Ball Brothers Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 35-0882856 · since 1943ballfdn.org·Blackford County, Delaware County, Grant County, Henry County, Indiana, Jay County, Madison County, …·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$8.3M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $100k

Grant range

From the funder's website

$20,000

Typical grant (median)

113 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Ball Brothers Foundation funds organisations in Indiana, with priority given to Muncie, Delaware County, East Central Indiana, Blackford County, Grant County, Henry County, Jay County, Madison County and Randolph County, so groups should fit that geographic focus, and it will not fund groups located outside Indiana.
Most of its grants are modest: half of its 347 grants to organisations across its latest filings were $25,000 or less, so a request towards the lower end of its stated $5,000 to $100,000 General Grants range, or up to $5,000 for a Rapid Grant, is a realistic starting point for most applicants.
The foundation encourages applicants to speak with a staff member before applying to discuss fit and position the request, pointing to a relationship-led approach rather than a cold submission, and timing matters too: General Grants run in two rounds, with preliminary applications due 15 February or 15 July and full proposals due 1 April or 1 September, while Rapid Grant applications are accepted from 1 February to 30 November.
In its latest filing, 62% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the two filings before that, showing a notable lean towards continuing relationships, though this reflects a share of dollars rather than of individual grants.
The foundation does not fund individuals, scholarships, booster organizations, groups located outside Indiana, services that the community-at-large should normally underwrite such as roads or bus transportation, or research projects except for philanthropic studies.

Overview

Ball Brothers Foundation is a US private foundation based in Muncie, IN.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

Ball Brothers Foundation directs its place-based grantmaking towards organisations in Indiana, with its strongest emphasis in Muncie, Delaware County and East Central Indiana. It supports arts and cultural experiences, education from early childhood through higher education, community vitality, environmental conservation, healthcare and public safety, and human services. Its grants help museums, theatres, arts education, public schools, after-school programmes and career education, alongside neighbourhood redevelopment, public spaces, conservation, waterways, healthcare training, emergency response, youth development, food and shelter, and disability services. It prefers capacity-building that strengthens organisational effectiveness, innovative solutions to community needs, specific programme or project work, general operating support and seed funding for new initiatives. Beyond grants, it convenes, connects and supports those enriching the region.

Themes

Arts & Culture
Education
Community Vitality
Environment
Health & Public Safety
Human Services
Public & Society Benefit

Geographic Focus

Indiana. Priority: Muncie; Delaware County; East Central Indiana; Blackford County; Grant County; Henry County; Jay County; Madison County; Randolph County.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Scholarships
Booster organizations
Groups located outside Indiana
Services that the community-at-large should normally underwrite (e.g., roads, bus transportation, etc.)
Research projects (except for philanthropic studies)

How to apply

Applicants submit requests online through GoApply; the foundation encourages them to speak with a staff member before applying.

Deadlines:

General Grants have two recurring rounds: Round 1 preliminary applications are due 15 February and full proposals 1 April; Round 2 preliminary applications are due 15 July and full proposals 1 September.
Rapid Grant applications are accepted from 1 February to 30 November.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 62% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 347 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The foundation prefers capacity-building that strengthens organisational performance and impact, including planning, board development, collaboration, communications, professional development and operational improvements.
The foundation prefers innovative approaches to community needs that offer long-term, sustained solutions, consider community impact models and produce measurable outcomes.
The foundation prefers specific programme or project initiatives, general operating support and seed money for new efforts.
The foundation encourages applicants to meet with staff beforehand to discuss fit and position their request for support.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate links to the organisation’s strategic plan.
Proposals should include a definitive process for measuring or assessing results.
The foundation favours proposals with potential to leverage other funds and gain further support.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Indiana100%

Ohio<1%

Michigan<1%

The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to organisations Ball Brothers Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

113 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 113 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k1%

$2.5k–$5k13%

$5k–$10k23%

$10k–$25k17%

$25k–$50k12%

$50k–$100k19%

$100k–$250k12%

$250k–$500k4%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over1%

Median $20,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens · General operations & capital support; fellows
$2,790,0002024 tax year
Muncie Community Schools · Prek-12 innovation & enhancement & excellence in teaching award
$469,0002024 tax year
YMCA of Muncie · Camp crosley capital phase 2; mitchell early childhood & family center
$290,0002024 tax year
Whiteley Community Council · Centennial resource hub; campaign consultant opportunity
$255,0002024 tax year
Ball State University Foundation · Flight path fund
$250,0002024 tax year
Boys & Girls Club of Muncie · Operating support & expansion;midwest leadership conference; madison st outdoor enhancement; financial bridge support
$210,0002024 tax year
Cardinal Greenway · Operating support; closing the cardinal greenway gap phase i
$200,0002024 tax year
Cornerstone Center for the Arts · Cornerstone center for the arts inside & out; general operations & consultant support
$200,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Dennis Trammell Jr — Director
Edmund F Petty Jr — Treasurer
Charles F Ball — Secretary
Frank B Petty — Vice Chair / Director
Jenna L Wachtmann — Vice President
Stacy J McHenry — Director
Michael J Fisher — President / CEO
Scott E Schockley — Ast Sec&A Treas
Laura Hill — Director
Stephanie C Duckmann — Director
William M Bracken — Director
Jeffrey C Bird — Director
Judith F Oetinger — Director
Elizabeth M Bracken — Director
James A Fisher — Chair / Director
Nancy B Keilty — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$13,795,518	$10,001,530	$188,062,974	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,901,861	$8,791,812	$204,657,404	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$11,849,191	$8,293,343	$213,959,288	Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.