Grants for Environmental Projects in Indiana

NOTE: The Duke Energy Foundation is currently not accepting grant applications. We are upgrading our grant management system and will open our applications in early 2023. In order to file a grant in our new system in 2023, you must register your organization in the new system.

Local Impact Grants

Local Impact Grants are grants up to $10,000 for work in the areas of vibrant economies, climate resiliency and justice, equity and inclusion. Our Local Impact grants are open year-round.

Vibrant Economies

• Workforce development training for jobs vital to the energy economy, with a focus on underrepresented populations
• Community revitalization and local economic development efforts
• Economic recovery for customers and communities facing unprecedented challenges
• Energy and engineering education for K-12 students and teachers

Climate Resiliency

• Environmental projects supporting land conservation; clean water; and biodiversity of plant and animal species
• Environmental resiliency projects that prepare communities for and mitigate against the effects of climate change
• Natural disaster preparedness and response

Justice, Equity and Inclusion

• Thriving natural environments, including access to green space, in historically underserved and environmental justice communities
• Programs supporting the “just transition” for communities transitioning to cleaner energy generation
• Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives supporting upward mobility

Grantmaking

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation awards grants to tax-exempt organizations serving greater Indianapolis, Indiana. The Foundation has three focus areas: Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis. In addition, several organizations receive grant support from the Foundation due to a historical connection with Dick Fairbanks and his family.

As a general philosophy, the Foundation seeks to support organizations and initiatives that are led by highly effective boards and executive leadership, that are goal oriented, and that consistently deliver strong outcomes. We are particularly interested in supporting initiatives designed to bring about transformative change within our focus areas.

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation utilizes a flexible assessment process to determine alignment of an organization or initiative with the Foundation’s current funding priorities. These priorities evolve over time to reflect lessons learned from previous grants and new environmental factors. We welcome inquiries from organizations at any time. If you seek to become a grantee, the first step is to determine your eligibility and assess your alignment with the Foundation’s focus areas, as described in our Grant Application Process.

Funding Inquiries

Inquiries provide our staff with information about your organization, program, or project, and overall alignment with the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. Inquiries may be submitted at any time during the year and are reviewed on a continuous basis by Foundation staff. The Foundation’s staff welcomes the opportunity to meet with prospective grantees; however, we often prefer to wait until after receiving an inquiry to determine whether a meeting would be useful for both the requestor and the Foundation. We value your time and our own, and we aim to minimize the time required to submit an inquiry as much as possible.

If you are interested in learning if your organization, program, or project matches the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation’s current funding priorities, you may contact us by telephone, email or brief written letter of inquiry. Please note that the Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Once an inquiry has been received, Foundation staff may conduct further due diligence, including but not limited to a site visit, follow-up meetings, and program or financial assessment. Following review of your inquiry, Foundation staff will contact you to inform you whether your organization has been invited to submit a proposal. We make every effort to respond to inquiries in a timely fashion.

Focus Areas

Education

A well-educated population is critical to the vitality of Indianapolis and the continued global competitiveness of the United States. Unfortunately, the United States continues to lag behind other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations in literacy, numeracy, science, and critical thinking skills. In Indianapolis, too many students graduate from high school unprepared for college or careers, and employers struggle to identify a sufficient supply of skilled talent to fill available job openings.

The Foundation has established two goals in our Education focus area:

• To improve academic outcomes for Indianapolis students, from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, by supporting the conditions necessary to grow the supply of high-performing schools and programs.
• To minimize the workforce skills gap in Indianapolis by supporting the delivery of cost-effective post-secondary education and training programs that align with the demands of America’s knowledge-based economy.

