Best Arts Grants for Nonprofits in Indiana

The MMUF Advancement Program offers Adjunct Faculty Fellowships designed for alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship. These fellowships provide essential resources and time to focus on research and scholarship, aiding individuals in securing tenure-track positions. Each fellow receives a $10,000 stipend, a six-month award period, a mentor, and funding to attend a conference. This initiative supports diverse perspectives in higher education, fostering an inclusive academic environment.

The HFBC Community Fund Grant supports local organizations in Bartholomew County, distributing over $700,000 annually to promote positive change and development. By focusing on strategic areas such as Youth Development, Downtown Vitality, and Arts & Culture, the Heritage Fund aims to address community needs effectively. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their proposals align with these priorities. A letter of intent is required one week before the application deadline to express interest.

The Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. Grants aim to enhance community welfare by partnering with nonprofit organizations. Focused on STEM education and workforce readiness, these grants support qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, state or municipal organizations, and public schools in Indiana. Toyota's holistic approach includes volunteer engagement and knowledge sharing to ensure sustainable impact, while avoiding funding for organizations that do not align with their values or operate outside the U.S.

The Production Engineering and Manufacturing Center (PEMC) Grants, funded by Toyota, aim to enhance community well-being and inclusivity. The program supports qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and state or municipal organizations addressing urgent societal challenges. Toyota prioritizes STEM education and workforce readiness, engaging employees as volunteers to amplify their impact. Note that certain organizations, including those not recognized as nonprofits, are ineligible. Grants focus on sustainable, long-term development for under-resourced communities.

The NICF: Miami County Grants - Community Support Grant aims to support various community projects in Miami County, offering funding from several hundred to thousands of dollars. These grants have no application deadline and prioritize initiatives in education, health, human services, arts and culture, environmental efforts, community development, recreation, and youth development. The foundation encourages innovative projects that address unmet community needs and foster collaboration among organizations.

The NICF Micro Grant program offers funding up to $2,000 for projects in Miami County, Indiana, with no application deadlines. Target areas include education, health, arts, environmental initiatives, and community development. The program prioritizes projects that reach underserved communities and foster collaboration. However, it does not support ongoing operating budgets or projects solely funded by the foundation. This initiative aims to stimulate innovative solutions to community needs, encouraging self-sustainability and effective charitable organizations.

The Warren County Community Foundation offers grants over $2,500 for nonprofit organizations, coalitions, and civic groups serving Warren County, Indiana. Applications are reviewed quarterly, and potential applicants should contact the Foundation to confirm eligibility and timeline alignment. Notably, grants are not available for projects outside of Warren County, political activities, or those fully funded by the government. It's crucial for applicants to adhere to these guidelines to ensure consideration.

The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) offers Organization Grants to arts and culture organizations in Asia and the U.S., promoting cultural exchange through travel and collaborative activities. These grants support immersive experiences, research, and access to artistic communities, fostering international dialogue and relationship-building. Organizations must be nonprofit or educational institutions, legally registered in eligible regions, and demonstrate a minimum of five years of relevant programming. ACC provides additional support to enhance project feasibility.

The Neag Foundation Grant aims to foster positive change in education, healthcare, and the arts. Supporting initiatives in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, the foundation focuses on enhancing educational opportunities, advancing healthcare interventions, and promoting the arts and humanities. By encouraging innovative projects that receive community support, it seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. Organizations with a 501(c)(3) status are encouraged to apply for funding opportunities that align with these goals.

The Creative Projects Grant, previously known as the Creative Catalyst Grant, supports Illinois artists and non-profit organizations in developing arts-related projects, events, and professional growth. With an open deadline until funds are expended, applicants must submit their proposals at least eight weeks before their project's start date. As of September 2025, demand exceeds available funds, and award notifications continue as reviews are completed. Future details for the FY27 grants will be announced next year.

