Community Foundation of St. Joseph County Inc - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $10,000,000+
Total Assets: $300,000,000+
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by program; decisions typically made after biannual deadlines
Grant Range: $3,200 - $250,000 (varies significantly by program)
Geographic Focus: St. Joseph County, Indiana only

Contact Details

Address: 305 S. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 837, South Bend, IN 46624
Phone: (574) 232-0041
Website: https://cfsjc.org
Email: Contact through website or call main office

Key Program Staff:

Rose Meissner - President
Aaron Perri - Vice President, Community Impact
Kayla Myers - Program Director, Grants
Clare Ramel - Program Officer
Christine Amstutz Moore - Program Officer

Overview

Established in 1992, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County (CFSJC) is a charitable endowment dedicated to improving the quality of life for citizens of St. Joseph County, Indiana, and their succeeding generations. With assets exceeding $300 million as of 2024—bolstered by strong market performance, a Gift VIII grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., and generous individual donations—the foundation has grown to become one of the top 100 community foundations in the United States under President Rose Meissner's leadership. The foundation awards approximately $10 million in grants annually from its endowed funds, scholarship funds, designated funds, and competitive grantmaking processes. CFSJC operates through core values of excellence, perseverance, compassion, wisdom, leadership, and legacy, focusing on arts and culture, health and human services, community and economic development, youth and education, and parks. Most recently, the foundation received a transformative $30 million grant from Lilly Endowment's Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow initiative to tackle affordable housing challenges in the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Special Project Grants (March 1 and October 1 deadlines)

Grant amounts vary widely, typically $50,000 - $250,000
Matching grants support new initiatives, program expansions, and capital needs
Focus areas: community development and urban affairs; health and human services; parks, recreation and environment; youth and education
Recent examples: Dismas House of Indiana ($200,000 for reentry center), Hope Ministries ($137,500 for Phase 1 of Campaign for Home), St. Margaret's House ($250,000 for capital campaign)
Applications submitted through online grant system

2. ArtsEverywhere Grants (May 1 and November 1 deadlines)

Three categories of competitive funding:
- Capacity Building: Matching grants up to $10,000
- Program or Project Support: Matching grants up to $10,000
- Major Venture Funding: Matching grants up to $50,000 per year for up to three years (maximum $150,000)
Recent examples: South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras ($93,200 for Summer of Rock collaborative), The Acting Ensemble ($43,000 for theater lighting upgrade), The Music Village ($10,000 for music/dance programming)
Applications submitted through online grant system

3. Senior Living Initiative Grants (May 1 and November 1 deadlines)

Organizations can request up to half of outlined project budget
Grant amounts range from $8,500 - $224,265, with typical grants $25,000 - $70,000
Must demonstrate ability to raise required matching funds within one year
Focus: aging in place; home- and community-based services; professional development; programs serving high-need and vulnerable seniors; quality of care
Recent examples: REAL Services Inc. ($224,265 for Safe at Home Program), AHEPA 100 Inc. ($60,000 for senior bathroom updates), Forever Learning Institute ($40,000 for computer literacy)

4. African American Community Fund (March 1 and October 1 deadlines)

Assets exceeding $2.8 million; over $1.3 million granted to date
Supports programs enhancing lives of African Americans in St. Joseph County
Recent example: $150,000 for westside community center
Specific grant amounts not publicly disclosed

5. Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence (Biennial; Letter of Intent due July 1, Full Application due August 1)

$200,000 challenge grant requiring $100,000 in matching funds
Total resulting fund of $300,000 managed by Community Foundation
Awarded competitively to St. Joseph County nonprofit demonstrating superior leadership, management, and programming
Described as "the largest award program of its kind"
Established in 1999 by Judd and Mary Lou Leighton and the Leighton-Oare Foundation

6. Indiana Arts Commission Partnership Grants

Serves Region 2: Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke counties
Over $317,000 awarded to forty area organizations in recent cycle
Competitive application process for arts programming

7. Scholarship Programs

More than 50 scholarship funds awarding over $450,000 annually to local students

Priority Areas

CFSJC focuses on supporting nonprofits in:

Arts and culture (including music, theater, dance, visual arts, community arts engagement)
Community development and urban affairs (including affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization)
Health and human services (including hospice care, palliative care, food security, domestic violence support)
Parks, recreation, and environment (including green spaces, inclusive playgrounds, nature preserves)
Youth and education (including student success, workforce development, mentoring programs)
Senior services (especially for vulnerable and high-need seniors)
African American community empowerment

What They Don't Fund

CFSJC's Competitive Grants initiatives do not typically award ongoing operating expenses but rather focus on new initiatives, program expansions, and capital needs. All funding is restricted to organizations serving St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Rose Meissner, President - Joined CFSJC when it was established in 1992 and has led its growth to become one of the top 100 community foundations in the United States. Meissner emphasizes strategic approaches to community challenges, recently stating about a regional housing study: "This study is going to really help all of us be more strategic about increasing the supply" of affordable housing. On the foundation's $30 million Lilly Endowment grant, she noted: "Lilly Endowment's $10 million award will help catalyze a beautiful new mixed-income Western Avenue neighborhood."

