Mishler Brown Fund

Preserving Heritage. Advancing Agriculture.

Helen Mishler had a deep love for farming and a passion for preserving its legacy. Through her estate, she made plans to protect one of Elkhart County’s oldest farms, ensuring that a historic 1838 cabin near Nappanee would remain standing on its original five-acre plot—just as it has for generations, beside a towering ginkgo tree.

Beyond preserving her family homestead, Helen created the Mishler Brown Fund as part of her legacy. This fund continues her commitment by supporting organizations that advance agriculture, conservation, and preservation.

Read more about Helen Mishler

Funding Focus

The Mishler Brown Fund awards grants to organizations whose work aligns with the following focus areas:

• Farming and agricultural education or preservation
• Historic preservation of farms, barns, and farming equipment
• Preservation of natural resources

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:

• Be classified as a 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States.
• Demonstrate alignment with the fund’s mission.
• Be based anywhere in the U.S. (Elkhart County residency is not required).

We do not fund:

• Individuals
• Fundraising events
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
• Lobbying or political activity

Grant Details

• Grants may be awarded to one or more organizations annually.
• Award sizes vary based on project scope and alignment with the fund’s priorities.
• Applicants are encouraged to request amounts appropriate to the scale and impact of the proposed project.

Key Dates

• Application window opens: October 1
• Deadline to apply: December 31
• Grant review and decisions: January of the following year

What Makes a Strong Proposal?

Applicants should clearly outline:

• What you plan to do and why
• Who will benefit and the need being addressed
• How you will measure progress and report results
• Whether you are pursuing additional funding and how we might collaborate
• A simple budget document showing intended use of funds (.pdf, .doc, or .xls)

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online after October 1 when the application opens. Once your application is complete, it will be reviewed by Carrie Berghoff, in partnership with the fund advisor. You will receive confirmation once your application is received.