We have identified the following strategies to support these goals:

• Supporting the design and implementation of highly effective Pre-Kindergarten programs serving low-income children.
• Strengthening the systemic conditions most likely to result in a K-12 system that provides a robust set of high-performing school options for Indianapolis students and their families. These conditions include effective governance, autonomous schools, transparent accountability for student outcomes, and sufficient resources—particularly facilities and per-pupil funding.
• Supporting the launch and replication of high-performing, autonomous schools.
• Attracting, retaining, and developing great talent, particularly school leaders and teachers.
• Supporting the launch and replication of high-performing, cost-effective, competency-based college and career preparation models aligned with the needs of employers.
• Communicating what is, and what isn’t, working across stakeholder groups.

Health

Indianapolis ranks near the bottom of almost every measure of public health and healthy living. Two primary root causes of our city’s poor health outcomes are tobacco use and opioid misuse, as evidenced by a smoking rate that is the highest of the nation’s 30 largest cities and the more than 350 drug overdose fatalities that occurred in the city in 2017. Statewide, more than 12,500 people die each year from smoking, including 11,100 smokers and 1,400 nonsmokers, who die from exposure to secondhand smoke. More than 1,700 Hoosiers died of drug overdose in 2017, and the vast majority of these deaths were linked to opioids. The economic impact on Indiana is also devastating. Annually, tobacco use costs Indiana $8.3 billion. In 2017, the opioid epidemic cost the state an additional $4.3 billion.

Good health is a necessary condition for success in life and is integrally linked to the ability of children and adults to thrive in school and in the workplace. Indianapolis cannot reach its full potential while its people experience the debilitating effects of significant public health challenges.

To this end, we have established two primary goals in our Health focus area: to reduce the rate of tobacco use, and to reduce the rate of opioid use disorder, including prescription drug misuse and heroin use.

• Reducing the Use of Tobacco
• Tobacco has long been understood to be an underlying cause of cancer and other illnesses. We’ve identified four strategies to help us reach our goal of an overall reduction in tobacco use in Indianapolis:
• Raising awareness of evidence-based policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use.
• Expanding access to evidence-based prevention programs and cessation treatments.
• Strengthening the infrastructure for tobacco control advocacy.
• Assessing tobacco control strategies and evaluating effectiveness of programs.

• The Challenge of Opioid Use Disorder
• Opioid use disorder presents a different set of challenges and requires its own approach. The three strategies that we have identified to help us reach our goal of reducing the rate of opioid use disorder, including prescription drug misuse and illegal opioid use, are:
• Raising awareness of the scope of the opioid epidemic and evidence-based policies to prevent and reduce opioid misuse.
• Expanding access to evidence-based prevention, treatment and harm reduction programs and initiatives, and supporting pilots for new programs and initiatives.
• Assessing opioid prevention, treatment and harm reduction strategies and evaluating effectiveness of programs.

Vitality of Indianapolis

The life sciences sector is a major driver of Central Indiana’s economy and is therefore a key contributing factor to the vitality of Indianapolis. While the local life sciences sector is robust, competition is intensifying as other markets strive to attract the investments, companies and talent required for continued growth. Cross-sector collaboration, coordination and alignment are key to ongoing economic prosperity in Indianapolis and elsewhere around the state.

A well-developed talent pipeline – especially in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields – is integral to a thriving life sciences sector. Yet too many Indiana students enter college unprepared for math and science courses, and many Indiana college graduates in STEM fields leave the state to find employment.

To ensure the continued strength of the local life sciences economy, the Foundation has established the following goal in our Vitality of Indianapolis focus area: to strengthen the life sciences sector in Indianapolis.

To help reach our goal of strengthening the life sciences sector in Indianapolis, we’ve identified the following strategies:

• Supporting the systemic and operating conditions necessary to sustain and grow a robust life sciences cluster.
• Attracting, retaining, and developing great life sciences talent across the education and workforce development pipeline, with an emphasis on STEM preparation. We have identified three STEM talent preparation strategies:
• Raising the quality of STEM teachers in Indianapolis classrooms.
• Establishing a strong STEM education foundation for students (pre-K through postsecondary).
• Increasing interest and engagement of students in STEM fields.

