The Indianapolis Foundation

05/05/2026

BIPOC nonprofit leaders across Indianapolis are invited to come together for a day of learning, connection, and reflection.

Join us for the BIPOC Nonprofit Leaders Summit on Thursday, May 21. This free, daylong experience designed to support your work and strengthen our collective impact.

Through workshops, plenary conversations, and community dialogue, we’ll explore what it takes to lead, adapt, and grow in today’s environment.

Register today! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zk7va2v

04/15/2026

Last week, the Indianapolis Foundation welcomed several dozen community partners to the English Foundation Building for an informational session on our competitive grant round.

These sessions are an important part of the process, offering space to walk through the application, answer questions, and connect directly with our team. We want every prospective grantee to feel prepared and confident as they consider applying.

Our competitive grant round is now open and will close on May 15. See details here https://indianapolisfoundation.org/competitive-round/

If you’re thinking about applying, we encourage you to learn more and explore the process. We are hosting a virtual information session and office hours in the coming weeks. Click for more info https://tinyurl.com/yz29ppa8.

04/09/2026

This past weekend, we were honored to join the Kennedy King Memorial Institute’s 58th Commemorative Ceremony at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park, gathering with community to honor a legacy that continues to shape Indianapolis.

Ahmed Young, President and CEO of the Indianapolis Foundation, reflected on the night Robert F. Kennedy stood on those very grounds to share the news of Dr. King’s assassination ... and the compassion that followed in a moment of deep grief.

“These moments of reflection are choices,” Ahmed shared. “Opportunities to hear a sacred voice.”

That message still resonates today. As we remember, we’re also looking ahead... continuing to invest in young people, strengthen our communities, and ensure the next generation understands the history that brought us here and the role they play in what comes next. Read the full article https://lnkd.in/g8eBk5Rn and view our photo gallery of the event. https://lnkd.in/gtXpbPm6

04/07/2026

Today is the first day of early voting in Indiana. And Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 5.

Voting is one of the ways we show up for our communities. It may feel like a small act, but it carries real impact for our neighborhoods, schools, and families.

If you’d like to vote early, you can find your location, hours, and what you need to bring at indianavoters.in.gov.

Make a plan, bring a friend, and take a few minutes to make your voice heard.

03/31/2026

Summer opportunities can shape a young person’s path. Through Season for Sharing and the Summer Youth Program Fund, thousands of youth across Indianapolis are gaining access to experiences that build confidence, connection and opportunity. The initiative is supported by Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation; City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development; Cummins Inc.; IndyStar Season for Sharing; Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; the Indianapolis Foundation; The Library Fund; John and Isabelle Romine Fund; The Clowes Fund; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and an anonymous foundation.

A strong reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in young people.

IndyStar will be doubling down on our support of this fund. Will you join us?

03/23/2026

This past weekend, community came together at the Ritz Lounge for BREAD — a shared meal rooted in connection, care, and celebration.

There’s something powerful about breaking bread together. It creates space for conversation, builds trust, and reminds us of what we share.

Hosted by The Learning Tree and sponsored by the Indianapolis Foundation (IF), the gathering welcomed mothers from the BIRTH Fund and birth workers, along with neighbors, partners and community leaders, for an afternoon of gratitude, gifts, and connection.

With a moving performance by the soulful artist and our IF colleague Okara Imani, the experience reminded us that it’s more than a meal — it’s community.

03/05/2026

What does advocacy look like for young people?

During IPS Student Advocacy Day at the Indiana Statehouse, Crispus Attucks alum Maria De Leon recently shared how her journey as a first-generation student led her to speak up, build community, and push for change.

From advocating for scholarships to helping pass a policy addressing teen dating abuse in IPS, Maria, one of our
Community Leadership Officers, reminded students that advocacy can begin with one question, one conversation or one idea. Read the full story

/News/IPS Alum Maria De Leon Encourages Students to Turn Passion into Action IPS Alum Maria De Leon Encourages Students to Turn Passion into Action 8 minutes agoMarch 5, 2026 11:33am EST • 4 minute read The Crispus Attucks alum urged students to pursue their passions and use their voices to create...

03/02/2026

We were proud to welcome members of NEON — the Nexus for Equity + Opportunity Nationwide — to Indianapolis for a day grounded in reflection, relationship-building, and shared learning.

NEON is part of the Community Foundation Opportunity Network, a national collaborative of nearly 60 community foundations working together to dismantle structural racism and advance social and economic mobility.

As part of our itinerary, we gathered at the historic Ritz Lounge alongside our Community Ambassadors — a space whose reopening represents a renewal of Indianapolis’ own version of Black Wall Street. Together, we explored how history, place, data, and storytelling all shape the work of equity.

Our conversations centered on joy, belonging, and a powerful question: How do we help communities recognize the gifts they already hold and use them for collective good?

It was a meaningful reminder that this work isn’t only about systems change. It’s about trust, relationships, and people moving forward together.

02/23/2026

When institutions choose to lean in rather than step back, real change becomes possible.

Recently, representatives of Old National Bank gathered to hear from Ahmed Young, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Foundation, and Tamara Winfrey-Harris, president of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, about what it truly takes to help communities thrive.

It starts with clarity of purpose — and ensuring that all in our community have the opportunity to thrive, no matter race, place, or identity.

Read the full conversation and explore how financial institutions can play a lasting role in building a stronger Indianapolis. https://tinyurl.com/46rmzdev

02/20/2026

In December 2025, the Indianapolis Foundation awarded more than $4.8 million in grants to 120 nonprofit organizations across our city — advancing housing, economic, health, and environmental equity, youth development, and the arts.

These investments reflect 110 years of partnership with this community and a continued commitment to listening, learning, and supporting community-led solutions. Guided by our Equity Imperative 2030 strategic plan, we remain focused on building a city where everyone can thrive — no matter race, place, or identity.

Learn more about our December investments https://tinyurl.com/2arvsfhw