← Back to US Funders Directory

Ball Brothers Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.3M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Ball Brothers Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8.3 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $188 million+
  • Decision Time: 4 business days (Rapid Grants); Spring/Fall cycles (General Grants)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000+ (typical)
  • Geographic Focus: East Central Indiana (primarily Muncie/Delaware County)

Contact Details

Address: 222 S Mulberry St, Muncie, IN 47305

Phone: 765-741-5500

Email: info@ballfdn.org

Website: https://www.ballfdn.org

Pre-Application Contact: Susan Brumley (call 765-741-5500 to arrange a meeting)

Overview

Ball Brothers Foundation was established by the Ball family and is one of Indiana's oldest and largest family foundations. With total assets exceeding $188 million, the foundation awards approximately $8.3 million annually in grants. In 2024, they awarded 150 grants to organizations across Muncie, Delaware County, and Indiana. The foundation is "dedicated to the stewardship legacy of the Ball brothers and to the pursuit of improving the quality of life in Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, and Indiana through philanthropy and leadership." Current strategic priorities include downtown stabilization and renewal, early childhood education, emergency management, environmental recreation and preservation, and workforce development—particularly in healthcare. The foundation emphasizes place-based grantmaking, with the vast majority of funding supporting East Central Indiana, though they accept applications from across the state. Led by President and CEO Jud Fisher, the great-grandson of founder Edmund B. Ball, the foundation maintains a strong connection to its founding legacy while addressing contemporary community needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants (awarded twice annually)

  • Amount: Typically $5,000 - $100,000 (though requests outside this range are accepted)
  • Application Method: Two-stage process via GoApply online portal
  • Schedule:
    • Round 1: Preliminary Application due February 15; Full Proposal due April 1
    • Round 2: Preliminary Application due July 15; Full Proposal due September 1
  • Description: Reserved for larger-scale projects requiring substantial funding

Rapid Grants (rolling basis)

  • Amount: Up to $5,000
  • Application Method: Single application via GoApply
  • Schedule: Available February 1 - November 30
  • Decision Time: Within 4 business days; award sent within 7-10 days
  • Description: Quick-turnaround funding for smaller projects and immediate needs

Special Awards:

Excellence in Teaching Award

  • Amount: $17,500
  • Description: Annual recognition supporting creativity, innovation, and professional development in education

John W. and Janice B. Fisher Governance Award

  • Amount: $10,000 to recipient's organization
  • Schedule: Nominations accepted March 1 - August 15; award presented in October
  • Description: Recognizes exemplary board governance in Delaware County nonprofits

Priority Areas

The foundation supports six broad subject areas:

Arts, Culture, and Humanities

  • Support for museums, theaters, orchestras, and public art initiatives
  • Recent example: $75,000 to The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County for public art installations and maintenance (2025)

Education

  • Early childhood education through K-12 excellence
  • Teacher development and student programs
  • Career, technical, and continuing education
  • Recent examples: Support for Ball State University, Camp Crosley (YMCA), and YWCA Central Indiana for transformative capital projects (2024)

Environment

  • Land preservation and protection
  • Nature connection programs for children
  • Waterway reclamation and restoration
  • Conservation practices for landowners
  • Example: Project Blueways initiatives

Health

  • Healthcare workforce pipeline development (current priority)
  • Support for training physicians, nurses, CNAs, and other healthcare professionals
  • Medical education expansion
  • Recent example: Over $5 million awarded in second round 2025 grants focusing on healthcare workforce strengthening

Human Services

  • Neighborhood revitalization
  • Emergency food and shelter
  • Job training and workforce development
  • Disaster recovery
  • Addiction and recovery services
  • Recent example: $125,000 to United Day Care Center for facility expansion (2024)

Public/Society Benefit

  • Downtown stabilization and renewal (current priority)
  • Emergency management
  • Community infrastructure and civic organizations
  • Recent example: $2,775,000 to Minnetrista Museum & Gardens for operations and capital support (2024)

Preferred Funding Types:

  • Projects that strengthen organizational effectiveness
  • Innovative approaches to traditional and emerging community needs
  • New projects, programs, or initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Scholarships
  • Booster organizations
  • Organizations located outside Indiana
  • Services the community-at-large should normally underwrite (e.g., roads, bus transportation)
  • Research projects (except philanthropic studies)
  • Organizations outside East Central Indiana (funding is rare, though applications are accepted)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Jud Fisher - President and Chief Executive Officer

  • Great-grandson of founder Edmund B. Ball
  • Graduate of DePauw University and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
  • Joined Ball Brothers Foundation in 2003
  • Quote: "It's just amazing to me, the age of the foundation and the connection with Ball State, and how important Ball State is to the city, this region, and beyond."