Mission

• Enriching the quality of life in South Lake County
• Providing financial assistance to fund a broad range of community needs
• Maximizing charitable gifts by utilizing current tax law
• Directing resources in a manner tailored to meet donors’ specific needs managing endowment assets which will meet philanthropic needs

Fields of Interest

The Crown Point Community Foundation will consider grant applications for projects in the following Fields of Interest:

• Animal Related,
• Arts and Culture,
• Community Improvement,
• Economic Development,
• Education,
• Environmental,
• Food/Nutrition/Agriculture,
• Health and Human Services,
• Housing and Shelter,
• Public Safety,
• Recreation,
• Religion Related,
• Youth Development.

Guidelines:

The Crown Point Community Foundation is interested in funding projects, which will improve the quality of life for citizens in Crown Point, Cedar Lake, Lowell and Winfield areas. When reviewing grant applications, the Crown Point Community Foundation will give consideration to the following guidelines:

When reviewing grant applications, the Crown Point Community Foundation will give consideration to the following guidelines:

• Only one grant application per organization or agency will be eligible within a 12-month period. 
• The potential community impact of the grant and the number of people who will benefit. 
• The extent of local volunteers’ involvement and support for the project. 
• The composition and level of commitment of the organization’s directors/trustees. 
• The organization’s fiscal responsibility and management qualifications. 
• The ability of the organization to obtain additional funding to implement the project.  
• The organization’s ability to provide funding after a long-term grant has expired. 

Note: Letters of inquiry should be submitted at least six to eight weeks prior to the proposal deadline for a given grant cycle. 

Program Area: Environment

For more than two decades, the Joyce Foundation has been a leading foundation funder of policy work related to the Great Lakes. We are working to address three of the region’s critical long-term environmental challenges: climate change, the safety and accessibility of the water we drink and the health of the Great Lakes.

Climate change is the largest intergenerational environmental threat in our region. Great Lakes states are at a pivotal moment to dramatically reduce the emissions that drive climate change, while also creating economic opportunity and improving people’s health. Moreover, this region emits nearly 20 percent of all US climate pollution, so gains here are essential to national progress.

More than 40 million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, and protecting the Lakes is central to the region’s environmental health, economic vitality, and very identity. In our region, climate change is causing more intense storms and increasing the variability of Great Lakes’ water levels. These patterns increase polluted runoff and stress aging water systems. While all communities face water challenges, the most severe impacts fall on people from communities that have lacked investment because of structural racism or other barriers.

To respond to these challenges, Joyce will support efforts to put Great Lakes states on a path to achieve just, equitable, carbon-free electric power systems by 2040. We will also seek to ensure all people in the Great Lakes region have clean water from lake to tap by supporting policy to address threats, improve infrastructure, and remedy water disparities in communities of color. In all our grants, we will prioritize projects that are guided by the perspectives of people impacted by the environmental issues being addressed.

The program has two focus areas: Climate Solutions and Great Lakes & Drinking Water.

Climate Solutions

hifting to non-carbon sources of electric power is essential to eliminating global warming pollution – both directly by reducing the burning of fossil fuels in power plants, and indirectly as the transportation, industrial, building heating, and other sectors switch to electricity. There is positive technological, economic, and—in some Great Lakes states—policy momentum behind transitioning to carbon-free electric power. Yet, no states in our region are more than about halfway to achieving complete electric sector decarbonization, and some still get 80 or 90 percent of their electricity from fossil fuels. Joyce will support work on clean energy policy in Great Lakes states to secure long-term commitments to 100 percent carbon-free electricity.

Goal: To put Great Lakes states on a path to achieve just, equitable, carbon-free electric power systems by 2040.