Aaron Perri, Vice President, Community Impact - Joined CFSJC leadership in 2024 to oversee community impact initiatives.

Anita Echevarria, Vice President, Administration - Manages administrative operations.

Kayla Myers, Program Director, Grants - Oversees competitive grant programs.

Board of Directors

Richard Currey - Chair
Kristin Pruitt - Vice Chair
Darran Teamor - Treasurer
Regina Emberton - Secretary
Marion Fulce - Past Chair

Additional board members include Kyle Bossung, Kyle Chamberlain, Gail English M.D., Angie Faccenda, Scott Ford, Kimberly Green Reeves, Mary Jan Hedman, David Kibbe, Mark Neal, James Riley, Leonard Sanchez, James Sawdon, Tim Sexton, Matthew Shambry, and Dan Wolfson.

The board comprises diverse community citizens chosen from throughout St. Joseph County to provide leadership and direction.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Community Foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits through its online grant system available at cfsjc.org. The foundation operates biannual competitive grant processes described as designed "to award funding to support the work of our community's strongest, most effective nonprofit organizations."

Application Resources:

Frequently Asked Questions document (downloadable PDF)
Tips on "Strengthening Your Grant Application" (see Application Success Factors below)
Grant Recognition Guidelines for recipients
Budget templates provided

Eligibility:

501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations operating in St. Joseph County
Not-for-profit educational institutions in St. Joseph County
Public agencies (state, county, or local government agencies) in St. Joseph County
For ArtsEverywhere: Organizations must demonstrate substantial commitment to the arts as part of overall mission
For IAC grants: Arts organizations in Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke counties

Decision Timeline

Special Project Grants & African American Community Fund:

Deadlines: March 1 and October 1
Decision announcements typically occur several months after deadline

ArtsEverywhere Grants & Senior Living Grants:

Deadlines: May 1 and November 1
Decision announcements typically occur several months after deadline

Leighton Award (Biennial):

Letter of Intent: July 1
Full Application: August 1
Award announced later in fall

Specific decision timelines from submission to award notification are not publicly disclosed. Applicants are encouraged to contact program staff for more details about each cycle.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation encourages all eligible organizations to apply, noting that "every CFSJC grant cycle is a bit different," and recommends contacting program staff to learn about the various funds and identify the most relevant opportunities.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should contact program staff at (574) 232-0041 to discuss reapplication opportunities and receive guidance for future submissions.

Application Success Factors

CFSJC provides specific guidance on "Strengthening Your Grant Application" that reveals what the Grants Committee prioritizes:

Characteristics of Successful Grant Proposals

1. Clearly Defined Need

Address a critical community need supported by local data
Include experiences of those served by the project
Explain the project's timeliness and importance to the community
Demonstrate understanding of the problem's scope in St. Joseph County

2. Detailed Plans and Objectives

Provide complete, well-defined implementation plans
Include specific details: dates, times, program duration, participant numbers
State clear, measurable, and achievable objectives
Align narrative with detailed project budget

3. Strong Conceptual Solutions

Propose evidence-based problem-solving approaches
Demonstrate how the program improves upon existing efforts
Show realistic potential for achieving desired results
Reference best practices or proven models

4. Financial Sustainability

Demonstrate multiple funding sources beyond CFSJC grant
Show clear plan for how project will continue after initial funding period
Provide detailed budget justification for all line items
Use foundation's provided budget template
Ensure budget aligns perfectly with narrative description

5. Organizational Capacity

Demonstrate proven track record of successful programs
Show alignment between proposed project and organizational mission
Provide realistic implementation timeline
Demonstrate sufficient staffing and resources to execute project

Common Application Weaknesses to Avoid

Incomplete narrative sections
Errors in project budgets or mathematical mistakes
Lack of budget justification or vague expense descriptions
Unclear or absent sustainability plans
Misalignment between narrative and budget

