planning Council »
For more than 30 years, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has been a source of beauty, recreation, and connection in Elkhart County. The Community Foundation is proud to support the Pumpkinvine Trails Coalition and the broader effort to expand a countywide trail system through Connect in Elkhart County—a master plan to link towns, parks, and neighborhoods through safe, scenic, and accessible pathways.
Trails connect more than places—they connect people. Learn how we’re investing in this at pumpkinvine.org »
The Community Foundation of Elkhart County helped raise the funds and shape the vision for the Elkhart Health & Aquatics center—now a vibrant anchor in the city’s River District. This dynamic facility brings together community wellness, competitive athletics, and youth development under one roof, serving as a gathering place for people of all ages and abilities.
It’s more than a pool—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in its future.
Did You Know?
In FY2024, we were able to distribute over $31 million in grants to the people who call Elkhart County home.