The HFM Foodservice Scholarship Fund supports students in Hawaii pursuing education in Culinary Arts or Agriculture. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.7, and attend an accredited institution in the U.S. Preference is given to prior recipients in good academic standing. This scholarship aims to empower future leaders in the foodservice industry by providing financial assistance to deserving candidates.

The 1st Source Foundation Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in communities by supporting established 501(c)(3) organizations. Focused on social welfare, education, arts, and economic development, the foundation emphasizes partnerships with successful nonprofits to maximize impact. Applicants must provide financial documentation, including a recent 990 form. The foundation prioritizes proven organizations over new ones, seeking to ensure effective resource utilization and community benefit through collaborative efforts.

The AFI Grant, administered by the Adient Foundation, Inc., supports charitable organizations across the U.S. with a focus on philanthropic efforts. These one-time grants do not guarantee future funding, emphasizing a need for organizations to demonstrate sound management and community impact. Each year, past recipients must reapply under the standard application process, ensuring that support aligns with equal opportunity objectives and the Foundation's mission to complement public funding.

The AFI Grant, administered by the Adient Foundation, Inc., aims to support philanthropic organizations in the U.S. that are tax-exempt. While primarily offering one-time grants, the Foundation evaluates proposals based on organizational structure, community impact, and management capacity. The Foundation complements public institutions and does not guarantee future funding based on past contributions. Grantees must operate with equal opportunity objectives, and past recipients must submit new applications each year.

The Waterfield Foundation Grant supports charitable and educational initiatives primarily in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and political subdivisions within the state. The foundation emphasizes projects that demonstrate a proven track record in the community or require private support. Note that grants are typically awarded once a year, and applications are reviewed during quarterly meetings. Organizations that are private foundations are not eligible for funding.

The Barker Welfare Foundation offers grants to qualified charitable organizations focused on enhancing the quality of life, particularly for youth and families, in New York City and Michigan City, Indiana. Organizations must be recognized as public charities and meet specific eligibility criteria, including providing audited financial statements. Proposals from start-ups or outside designated areas are discouraged. The Foundation aims to reflect the philanthropic legacy of its founder, Catherine B. Hickox.

The CFGFW Agile Grants program, offered by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, provides funding up to $20,000 for innovative projects that enhance the community's quality of life. Emphasizing diversity and inclusion, these grants support various issue areas, including education, health, and arts. Applications are accepted from March to October, and organizations can apply for new initiatives or significant enhancements to existing programs. This initiative aims to create lasting, positive impacts across Allen County and Northeast Indiana.

The Willson Center Research Seminar Program at the University of Georgia provides $2,000 for faculty-led interdisciplinary discussion groups on specific research topics. This grant is aimed at tenured or tenure-track faculty and is intended to facilitate the visit of external scholars to the campus. Applications are open for the upcoming academic year, focusing on fostering collaborative research initiatives among faculty.

The Amy Clampitt Poet Residency Program, established by The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, offers a six-month residency for poets at Amy Clampitt's former home in Lenox, Massachusetts. This program aims to foster the study and promotion of poetry, providing a peaceful retreat for a poet to focus on their craft. Selected poets receive a monthly stipend of $4,000 and are encouraged to make their creative work a priority during their stay.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Mary E. Berger Scholarship Fund

The Mary E. Berger Scholarship was established with a gift from Mary E. Berger and a future gift by the estate of Mary E. Berger to assist high school students who wish to attend college or university or professional school to pursue studies in art, music, history, political science, English, journalism and related liberal arts subject.

About

The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) was founded in 1988 by a group of dedicated parents, physicians, and friends to improve the treatment, quality of life, and the long term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education, and advocacy to families and survivors. In addition to providing funds to research a cure, the organization is the nation’s leader in quality of life programs for families impacted by brain and spinal cord tumors. We support families from the day of diagnosis and throughout the brain tumor journey.