Pro Tips from CFSJC

Review previously funded projects listed on the foundation website for insights into successful applications
Contact program staff before applying—"every CFSJC grant cycle is a bit different, so contact the program staff to learn more about the various funds held here and where the most relevant opportunities are"
Focus on impact over outputs—show how your project will meaningfully change lives, not just how many people you'll serve
Be specific—vague proposals are less competitive than those with concrete details

Recent Funding Patterns

Analyzing recent awards reveals CFSJC's priorities in action:

Capital projects with lasting impact: Multiple grants for facility improvements (Hope Ministries capital campaign, Women's Care Center new facility construction, The Acting Ensemble theater upgrades)
Collaborative initiatives: South Bend Youth Symphony's "Summer of Rock" involving multiple partner organizations
Vulnerable populations: Consistent support for programs serving at-risk youth (Greater Impact mentoring), domestic violence survivors (YWCA counselor), formerly incarcerated individuals (Dismas House reentry center), low-income seniors
Capacity building alongside programs: Goodwill's automotive career training expansion demonstrates preference for programs that build organizational capacity while serving community needs
Environmental and community spaces: Support for Milkweed Gardens commons, inclusive playgrounds, nature preserve expansion
Innovation in senior services: Computer literacy for seniors, food as medicine, aging-in-place programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geography is paramount: CFSJC exclusively funds St. Joseph County, Indiana. Your organization must operate and serve people in this county. For IAC arts grants, you can be in the six-county Region 2 area.
Matching funds are expected: Most competitive grant programs require matching funds. Demonstrate your organization's ability to raise the match within the specified timeframe (typically one year).
Focus on new initiatives, not operating support: CFSJC competitive grants support new programs, program expansions, and capital projects—not ongoing operating expenses. Frame your request accordingly.
Leverage the biannual cycle strategically: With deadlines in spring and fall for different programs, plan your application timeline carefully. Contact program staff to identify which fund aligns best with your project.
Demonstrate financial sustainability: The Grants Committee wants to see that your project will continue beyond their initial investment. Show multiple funding sources and a clear sustainability plan.
Align with current foundation priorities: President Rose Meissner has emphasized student success, affordable housing, and strategic community impact. Projects addressing these areas may be particularly competitive.
Use foundation resources: Review the "Strengthening Your Grant Application" guidance, study recently funded projects in your category, use the budget template, and contact program staff for cycle-specific advice—CFSJC actively encourages this engagement.
Show evidence-based approaches: Successful applications demonstrate familiarity with best practices and proven models, not untested ideas.

References

Community Foundation of St. Joseph County official website - https://cfsjc.org - Accessed January 9, 2026
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County Staff page - https://cfsjc.org/about-us/foundation-staff/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County Board page - https://cfsjc.org/about-us/foundation-board/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
CFSJC Competitive Grants page - https://cfsjc.org/nonprofits/competitive-grants/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
CFSJC Strengthening Your Grant Application - https://cfsjc.org/strengthening-your-grant-application/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Recent Special Project Grants - https://cfsjc.org/nonprofits/competitive-grants/special-project-grants/recent-special-project-grants/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Recent ArtsEverywhere Grants - https://cfsjc.org/nonprofits/competitive-grants/artseverywhere-grants/recent-arts-everywhere-grants/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Recent Senior Living Grants - https://cfsjc.org/nonprofits/competitive-grants/senior-living-grants/recent-senior-living-grants/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence - https://cfsjc.org/initiatives/leighton-award-for-nonprofit-excellence/ - Accessed January 9, 2026
Inside Indiana Business - "Q&A with Community Foundation of St. Joseph County's Rose Meissner" - https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/qa-with-community-foundation-of-st-joseph-county-president-rose-meissner - Accessed January 9, 2026
WSBT - "Community Foundation of St. Joseph County gets $30 million grant for affordable housing" - https://wsbt.com/news/local/community-foundation-of-st-joseph-county-receives-30-million-grant - Accessed January 9, 2026
Inside Philanthropy - Community Foundation of St. Joseph County profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/indiana-grants/community-foundation-of-st-joseph-county - Accessed January 9, 2026
Instrumentl - Community Foundation of St. Joseph County 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/community-foundation-of-st-joseph-county-inc - Accessed January 9, 2026
GuideStar Profile - Community Foundation of St. Joseph County - https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7365930 - Accessed January 9, 2026
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Community Foundation Of St Joseph County Inc (EIN: 23-7365930) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237365930 - Accessed January 9, 2026