10/19/2026
Fayette County Flood Relief Fund: Where We Are and What Comes Next
Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered, or stepped up for neighbors affected by the flood. Your generosity has created a powerful resource for our community, and we want to be completely transparent about how those donations are being protected and used. Every dollar given for flood relief is secure, untouched, and dedicated solely to long‑term recovery for affected families. Before those funds can be distributed, several important steps must be completed to ensure fairness, accountability, and lasting impact. We’re committed to doing this the right way, together, so families receive help that actually supports their long‑term recovery. If you’d like to understand exactly where things stand and what happens next, the full update continues below:
🔹 What has been raised, and where is the money?
As of October 19, 2026, the Fayette County Flood Relief Fund has received $359,845.39 through 326 donations. Every dollar donated remains in the fund, reserved to support flood survivors’ long-term recovery.
No donations to the fund will be used for operational or administrative expenses of the Foundation or the Fayette County Long-Term Recovery Group. The Foundation is taking no administrative fees and is covering online donation processing fees through our operating budget, preserving the full value of every donation for recovery assistance.
Heart of Indiana United Way has been awarded separate grant funding to provide stipends and administrative support for case management as needed. These resources will help support the case management process without drawing from donations to the Fayette County Flood Relief Fund.
Separately, the Foundation has already awarded $78,000 to households impacted by the flood for immediate needs through the City of Connersville Trustee. This assistance came from other Foundation resources. It did not come from the Fayette County Flood Relief Fund or reduce its balance.
🔹 What is happening now?
The Foundation has partnered with Heart of Indiana United Way, Fayette County Emergency Management, and community volunteers to establish the Fayette County Long-Term Recovery Group. The group is identifying steering committee members and establishing policies and procedures, while United Way works to identify volunteer disaster case managers.
We have consulted with other community foundations that have experienced similar disasters, United Way, and Catholic Charities’ Disaster Preparedness and Response team. Their guidance has consistently supported a coordinated recovery process following the practices of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, commonly known as VOAD.
This approach brings organizations and resources together to distribute assistance fairly, transparently, and according to documented needs. It also helps the Foundation meet IRS requirements for charitable disaster assistance.
🔹 How will families connect with a case manager?
Fayette County Emergency Management already maintains a list of affected families. Families on that list will be contacted once case managers are ready to begin working with survivors.
We will also make another public announcement when case management becomes available. At that time, families can reach out again to make sure they are connected with a case manager, including anyone who is unsure whether they are on EMA’s list. That announcement will explain whom to contact and how to get started.
🔹 How will families receive assistance?
Volunteer case managers will work directly with flood survivors to understand their circumstances, develop recovery plans, identify available resources, and bring requests for remaining unmet needs to the recovery committee.
The funds raised by the Foundation and Heart of Indiana United Way are reserved to help fill the gaps that remain after insurance, FEMA assistance, and other available resources have been explored and accounted for. These donations provide somewhere for families to turn when those gaps become clear. Because these charitable dollars are limited, careful coordination is essential.
A case management process helps:
👉 Give survivors a dedicated advocate to help them navigate recovery and connect with resources.
👉 Support informed repair and rebuilding decisions. For example, confirming that a home can be safely and legally repaired before funding new drywall helps protect a family’s time, money, and resources from being spent on work that may later need to be undone.
👉 Stretch available funding to help more families by coordinating resources and avoiding payment for expenses already covered by another source.
👉 Promote fairness and accountability through documented needs, consistent review procedures, and safeguards that reduce the risk of fraud.
Additionally, while needs-based charitable disaster assistance is generally excluded from recipients’ federal taxable income, the Foundation must establish procedures to provide and document assistance in accordance with applicable requirements to ensure that our funding is not taxable.
🔹 Why haven’t distributions from the fund begun, and what is the timeline?
Distributions have not begun because the recovery group’s leadership, policies, review procedures, and case management services are still being established. We are also awaiting completion of FEMA’s assessments and further direction for survivors regarding rebuilding. Together, these steps help clarify each household’s recovery options and ensure funding supports an informed recovery plan. Building this coordinated process can take several weeks or months, but we hope to have the local recovery group and case management process ready within the next few weeks. The timing of individual funding decisions will also depend on the information available for each household.
We do not yet have a confirmed date for applications or the first distributions. The next milestones are establishing the committee and procedures, bringing volunteer case managers into place, and beginning work with survivors to prepare requests for assistance. We will share contact information, instructions, and timing as soon as those details are confirmed.
We understand that this does not provide the immediate certainty families need. The Foundation is actively working with our partners to move this process forward. We want assistance to reach survivors as soon as possible through a process that supports meaningful, lasting recovery for Fayette County.
🔹 Is any assistance available now?
The Foundation’s Mini Grant program remains open to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government agencies, and schools working to meet flood survivors’ immediate needs. These grants are awarded to eligible organizations and can support certain projects and expenses unrelated to rebuilding.
This funding comes from our unrestricted endowments and is separate from the Fayette County Flood Relief Fund. Organizations should contact our office to discuss eligible expenses and projects and learn how to apply.
🔹 How can the community help?
If you are interested in serving on the Fayette County Long-Term Recovery Group’s steering committee or volunteering on a subcommittee, please contact [email protected].
Please also help spread the word to organizations supporting flood survivors that Foundation Mini Grants may be available now for eligible immediate needs.
To everyone who has donated, volunteered, or continued helping a neighbor: thank you. Your generosity has created a vital resource for Fayette County’s recovery. We are committed to honoring that generosity, supporting survivors, and keeping our community informed as this work moves forward.
