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Community Foundation of Elkhart County invests $2,707,390 with grants to nonprofits

October 26, 2022

ELKHART, Indiana – The Community Foundation of Elkhart County’s Board of Directors approved $2,707,390 of new and multi-year grants to dozens of nonprofits and programs throughout Elkhart County.

The grants were given in the categories of placemaking, kids and families, and career pathways, reflecting the priorities of the Community Foundation. The organization is helping lead two community initiatives and grantmaking is supporting the efforts of Connect in Elkhart County, focused on expanding Elkhart County’s trail network, and Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative.

“Elkhart County benefits from many nonprofit organizations improving the quality of life for our community in so many ways,” said Chief Program Officer Candy Yoder. “We are proud to join other philanthropists to support these organizations. Together we can make a difference.”

The grants awarded between July 1, 2022 and mid-October 2022 are:

Placemaking grants totaling $599,500

• Elkhart County Symphony Association, operational support, $80,000
• Elkhart County Parks Department, Corson Riverwoods County Park, $203,000
• City of Elkhart, New River Greenway Trail, $100,000
• 20 grants to local events and festivals totaled $202,000
• Four grants of $25,000 or less totaled $14,500

In addition, one grant was awarded from Connected Network of Trails Initiative reserved funds:

• City of Nappanee – Pedal Party Community Bike Ride $1,484

And expenditures of $3,656 were approved from reserved funds to support the Connected Network of Trails Initiative.

Kids and Families grants totaling $769,330

• Women’s Care Center, operational support, $100,000
• First Light Mission, capital campaign, $75,000
• Goodwill Industries of Michiana – Nurse Family Partnership $182,730
• Council on Aging, Life Enrichment Activity Center 1:1 Challenge, $47,000
• Lacasa, building community in South Central Elkhart, $100,000
• Susanna’s Kitchen, relocation project, $55,000
• Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative, reserved, $100,000
• 10 grants of $25,000 or less totaled $109,600

In addition, expenditures of $15,000 were approved from reserved funds to support Building Strong Brains: Elkhart County’s Early Childhood Initiative.

Career Pathways grants totaling $884,545

• Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County, Jimtown Teen Center, $75,000
• enFocus, Civic Innovation fellowships and internships, $50,000
• ETHOS, operational support, $200,000
• Ivy Tech Foundation, dental lab, $125,000
• Lifeline Ministries, capital campaign: phase II, $300,000
• uLEAD, leadership pilot with Elkhart Community Schools, $50,538
• University of Notre Dame, Center of Civic Innovation internships, $49,377
• Two grants of $25,000 or less totaled $34,630

Opportunity Fund totaling $454,015

• 30 grants for sponsorships and memberships

Grant requests are reviewed by staff and volunteer committees comprised of a diverse range of community members who are engaged with their respective sectors and make every effort to be aware of emerging and ongoing initiatives. Staff members can make decisions on grants of $25,000 or less and the board of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County approves all grants.