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Community Foundation Of Greater Fort Wayne Inc

Annual Giving
$11.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: Allen County and Northeast Indiana

Contact Details

Overview

The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne is a major philanthropic organization serving Allen County and Northeast Indiana. The foundation inspires enduring philanthropy by encouraging charitable giving, conducting meaningful grantmaking, and leading community initiatives. In 2024, they distributed $11 million in grants throughout Allen County, supporting a wide range of community needs from education and arts to health and economic development. The foundation manages multiple grant programs and emphasizes collaborative community change through their "Let's Rise" vision plan, which focuses on creating a more vibrant and equitable future for the region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers several grant programs:

  • Rising Together Grants: Community-focused collaborative grants
  • Agile Grants: Flexible funding for emerging needs
  • Engage Grants: Community engagement initiatives
  • Emergency Grants: Crisis response funding
  • Foundation-Guided Grants: Strategic initiatives aligned with foundation priorities
  • Youth Empowered Philanthropy (YEP) Grants: Youth-led grantmaking program

Priority Areas

The foundation's "Let's Rise" focus areas include:

  • Connected Community: Building social connections and reducing isolation
  • Inspiring Places: Creating vibrant public spaces and neighborhoods
  • Everyone's Economy: Economic opportunity and workforce development
  • Lifelong Learning: Education from early childhood through adult learning
  • Healthy Mind & Body: Physical and mental health initiatives

Additional funding areas:

  • Children's programs and family support
  • Arts and culture
  • Scholarships and education
  • Community development

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly detailed on website

Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with professional staff including:

  • Chief Impact Officer: Alison Gerardot
  • Director of Impact: Angela Stanley
  • Senior Impact Advisor: Stephanie Carlson
  • Donor Engagement: Jaren Stevens
  • Scholarship Specialist: Estela Gutierrez

The foundation is guided by core values of Connectedness, Equity, Impact, Integrity, and Passion, with a vision to create "a community where even our boldest dreams come true."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses both open competitive application processes and invitation-based grantmaking. Organizations interested in applying should:

  1. Visit cfgfw.org/grants/ for current opportunities
  2. Contact the grants team for specific program information
  3. Some grants reflect donor recommendations or estate gifts

The foundation embraces "inclusive grantmaking that embraces diverse organizations, individuals, and projects."

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program and are not publicly specified

Success Rates

Application numbers and success rates not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated values and approach:

  • Alignment with "Let's Rise" focus areas demonstrates strategic fit
  • Projects that "bring about positive change and impact while making our community the best place to live, work, and play"
  • Collaborative approaches that "band together" with other organizations
  • Inclusive initiatives that serve diverse populations
  • Projects demonstrating measurable community impact
  • Organizations based in or serving Allen County and Northeast Indiana

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The foundation distributed $11 million in 2024, indicating substantial grant-making capacity
  • Multiple grant programs offer different entry points for funding
  • Strong emphasis on collaborative, community-driven change through "Let's Rise" vision
  • Youth philanthropy program indicates commitment to next-generation leadership
  • Direct staff contacts available for grant inquiries - reach out early for guidance
  • Foundation values equity and inclusion in their grantmaking approach
  • Geographic focus is specifically Allen County and Northeast Indiana

References

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