The Carroll County Community Foundation makes a positive difference in our community. We help people who are passionate about giving back to our community, take the lead on community initiatives and partner with nonprofit organizations to support a broad range of projects that make a positive impact. Browse our Web site for more information about our work, and see the difference that philanthropy can make!
The Community Foundation is now accepting applications for our 2024 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Series. With the changing face of the nonprofit landscape, it is more important than ever for those leading these organizations to hone their nonprofit management skills. Focusing on the fundamentals of nonprofit management, this series is designed to do just that. This class is limited to 25 participants so applications must be submitted in a timely manner in order to be considered. The class will consist of six individual sessions held one Tuesday a month, January through June, at the Community Foundation offices at 215 W. Sycamore Street in Kokomo, Indiana. Each session will focus on a particular area of management for nonprofit leaders:
• Board Governance, Jan. 23, 2024
• Strategic Planning, Feb. 20, 2024
• Outcomes, March 19, 2024
• Nonprofit Marketing, April 16, 2024
• Fearless Fundraising, May 21, 2024
• Grants, June 18, 2024
• Learn More | Click Here for the PDF Application (download to complete)
Applications Due* | Committee Meets | Board Action** |
March 11 | March 28 | April 17 |
September 9 | September 27 | October 16 |
*Letter of Intent (LOI) must be submitted through the grant portal and approved by staff prior to application. LOIs are welcome year-round from groups engaged in charitable projects. We recommend submitting the LOI at least two weeks before the target grant deadline to allow adequate time to construct a full proposal.
**Projects may begin the day after board approval
Since 1997, the Carroll County Community Foundation has been connecting people to vital services and support within their north central Indiana community.
As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Howard County Inc., the Carroll County Community Foundation has made grants of more than $3.5 million to help make our community a better place. This amount includes approximately $3.2 million in grants and $339,400 in scholarships, with an additional $3.5 million in Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships.
Building on this legacy of growth, the Foundation has announced it will now offer two grant cycles for the community. This means qualifying nonprofit organizations will have two periods during the year when competitive grants are available for worthy and important local causes. Read more.
The Carroll County Community Foundation received a Planning Grant through the Lilly Endowment Inc. Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow Community Leadership Initiative.
This funding allowed the Foundation to evaluate our local landscapes and identify and prioritize community needs and assets, develop a deeper understanding of what our roles should be within the community, strengthen relationships with local stakeholders and potential collaborators, build internal capacities to act as an effective leader, and prioritize and develop strategies to address high-priority challenges and opportunities.
The Community Foundation did this by conducting 14 community conversations in Carroll County to determine the emerging aspirations that citizens feel are important to the future well-being and growth of our community. The conversations revealed three aspirations: safe/mentally healthy/drug-free, progressive/growing/vibrant and supportive/engaging/inclusive.
Carroll County Community Conversation Report
Following the community conversations, the Foundation invited key service providers/experts to participate in a Taking Effective Community Action (TECA) Meeting related to each aspiration. The TECA approach is a part of the Harwood Method of turning outward to enable communities to become a collective force for change. During these meetings service providers were invited to share current programs and services being offered in the area of the specific aspiration and actions that would make a difference in the community.
TECA Report – Safe, Mentally Healthy & Drug-Free
TECA Report – Progressive, Growing & Vibrant
TECA Report – Supportive, Engaging & Inclusive
The process also included a compilation of major community assessments throughout Carroll County, as well as strategic community plans that were conducted within the last three years.
Carroll County Assessments Report
We invite you to use these finding as a way to learn more about your community and to create opportunities and actions through collaboration for positive impact.
In honor of Libby German and Abby Williams, the family of Libby German has established the 'L & A Park Foundation Fund' through the Carroll County Community Foundation. Give Now / Read more.
To honor her memory, the family of Libby German has established the 'Liberty German Scholarship' Fund through the Carroll County Community Foundation. Give Now / Read more.
To honor her memory, the family of Abby Williams has established the 'Abigail Williams Scholarship' Fund through the Carroll County Community Foundation. Give Now / Read more.