• Secure long-term commitments to transition to carbon-free electricity, including states establishing 100 percent carbon-free electricity goals and strategies, and states, utilities and their stakeholders embracing racial equity and energy justice as core elements of decarbonization plans
• Achieve full implementation of near-term state energy efficiency and renewable energy policies, with strategies tailored to fit the unique needs and opportunities in each state— focusing mostly on Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota, with smaller investments in Ohio and Wisconsin
• Support policy innovation to achieve complete, equitable decarbonization, closing the gap between the cumulative reductions that can be driven by the current generation of clean energy policies and 100 percent decarbonization

Great Lakes

One of every five gallons of fresh water on the surface of the planet is found in the Great Lakes, which provide clean, abundant drinking water for 40 million people in our region. Yet the future health of the lakes is far from assured, given major threats to their physical, chemical, and biological integrity. Public and private decisions made in the next decade will likely determine whether the Great Lakes will be healthy enough to provide for the next generation as they have provided for us.

Protecting the health of our region depends on protecting the health of the Great Lakes and the water systems that serve our communities. The Great Lakes and Drinking Water focus area will accelerate actions to protect the region’s freshwater, upgrade our water infrastructure, and improve access to safe, affordable drinking water. We will pursue two initiatives, with most efforts focused in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Goal: To ensure all people in the Great Lakes region have clean water from lake to tap by supporting policy to address threats, improve infrastructure, and remedy water disparities in communities of color.

To help ensure that the Great Lakes remain healthy enough to provide for the next generation as they have provided for us, we will address major threats to their physical, chemical, and biological integrity, with a focus on efforts to:

• Improve water infrastructure performance, management, and funding, with a focus on remedying water system disparities in communities of color
• Prevent unsustainable diversions from the Great Lakes by enforcing the Great Lakes Compact
• Prevent groundwater depletion (proposals currently by invitation only)
• Reduce the risk of oil spills from oil transport by continuing to support closure of the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline
• Reduce polluted runoff in rural and urban areas
• Prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species

To help make certain that the next generation in our region has access to safe, affordable drinking water, Joyce will support equitable water policy that ensures that water systems and infrastructure provide safe, affordable water services for everyone. We will focus on efforts to develop and support utility, municipal, state, and federal policies that:

• Reduce the risk of lead exposure in drinking water
• Ensure high quality, affordable water services

Our Vision

The Heart of Cook will be a leader in furthering education, supporting human services, and protecting the environment through a continued commitment to local communities in the AEP service area (Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana (La Porte, St. Joseph, and Elkhart Counties)).

Guidelines & Funding Emphasis

Our three primary funding areas are:

• Furthering Education
• Supporting Human Services
• Preserving and Protecting the Environment

We take special pride in supporting organizations and projects in which our employees participate or take a leadership role. The partnership of corporate contributions and employee initiatives typically results in improved outcomes. 

Furthering education

To promote economic development and provide for a well-trained and available work force in the area, we will provide grants to programs that build work skills and to educational organizations and projects that supplement professional development for educators and volunteers. Projects that specifically target science and mathematical disciplines, as well as development in impoverished communities are given priority.

Human services

Strong families are the building blocks for successful communities and businesses. We will provide grants to programs and organizations that nurture children and youth, help foster independence for those in need, ensure safety and support of older individuals, and teach parenting skills.

Protecting the environment

As an energy provider located in a particularly beautiful and unique ecosystem, we recognize the importance of protecting, restoring and enhancing our natural surroundings. We provide grants to organizations and projects supporting these types of environmental activities. 

NOTE: The first step in our process is a conversation and, if invited, the submittal of an online Letter of Intent. Once you have been approved to submit an application, follow the instructions to submit information to the Trust. 

Grant Process

On an invitation-only basis, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust funds primarily nonprofit organizations in Arizona and Indiana that align closely with our giving areas: Helping People in Need, Protecting Animals and Nature, and Enriching Community Life. 

NOTE: This grant page is specifically for "Helping People in Need", non-environmental requests within "Protecting Animals and Nature", and "Enriching Community Life". For Environmental Requests within the "Protecting Animals and Nature" grant program area, see the grant page here. 

Helping People in Need

Mrs. Pulliam valued giving people experiencing difficulty a hand-up and firmly believed that education was essential to reaching one’s full potential.