CBTF believes in the importance of being responsive to the needs of everyone in the brain tumor community regardless of their racial/ethnic background. We believe in the importance of a culture that values people of all racial/ ethnic backgrounds. We value the many identities that an individual brings to the community and honor and appreciate the intersections of these identities. Our practice values respect, integrity and honesty. We are committed to inclusiveness. 

The Rosalie Out of the Ordinary Scholarship

Thank you for applying for the Rosalie Out of the Ordinary Scholarship. This opportunity is given in memory of Rosalie Ou, a brain tumor survivor who brought positive energy and creativity everywhere she went. Her passions were fashion, art, and friendship. Rosalie taught many of us the art of origami and at the same time instilled in us lessons about how to live a life filled with joy. Rosalie was not able to complete her degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology. In her memory we dedicate this scholarship to a student who wants to fulfill their dream of a career in fashion or art.

Cumberland Community Foundation ("CCF") manages more than 60 scholarship endowment funds created by local individuals, families, civic organizations, and corporations who want to provide a path to higher education for future generations. 

Each year, Cumberland Community Foundation announces more than $1,000,000 in college scholarships to students from southeastern North Carolina.

Beth Bryan Creative Arts Fund Scholarship

Graduating senior from any high school in Cumberland County.

Steven Thayer Hopi Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the family of Steven Thayer to provide scholarship funding for young Hopi artists to develop their talents and artistic skill.

About Knight Foundation

John S. and James L. Knight believed that a well-informed community could best “determine its own true interests” and was essential to a well-functioning, thriving democracy. They pursued those beliefs, building and leading one of the largest and most successful newspaper companies in American history.

For 75 years, Knight Foundation has supported the people, ideas and insights that lead to thriving communities. The foundation invests in local journalism, arts and culture and community development in the 26 cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.

Since our founding in 1950, we have been committed to the communities we serve and to providing those communities with the tools they need for residents to thrive.

Knight Cities Challenge

Knight Foundation is currently accepting applications for the Knight Cities Challenge, a $5 million open call inviting individuals and organizations across its 26 communities to submit new, creative ideas for projects that can spark change and leave a lasting local impact.

Building on a long history of open challenges across programs, Knight democratizes access to grantmaking to unlock the best and brightest ideas. This spring, KCC returns to invest in its first cohort of community-centered solutions to local challenges and help promising ideas take root and grow.

Project ideas must focus on at least one of Knight’s investment areas: strengthening local news and information, creating pathways for economic opportunity or cultivating connection through arts, culture and the places that bring people together.

You may submit one idea, either as an individual or on behalf of your organization. While you are limited to one application as the lead applicant, you may collaborate on other projects submitted by different partners. Each individual or organization may receive funding for only one project.

For large institutions such as universities or city governments, schools or departments are considered separate entities. 

Wabash Valley Community Foundation

The Wabash Valley Community Foundation is your community portal. By channeling community expertise to you and taking your creative ideas to the community, together, we make a difference. We go beyond simply taking charitable contributions and making grants to charitable organizations. Our board and staff are responsible for having in-depth expertise and spend most of their time in the community understanding challenges, identifying opportunities and recognizing successful organizations.

Families, individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations have created more than 670 charitable funds at the Community Foundation in the past 30 years. Together, we have awarded over $30 million in grants and scholarships. Grants from the Community Foundation support every imaginable area of our communities from community centers and local arts organizations to tree-planting projects and literacy programs in schools. The Community Foundation also has special community funds that support Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Health & Human Services and Religion.

The Wabash Valley Community Foundation has determined broad priorities for awarding its grant funds. Each county has its own individual review process and deadlines.

Vigo County Grants

Our Grant-Making Philosophy

As you begin the grant application process with the Wabash Valley Community Foundation, we invite you to learn more about the philosophy that guides our work and how, together, we can Make More Possible for our community.

