By Jud Fisher, President/CEO, Ball Brothers Foundation—
MUNCIE, IN — This fall, Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded $5.1 million in grants. Included among the recipients is Muncie Community Schools which was awarded $600,000 to help continue the district’s transformation.
“Ten years ago, Muncie Community Schools was in a challenging situation. Today, the district is in a very different place thanks to the tireless dedication of countless teachers, community partners, students, parents, and Ball State University personnel. Enrollment has stabilized, facilities have been improved, and academic gains are well underway. Ball Brothers Foundation believes strongly in the importance of Muncie Community Schools’ success, and we are proud to help support the next phases of the district’s stabilization and advancement,” reflected Jud Fisher, President & CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation.
BBF funding will help the district to enhance educational opportunities, strengthen family and community engagement, preserve important community traditions, and position MCS to continue building on significant academic and organizational progress.
Dollars from the foundation will support a wide range of initiatives and programs. Among these are:
· Expansion of the popular Spanish Dual Language program into high school
· Support for equipment at the Muncie Area Career Center for carpentry, HVAC, and Fire/Rescue programs; internships for students interested in early childhood/elementary teaching
· Bolstering staff capacity for guidance and family support positions
· Outdoor learning experiences and Montessori PreK-Grade 1 program at Camp Adventure
· Equipment and uniforms for band, athletics, and other extra-curriculars
· Professional development for teachers and administrators
· District communications enhancements
Aerial of the Muncie Central High School campus. Photo provided.
Another grant will support the production of a documentary about the Muncie Fieldhouse which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2028. Ball State University professors and students will write and produce the film, highlighting the building’s history and the role it plays as a shared symbol of civic pride and athletic achievement for generations of Muncie residents. Funding for the documentary totals $66,500.
Further recognizing the importance of high school athletics to community spirit and civic pride, Ball Brothers Foundation also awarded $25,000 to Ball State University to pilot a new program that will edit, produce, and air a select number of high school games on both WIPB and Indiana Public Radio. In partnership with the Delaware County Sports Network and Ball State broadcast and journalism students, content will be produced by high school students from across the county who are interested in sports broadcasting.
Together, BBF’s fall grants support organizations and projects across the foundation’s six Funding Focus Areas: arts and culture, community vitality, education, environment, health and public safety, and human services. The grants reflect Ball Brothers Foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening quality of life in Muncie, Delaware County, and East Central Indiana.
Arts & Culture
· Cornerstone Center for the Arts – $100,000 to support ongoing operations and arts programming
· Minnetrista Museum & Gardens – $2,775,000 for operations and facility improvements
· Muncie Arts and Culture Council – $25,000 for operations
· Muncie Civic Theatre – $50,000 for the 2026-2027 season including mainstage/studio shows, youth theatre, and outreach programming to Muncie Community Schools
· Orchestra Indiana (Muncie Symphony Orchestra) – $20,000 to support the 2026-2027 season including performances, educational programs, and community engagement
Community Vitality
· 8Twelve Coalition – $35,000 for operational support including resident engagement initiatives in the South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhoods
· East Central Indiana Regional Partnership, Inc. – $90,000 for operating support including regional marketing and regional economic development planning
· ecoREHAB – $80,000 to expand staffing, support construction efforts in the Old West End, support the continuation of the YouthBuild construction training program, and explore the next phase of panelized home construction
· Muncie Action Plan – $16,500 for ongoing neighborhood strengthening and 2027 IDEA conference for Muncie neighborhood leaders
· Muncie Land Bank – $45,000 in funding to support core administrative costs, including work to move vacant properties into productive use
· The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County – $200,000 for future trail improvements and connectivity at Muncie Central High School levee and Minnetrista
· The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County – $55,000 to support operations and programming provided by the Nonprofit Support Network
· Urban Light Community Development – $20,000 in operating support for community development initiatives including the Lighthouse Recovery Home, affordable rental program, and neighborhood engagement in Muncie’s southside neighborhoods
Education
· Ball State University – $60,000 to strengthen connections among children, families, schools, and community resources serving the Whitely neighborhood and Longfellow Elementary School
· Burris Laboratory School – $200,000 for K-12 innovations and improvements
· Independent Colleges of Indiana – $100,000 in seed funding for supporting innovative projects at private colleges/universities across Indiana through the Ball Venture Fund
· Inspire Academy – $15,000 to expand outdoor learning classroom and support curriculum development for K-8 outdoor learning
· Muncie BY5 – $80,000 to support operations and provide professional development/technical assistance for local childcare workers and organizations
· NearSpace Education, Inc. – $27,500 for Delaware County students to visit STEM facility in Upland to explore aerospace, engineering, coding, electronics, advanced manufacturing, and space exploration
· Nextech Org., Inc. – $30,000 for 2027 summer intensive computer science internship serving 24 Muncie/Anderson high school students in partnership with TeenWorks
· TeenWorks – $50,000 for 2026-2027 program providing 120 teens with summer employment and professional development
· Telamon Corporation – $30,000 for security camera upgrade at Head Start facility in Muncie
· The Arc of Indiana – $50,000 for Erskine Green Training Institute’s Muncie-based job training program for people with disabilities
Environment
· Muncie Sanitary District – $50,000 for laboratory equipment, supplies, and internships for mussel propagation to improve water quality and conservation in the White River
Health & Public Safety
· Ball State University – $30,000 to support the Healthy Lifestyle Center and live-learn communities for IU School of Medicine–Muncie students, expanding interprofessional training and encouraging future healthcare professionals to stay in East Central Indiana
· IU Health Foundation – $20,000 for healthcare exploration and workforce development pipeline efforts, including creation of a video series by students about health careers
· IU School of Medicine-Muncie – $75,000 for expansion of Bachelors-to-MD program to build a pipeline of future physicians, expand summer internship program for medical students to work in community settings, and expand clinical skills training for medical students
· Ivy Tech Foundation – $25,000 to create “Healthcare Scholars” program for students interested in admissions to competitive Health Sciences and Nursing programs
· Open Door Health Services – $10,000 for eight-month intensive Medical Assistant training program combined with cultural competency training modules to be shared with other healthcare training institutions
· Taylor University – $20,000 to enhance student training in new Physician Assistant and School of Nursing programs
Human Services
· Brothers 2 Brothers United, Inc. – $30,000 for operational and program support targeted to youth ages 8-17, including those referred by Delaware County Probation
About Ball Brothers Foundation
Ball Brothers Foundation is one of the state’s oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation pays out more than $8 million in grants to support arts and culture, community vitality, education, environment, health and public safety, and human services. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city, county, and state. In 2026, Ball Brothers Foundation is celebrating its 100th anniversary, making it one of the oldest and largest family foundations in the state of Indiana.
The post Ball Brothers Foundation Awards $5.1 Million in Fall Grants to Local Organizations appeared first on Muncie Journal.
