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Hamilton County Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$6.0M
Grant Range
Up to $0.0M00

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,040,149 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $129.3 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: Up to $20,000 (competitive grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Hamilton County, Indiana
  • Total Awards: 133 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Website: https://hamiltoncountycf.org

Email:

Phone: (317) 843-2479

Address: 11810 Technology Drive, Fishers, IN 46038

Pre-application Contact: Applicants are encouraged to reach out to HCCF's community leadership officers before applying. Contact:

  • Anita Rogers, Senior Community Leadership Officer
  • Alyssa Chavez, Community Leadership Officer

Overview

Hamilton County Community Foundation (HCCF) was established in 1991, originally as the Legacy Fund, by community leaders including Alan Burns, George Burrell, Bob Campbell, Teri Hansen, Doug McDonald, Jane Merrill, and George Sweet. In 1997, HCCF partnered with The Indianapolis Foundation to create Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), forming part of a $1 billion collective of philanthropic organizations serving Central Indiana. With total assets of $129.3 million, HCCF mobilizes people, ideas, and investments to create a community where everyone has equitable opportunity. The foundation distributed $8.5 million in grants in 2024 and made 133 awards in 2023. Following a comprehensive community needs assessment supported by Lilly Endowment in 2023, HCCF launched a new strategic plan in 2025 focusing on affordable housing, education and training, childcare, and social services—areas identified as the county's greatest needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

HCCF Competitive Grants

  • Amount: Up to $20,000
  • Type: Unrestricted organizational support (general operating)
  • Application: Annual competitive grant round via online portal
  • Design: Trust-based philanthropy approach
  • Philosophy: Awards unrestricted support to help nonprofits realize their missions and better serve constituents

Multi-Year Partner Grant

  • Duration: Three-year unrestricted operating support
  • Type: Invitation-only
  • Purpose: Address system-level challenges
  • Recent Recipients: Invest Hamilton County and Trinity Free Clinic

Crosser Family Foundation Grant

  • Focus: Enhancing the lives of youth and families in Hamilton County
  • Type: Invitation-only

Thomas P. and Sondra D. Sheehan Charitable Foundation Medical Assistance Grant

  • Focus: Medical assistance to families in financial need
  • Supports: Durable medical equipment and therapeutic services

Priority Areas

HCCF's current funding priorities align with the 2024 Hamilton County Needs Assessment findings:

  1. Affordable Housing: Identified as the top priority in community conversations. HCCF is partnering with HAND (Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development) and other organizations to establish a community land trust to preserve affordable housing stock in perpetuity.

  2. Education and Training/Workforce Development: Supporting initiatives that enhance educational opportunities and workforce readiness for Hamilton County residents.

  3. Childcare Solutions: Addressing limited access to quality childcare. Recent grants include support for Sheridan Community Schools to expand their childcare center and develop partnerships with area employers.

  4. Social Services: Supporting organizations that provide essential services to Hamilton County residents, including food security and healthcare access.

  5. Behavioral Health: HCCF supported the county Behavioral Health Collaborative in establishing the Rely Center in Noblesville.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with an open grant through Hamilton County Community Foundation (cannot apply for additional funding while grant is active)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) public charity status (unless using a fiscal sponsor)
  • Organizations that do not serve Hamilton County, Indiana residents

Governance and Leadership

Staff

  • Danielle Stiles-Polk, President: Transitioned from board member to President. She stated, "Our role is to ensure that opportunity belongs to everyone who calls Hamilton County home. That means listening to the community, identifying the greatest needs, and partnering with organizations that can make the biggest impact." Regarding her appointment, she said, "I am honored to step into this role and lead the Hamilton County Community Foundation into its next chapter of growth and impact. Hamilton County is evolving, and we have an incredible opportunity to shape a future where every resident can thrive."

  • Amanda Massey, Vice President of Development and External Engagement

  • Anita Rogers, Senior Community Leadership Officer

  • Alyssa Chavez, Community Leadership Officer

  • Josie Frey, Philanthropic Advisor

  • Tammy Hall, Executive Assistant to the President and Hub Coordinator

Board of Directors

  • Kristy Murphy, Chair, Community Advocate
  • Corby Thompson, Vice Chair, Boomerang Development, LLC
  • Gina M. Giacone, Treasurer, Ice Miller
  • Nicole Lorch, Secretary, First Internet Bank

Directors:

  • Adam Arceneaux, Ice Miller
  • Derek Arrowood, Hamilton Heights School Corporation
  • Tom Bayer, Sikich
  • Craig Crosser, Nova 29 Property Management
  • Betsy Garfield, Henke Development Group
  • Bryan Glover, Community Advocate
  • Lindsay M. Gotwald, Faegre Drinker
  • Mark Heirbrandt, Hamilton County Commissioner
  • Danette Howard, Cummins, Inc.
  • Tonya Hyatt, Community Advocate
  • Kashif Khan, Infrastructure Engineering, Inc.
  • Jay Merrell, IDI Composites International, Inc. (Retired)
  • Chad Miller, GE Healthcare
  • Barney Quinn, Simon Property Group (Retired)
  • Eddie Rivers, Rivers Business Solutions (RBS)
  • Lauren Salerno, Community Advocate
  • Emily J. Schmale, Church, Church, Hittle, & Antrim Law

Board members are selected through nominees presented by the board development committee and serve three-year terms.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Create an Online Account: All applicants must create an online account via the grants portal. It is recommended to create an account well in advance of grant deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.