The Trust supports:

Self-sufficiency

• Programs that provide adult education or training with accompanying social supports for individuals to obtain and maintain gainful employment.
• Programs that focus on economic self-reliance through micro-lending, small business development and entrepreneurial efforts for low-income individuals.
• Programs that assist the elderly in maintaining their independence and remaining in their homes.

Crisis Intervention

• Programs that assist vulnerable families, women and children to help move them from crisis or instability to greater functioning.
• Programs that provide basic needs, such as food, clothing, emergency shelter or transitional housing.

Foster Care

• Programs that increase the number of licensed foster families and kinship providers.
• Multigenerational programs that help prevent children from entering the system.
• Programs that support young adults ages, 18-25 who are aging out of the system, with post-secondary educational attainment, job training and financial self-sufficiency.

Education and Literacy

• Programs that provide mentoring and tutoring to disadvantaged youth.
• Out-of-school time programs and projects for underserved children.
• Programs that improve literacy skills of adults.
• Programs that help high school students gain access to careers or post-secondary education.
• Programs that work with children (0 – 5) and their families to improve literacy, reading and language acquisition.

Protecting Animals and Nature

Mrs. Pulliam loved animals – domesticated and wild – and the natural environment. She sought ways to encourage human bonds with both.

The Trust supports organizations and programs that:

• Programs that provide humane and wellness services for domestic animals, including shelter, rescue, spay/neuter and adoption.
• Programs that promote conservation of natural habitats and ecosystems that advance preservation, protection and restoration of land, water, wildlife and plants.
• Programs that promote environmental awareness to connect people to the natural world, promote personal stewardship, or offer knowledge and tools for addressing current and future problems. 

Enriching Community Life

Mrs. Pulliam appreciated the importance of having vibrant communities that benefit all residents, while ensuring that nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions at a level of excellence.

The Trust supports:

• Programs that add to the overall civic vibrancy and cultural vitality of the community.
• Programs that create innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life in Indianapolis or Phoenix. 

Program Areas

At Toyota, we believe an auto company can also be a vehicle for change. That’s why Toyota is proud to partner with nonprofit organizations across the U.S. in the local communities where we live and work. Toyota and affiliates support programs in key areas:

Primary

• Education – Special consideration is given to STEM programs as we continue to develop our future workforce.
• Inclusive Mobility – Connecting people to opportunities by developing inclusive mobility solutions.
• Community Resilience – Building resilience by investing in needs required to thrive, specifically relating to environmental sustainability and driver/passenger safety.

Secondary

• Health and Human Services
• Arts and Culture
• Civic and Community

Youth and diversity are key priorities. 

Toyota considers funding requests that:

• Are geared towards benefiting a large number of people
• Offer participation in local educational programs
• Exhibit clear, measurable and realistic goals and objectives
• Establish the means for evaluation and reporting after a program is completed
• Provide leadership and development programs for participants
• Target youth within any of the funding priority areas
• Including financial and other strategic commitments from other funding organizations.

Established in 1993, the Daviess County Community Foundation is one of nearly 700 community foundations in the United States today. We serve Daviess County, Indiana, offering people a variety of ways to achieve their goals for this community through charitable giving

Funding requests are accepted once each year according to our grant cycle. In 2016, the Foundation will provide general support grants, which include grants for operations, programming, and capital projects to 501(c)(3) public charities.

Arts and Culture

Activities that strengthen the stability of arts organizations, make the arts accessible to low-income populations, enhance the understanding of all types of arts and humanities, and promote the appreciation or understanding of historical event.

Community Development

Activities that foster civil rights, our society, advocacy, community improvement, capacity building, philanthropy, volunteerism, grantmaking, strong neighborhoods; that improve the effectiveness of government, public administration and public officials; that assess community needs; and that support the programs of leadership organizations.

