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Community Foundation Alliance Inc

Annual Giving
$7.3M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.4M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.3 million
  • Total Assets: $148 million+
  • Grant Range: $100 - $392,150
  • Geographic Focus: Nine counties in southwestern Indiana
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months
  • Number of Grants: 211 annually (2024)

Contact Details

Main Office:

Pre-application Support: New applicants are encouraged to schedule meetings with Regional Directors for guidance before applying.

Overview

Established in 1991, the Community Foundation Alliance is a network of nine community foundation affiliates serving southwestern Indiana (Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties). With over $148 million in charitable assets across 1,200+ named funds, the Alliance distributes more than $7 million in grants annually. The organization provides centralized management and administrative services from its Evansville office, allowing each county affiliate to focus on local grantmaking and community leadership. The Alliance empowers local communities to address their unique needs through competitive grant programs, donor-advised funds, and field of interest funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Good Grants - Primary competitive program

  • Grant Range: $100 - $100,000 (most common: $1,000)
  • Application cycles vary by county (typically January-May or June-October)
  • Online application system
  • Supports programs meeting broad community needs

Evansville Endowment Fund - Capital improvements

  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000+
  • Total Annual Pool: ~$500,000
  • Two-step process: Letter of Inquiry (June 4) then full application (September 8)
  • Focus: Nonprofits serving Evansville city limits
  • 60% of funds prioritized for Fourth and Sixth Wards

Women's Fund of Posey County

  • Annual cycle: January through May
  • Supports programs important to women in Posey County
  • Includes interview/site visit component

Donor-Advised Funds

  • Flexible grantmaking throughout the year
  • Donor recommendations for nonprofit support

Priority Areas

  • Arts & Culture (especially performing arts)
  • Education (all levels, public and private)
  • Human Services & Community Development
  • Environment & Recreation
  • Youth Development
  • Health initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct benefit to donors or committee members
  • Non-charitable purposes
  • Some funds exclude capital improvements
  • Specific restrictions vary by fund type

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Jill Carpenter

Key Staff:

  • Sarah Wagner - Regional Director of Development
  • Laura Hazelman - Regional Director, Community Engagement (Daviess, Knox, Pike)
  • Amy Smith - Regional Director, Community Engagement (Gibson, Posey)
  • Emily Alvey - Regional Director, Community Engagement (Perry, Spencer)

Structure: Board of directors representing each county, plus local advisory boards and grant committees of community volunteers for each affiliate.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online application portal at communityfoundationalliance.org/grants
  • Select county on interactive map or specific program
  • Strongly encouraged: Schedule pre-application meeting with Regional Director

Decision Timeline

  • Standard timeline: 3-5 months from deadline to decision
  • Process: Committee review → interviews/site visits → board approval
  • Written notification to all applicants

Key Deadlines (vary by county):

  • Vanderburgh County: February 21 deadline, May 1 notification
  • Perry County: June-August applications, November 1 notification
  • Evansville Endowment: LOI June 4, full application September 8, November decision

Success Rates

  • 211 total grants awarded in 2024
  • Evansville Endowment: 23 grants from pool of applicants
  • Posey County: 39 grants totaling $166,000+

Reapplication Policy

  • Grants typically one-time support
  • Follow-up funding for project expansions may be considered
  • Contact Regional Director for county-specific policies

Application Success Factors

Based on Alliance guidance:

  • Connect Before Applying: Schedule meetings with Regional Directors - relationship-building is valued
  • Know County Priorities: Each affiliate evaluates based on specific local needs
  • Demonstrate Clear Need: Articulate the local issue and community impact
  • Consider Collaboration: Joint applications welcomed when expertise aligns
  • Stay Mission-Focused: Avoid "mission creep" - only apply if you can deliver
  • No Lobbying: Don't contact committee or board members about applications
  • Prepare for Visits: Some programs include site visits/interviews
  • Use Current Guidelines: Requirements may change annually

For Evansville Endowment Fund:

  • Clearly show community benefit
  • Emphasize impact on Fourth/Sixth Wards if applicable
  • Recent awards: HVAC, renovations, playgrounds, accessibility improvements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic specificity is critical - Applications evaluated on local county needs, not regional impact • Pre-application meetings are strategic advantages - Unlike most funders, they actively encourage preliminary discussions • Plan for one-time funding - Build sustainability without relying on recurring grants • Capital projects have dedicated funding - Evansville organizations should leverage the $500K annual Endowment Fund • Timeline awareness essential - Multiple cycles across counties require careful deadline tracking • Write for community volunteers - Reviewers are local residents, not professional grant makers • Collaboration strengthens applications - Joint proposals viewed favorably over competitive approaches

References

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