Our tagline, For good. For ever.®, reflects our commitment to funding projects that create lasting, measurable impact. We prioritize grants that serve as true investments in the community — initiatives that are visionary, collaborative and designed for long-term change rather than short-term solutions.

Strong applications demonstrate:

• Organizational commitment and collaboration
• The ability to benefit a broad segment of the community
• A clear focus on sustainable, measurable outcomes

In February 2026, the Community Foundation launched its revised competitive grants process following a year-long review of its procedures compared to those utilized by peers across Indiana and sector-driven best practices. To learn more about the grantmaking strategy, please click here.

Grants as Community Investments

We view grants as partnerships with your organization. Our goal is to invest in projects that generate the greatest return in positive community impact by addressing root causes and reducing long-standing challenges. As Robert D. Lupton, author of Toxic Charity, notes, meaningful impact requires missions that produce measurable results.

Organizational Health Review

All organizations, regardless of intention to submit or not submit a grant application, are required to complete the Organizational Health Review form annually. The review process provides a benchmark to assist the non-profit in becoming a stronger, healthier organization, as well as to track progress year over year. For the initial submission, organizations MUST HAVE COMPLETED the Review by March 9, 2026. The form will go live again on August 15, 2026 with a submission deadline of September 30, 2026. The form MUST be submitted both times to remain eligible for grant consideration!

Community Grants

Community grants are grants in support of Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education and Health & Human Services.

Pillar 1 - Arts & Culture

High Priorities

With the limited unrestricted funds available, it is necessary to determine which grants can best be awarded to have the greatest impact on the needs and growth of the Wabash Valley. The priorities are as follows:

• To focus on the prevention of problems rather than on the symptoms
• To maintain both a proactive focus and an ability to respond to creative ideas from grant seekers
• To assist grant seekers to better respond to the changing needs of the community
• To encourage programs that enhance cooperation and collaboration among institutions within our community
• To leverage funds through the use of “seed money,” “match” and “challenge” grants
• To fund projects that will make a significant improvement to our community

Our Mission

Empower donors to fulfill their passions and dreams by establishing charitable vehicles designed to create a positive and enduring impact on Jewish Buffalo, Western New York and the World.

Golden Goldman Fund

The Golden Goldman Philanthropic Fund’s mission is to maximize local impact in support of: Women’s issues including reproduction and choice; Arts and Culture; Literacy; Reducing Income Inequality; and Judaism.

Funding will be awarded based on your proposal's potential impact. We will be looking at the applying organizations' fiscal viability and their ability to reach out to underserved individuals as part of our evaluation process. We do not usually provide funding for ongoing, existing programs.

About Wallace

Our mission is to help all communities build a more vibrant and just future by fostering advances in the arts, education leadership, and youth development.

Request For Research Proposals:

Advancing Well-Being in the Arts Arts and Economic Mobility

As a part of its Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative’s Field Studies program, Wallace is interested in funding a small set of research studies that investigate aspects of how community-based arts organizations contribute to the economic mobility of their communities. “Communities” may include organizational staff, artists, audiences, program participants, local constituents served, and/or others as defined in proposals.

For this RFP, we broadly define and understand economic mobility, and pathways to economic mobility, as emerging through access to training and preparation, expanded social and professional networks, high quality jobs, as well as to basic needs such as safe neighborhoods, housing, health care, and food. However, we are eager to learn, through the studies to be funded, how arts organizations themselves conceptualize, define, and support economic mobility in their communities.

To that end, we invite letters of interest for studies related to the arts and economic mobility that would be of use and benefit to community-based arts organizations by, for example:

• Producing compelling new evidence, including quantitative indicators, of impact on the economic mobility of particular community groups (e.g., working artists, local families, staff, et al.);
• Generating new tools that can measure impact of arts organizations on economic mobility, including those that use quantitative approaches and methods;
• Developing testable theories of the relationship between arts organizations and economic mobility;
• Other ideas, to be proposed by the field.