Jenna Wachtmann - Vice President

  • Joined staff in 2014
  • Supports strategy development, communications, and day-to-day operations
  • Works directly with grantees

Rich Spisak - Senior Program Officer

  • Degrees from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, and University of Colorado
  • Joined staff in 2008

Donna Munchel - Program Officer and Grants Manager

  • Began working for foundation in 2005
  • Dual role managing programs and grant administration

Dan Wolfert - Program Officer

  • Joined foundation staff in 2024

Board of Directors

James A. Fisher - Chairman (since 2014)

Recent Board Additions:

  • Dr. Jeff Bird - Physician with distinguished career (joined 2020)
  • Laura Hill - Expertise in finance and healthcare
  • Dennis Trammell, Jr. - Passion for youth development and community service

President Jud Fisher on new board members: "Dennis and Laura are deeply active and engaged in this community and have chosen to live here, work here, and raise their families here. As we look ahead to BBF's centennial year, their leadership will be instrumental in guiding BBF into its next century of grantmaking and leadership."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Requirement: Before submitting a General Grant application, the foundation highly encourages scheduling a meeting with a staff member. Contact Susan Brumley at 765-741-5500 to arrange. This meeting allows staff to:

  • Assess alignment with foundation priorities
  • Provide guidance on timing and funding amounts
  • Offer advice on strengthening your request

Application Platform: All applications submitted through GoApply online portal

General Grants Process:

  1. Submit Preliminary Application by deadline (February 15 or July 15)
  2. If invited, submit Full Proposal (April 1 or September 1)
  3. Staff review and board consideration
  4. Award notifications sent

Rapid Grants Process:

  1. Submit single application anytime between February 1 - November 30
  2. Decision within 4 business days
  3. Award sent within 7-10 days if approved

Deadline Notes:

  • All applications due by 4:00 p.m. on deadline date
  • Deadlines apply even if they fall on holidays or weekends

Decision Timeline

General Grants: Decisions made following spring and fall board meetings (specific timelines vary by cycle)

Rapid Grants: 4 business days for decision; 7-10 days for award delivery

Fisher Governance Award: Nominations reviewed in September; award presented in October

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not publicly available, the foundation awarded 150 grants in 2024 totaling $8.3 million. The foundation encourages pre-application meetings with staff, suggesting they value relationship-based grantmaking and applicant preparation, which may improve success rates for well-prepared applicants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods are publicly documented. Applicants are encouraged to maintain contact with staff between applications and request feedback on unsuccessful proposals.

Application Success Factors

The foundation has published specific guidance for applicants in their "Ten Tips for Applying for a Ball Brothers Foundation Grant":

1. Conduct Research "Familiarize yourself with Ball Brothers Foundation by viewing our website and social media pages to learn more about our grants, typical funding ranges, and focus areas." Review their grants database to see recently funded projects.

2. Schedule a Meeting with Staff "Before submitting a Preliminary Application for one of our General Grants, we highly encourage you to schedule a meeting with a member of our staff." This is emphasized as critical for understanding alignment and receiving guidance.

3. Clarify Your Language "Eliminate jargon and spell out acronyms in your funding request." Assume readers are unfamiliar with your organization's internal terminology.

4. Get Right to the Point Avoid flowery language. Provide detailed yet concise answers that clearly articulate project goals, challenges addressed, and opportunities pursued.

5. Double-Check Your Budget & Narrative "Thoroughly review your budget and budget narrative for accuracy. Ensure that columns and rows add up and verify that the requested amount matches across your cover letter, proposal narrative, and budget form."

6. Connect the Dots "Use the proposal narrative to identify the connection between your project's objectives, documented community needs, and BBF's mission. Provide context by citing surveys, data, or community plans. State how your initiative aligns with BBF's focus areas."

7. Outline a Funding Plan "It is rare for Ball Brothers Foundation to fund the full cost of a project, salary, or program." Identify other potential and committed funding sources. Indicate how BBF funding will help secure additional funding beyond the grant period.

8. Don't Hesitate to Ask Questions and Request Feedback Contact staff with questions or request draft reviews before submission to identify opportunities to strengthen your application.

9. Apply Early Submit applications well before deadlines to address potential technical or content issues.

10. Stay Connected Between Applications "We want to know how things are going after funding is awarded." Welcome progress updates, invitations to events, and ongoing communication about challenges and partnerships. Building a relationship beyond the application cycle is valued.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • Healthcare workforce development programs (major 2025 priority)
  • Childcare facility expansions ($125,000 to United Day Care Center)
  • Public art initiatives ($75,000 to Community Foundation)
  • Large capital projects for legacy organizations ($2.775 million to Minnetrista)
  • Arts organizations' general operations ($30,000-$100,000 range)
  • Innovation programs at independent colleges (Ball Venture Fund)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application meetings are essential - The foundation strongly encourages meeting with staff before applying for General Grants to ensure alignment and receive tailored guidance
  • Place-based focus is critical - While statewide applications are accepted, the vast majority of funding goes to East Central Indiana, particularly Muncie/Delaware County; applicants outside this area should have exceptionally strong cases
  • Healthcare workforce development is a current strategic priority - Over $5 million awarded in this area in 2025 second round alone
  • Leverage funding is expected - "It is rare for Ball Brothers Foundation to fund the full cost of a project"; demonstrate other funding sources and sustainability plans
  • Relationship building matters - The foundation values ongoing communication beyond application cycles, including progress updates, event invitations, and transparency about challenges
  • Consider the Rapid Grant program for smaller needs - With 4-day turnaround, this is an excellent option for projects under $5,000
  • Data-driven applications succeed - Connect your project to documented community needs using surveys, data, and community plans; avoid assumptions

References

← Back to US Funders Directory