Education

Activities that improve the educational attainment of children and adults, both in and out of the classroom; that support formally constituted educational institutions and organizations or entities that administer or support these institutions; that support libraries and organizations whose primary purpose is to provide opportunities for supplementing and continuing education outside the framework of formal education institutions; and that support organizations which provide education-related services to students and schools.

Health

Activities that improve and promote health outcomes; general and rehabilitative health services; mental health; crisis intervention; associations or services associated with specific diseases, disorders, and medical disciplines; and medical research.

Human Services

Activities that maximize the functioning of special needs populations in mainstream society; that protect the public (crime and delinquency prevention, legal administration, legal services); that promote and support employment and jobs, food and nutrition, agriculture, housing and shelter, public safety, and disaster preparedness and relief; and that support child daycare programs, the United Way, YMCA, YWCA, firefighting activities, and programs of community centers.

Environment

Activities that foster pollution control and abatement, protection and conservation of natural resources, botanic and horticulture, environmental beautification, preservation of open spaces, environmental education and outdoor survival, protection and welfare of animals, humane societies, wildlife preservation and protection, veterinary services, zoos and aquariums, and specialty animal services.

Recreation

Improving and promoting recreational and leisure activities, parks, and community sporting events and activities.

Youth Development

Activities that strengthen the family unit, help children grow and develop, foster youth sports and athletics, that support the Future Farmers of America or other youth development programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and scouting.

Crossroad Fund Grants

Crossroads Fund supports grassroots groups working for racial, social and economic justice in the greater Chicago metropolitan area (including Northwest Indiana, which we define as the area between the state border and Gary, IN. All applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for funding:

• Working for Social Change: Crossroads Fund supports organizations working to examine and challenge the underlying causes of injustice affecting their communities. They seek to change the conditions, institutions, and policies that create and maintain inequality and oppression.
• Cross-Issue Organizing: Our grantees work with an understanding of the connectedness among the various people and issues that make up the whole community.
• Grassroots Leadership: We support groups that involve the people who are directly affected by an issue at all levels of the organization - in planning, organizing and leading, and working to continue building leadership within the grassroots community.
• Solid Plan: We fund groups whose work is driven by the following:
  • a clear purpose with well-planned goals, objectives, activities and a tool to measure outcomes and impact;
  • a timeline and budget that reflects the proposed objectives and activities;
  • a realistic fundraising plan.
• Work in the Chicago Metropolitan Area: Crossroads Fund supports organizations rooted in communities in the Chicago metropolitan area. Counties include: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will, along with Lake County, Indiana.
• Budget: Groups with previous year annual expenses under $500,000.

Youth Fund for Social Change

In 2007, Crossroads Fund received a legacy grant from the Girls Best Friend Foundation, supporting the formation of a special grantmaking initiative, which funds youth advocacy and activism projects in the Chicago area. The Youth Fund for Social Change enables us to have a targeted impact on the growing sector of youth organizations in the Chicago area.

The Youth Fund for Social Change provides resources to youth working on social justice issues in their communities. The Youth Fund supports youth activists who want to change and challenge existing policies and/or organized structures that prevent their communities from achieving equality. 

Projects may cover many areas ranging from community, education and schools, health, environment, incarceration, media, racism, discrimination, voting, etc.

Examples of such projects are:

• Community: youth working to find solutions to overall issues of equality like access to education, healthcare, jobs and political power: working on alternatives to detention and incarceration.
• Education and schools: youth organizing for: restorative justice programs in schools; representation on school boards; alternatives to military recruitment on campus; or programs that address sexual harassment, homophobia, gender, or ability stereotypes/oppression.
• Health: youth organizing to expand reproductive health and comprehensive sex education.
• Environment: youth organizing around: lead clean up in their community; environmental pollution; or access to cleaner and better transit.
• Violence: youth working on: alternatives to the criminal justice system; peer to peer intervention; pursuit of strategies to reduce police harassment of youth; strategies to improve public safety in your neighborhood.
• Media: youth holding corporate media accountable by demanding that the public airwaves promote justice and peace rather than hate, violence and war.