Review Available Opportunities: After logging in, scroll through available grant opportunities or use the search bar to find specific programs. Applicants can preview applications before creating an account by accessing the grant preview portal.

Contact Staff First: HCCF strongly encourages applicants to reach out to community leadership officers before applying at HCCFGrants@hamiltoncountycf.org. This pre-application contact helps ensure alignment with foundation priorities.

Complete Application:

  • Update your organization profile for each application
  • Fiscal agents can submit multiple applications for different organizations
  • Collaborators can be added to help complete the grant application
  • Applications cannot be submitted after the 5PM deadline

Submit by Deadline: All applications are due by 5PM on the deadline date. Applications cannot be submitted after this time.

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed after the deadline and assessed for alignment with the foundation's strategic plan. If more information is needed, staff will contact applicants and request revisions. The grants committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the board of directors for final approval. Applicants are notified of their status soon thereafter.

Specific timeline from submission to notification is not publicly documented, but applicants should expect communication from staff during the review period if revisions are needed.

Success Rates

  • 133 awards made in 2023
  • 143 awards made in 2022
  • HCCF set a strategic-plan goal to increase awards to nonprofits that either had never received a grant or hadn't received an award for the last five years, setting the metric at 10% and achieving approximately 15%

The total number of applications received is not publicly disclosed, so specific success rate percentages are not available.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can reapply to Hamilton County Community Foundation with staff recommendations. However, applicants will not be considered if they have an open grant through HCCF—organizations must complete their current grant before applying for additional funding.

Application Success Factors

Contact Staff Before Applying

HCCF explicitly encourages pre-application contact with community leadership officers. This is a critical step to ensure your project aligns with current priorities and to receive guidance on the application.

Align with Strategic Priorities

Applications are assessed for alignment with HCCF's strategic plan. Review the 2024 Hamilton County Needs Assessment and ensure your work clearly addresses one or more of the priority areas: affordable housing, education and training, childcare, or social services. President Danielle Stiles-Polk noted that affordable housing "rose to the top in every community conversation."

Serve Hamilton County Residents

Organizations must serve Hamilton County, Indiana residents. Demonstrate clear geographic focus and impact within Hamilton County.

Trust-Based Philanthropy Approach

The competitive grants program is designed around trust-based philanthropy and awards unrestricted organizational support. Rather than focusing heavily on detailed programmatic outcomes, emphasize your organization's overall mission, capacity, and the value of flexible funding to your operations.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

  • Sheridan Community Schools: Received funding to address limited access to quality childcare by expanding their childcare center and developing partnerships to provide childcare for area employers
  • Student Impact of Westfield: Funded to help Westfield youth develop friendships, connect with mentors, and learn skills through their after-school program, basketball league, and other programs
  • Invest Hamilton County: Selected for multi-year partner grant
  • Trinity Free Clinic: Selected for multi-year partner grant

New and Returning Applicants

HCCF actively seeks to support organizations that have never received a grant or haven't received funding in the last five years. If your organization fits this profile, highlight this in your application or pre-application conversation with staff.

Be Prepared to Revise

If staff request additional information or revisions, respond promptly. This is a normal part of the review process and indicates staff interest in your proposal.

Technical Support Available

For technical assistance with the grants portal, refer to the Grants Portal 101 resource or contact GrantSupport@hamiltoncountycf.org.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is essential: Reach out to community leadership officers at HCCFGrants@hamiltoncountycf.org before applying to ensure alignment with priorities and receive guidance.

  • Focus on unrestricted support value: HCCF's competitive grants provide general operating support using a trust-based approach—emphasize how flexible funding will strengthen your organization's overall capacity and mission delivery.

  • Align with assessment findings: Review the 2024 Hamilton County Needs Assessment and clearly demonstrate how your work addresses priority areas, particularly affordable housing, childcare, education/workforce, or social services.

  • Hamilton County focus required: Organizations must serve Hamilton County residents—demonstrate clear geographic impact and community connection.

  • New applicants welcomed: HCCF achieved a 15% success rate for organizations that hadn't received funding in the last five years, exceeding their 10% goal, indicating openness to new grantees.

  • Cannot have concurrent grants: Ensure you do not have an open grant with HCCF before applying—complete current grants before seeking additional funding.

  • Access broader opportunities through CICF: As an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation, HCCF grantees can potentially access broader grant opportunities through the CICF Collaborative.

References

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