George and Frances Ball Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5-6 million
• Total Assets: $115+ million
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
• Typical Grant Size: $50,000 - $100,000
• Geographic Focus: East Central Indiana (priority: Muncie and Delaware County)
• Application Cycle: Quarterly (February, April, August, November)

Contact Details

Address: 222 S Mulberry St, Muncie, IN 47305
Phone: 765-741-5500
Website: www.gfballfdn.org
Application Portal: Online grant application system
Pre-Application Support: Required pre-grant meeting with program staff for all applicants

Overview

Established in 1937, the George and Frances Ball Foundation is a family foundation rooted in the legacy of George Ball, part of the founding family of the Ball Glass Manufacturing Company, famous for its canning jars. With assets exceeding $115 million and annual grantmaking of $5-6 million, the foundation has been a cornerstone of philanthropic support in East Central Indiana for nearly nine decades. The foundation underwent a significant strategic shift in 2018, adopting a proactive, place-based grantmaking approach centered on the Cradle to Career Muncie collective impact initiative. Rather than simply responding to grant requests, the foundation now serves as a backbone convener, thought leader, advocate, resource sharer, and capacity builder working alongside 70+ community partners to increase educational attainment from 32% to 60% in the Muncie community. The foundation's mission focuses on improving the livability and educational attainment of citizens in East Central Indiana, with more than half of its grantmaking dedicated to education and youth development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Quarterly Competitive Grants: Rolling quarterly application cycle with deadlines in February, April, August, and November. Grants range from approximately $5,000 to $1 million, though most awards fall between $50,000 and $100,000. Applications are submitted through an online portal and require a mandatory pre-grant meeting with foundation staff.

Priority Areas

The foundation invests across five focus areas:

Education and Youth (Primary Focus - over 50% of total grantmaking)
The foundation takes a "Cradle to Career" approach, funding initiatives from early childhood services through post-secondary education and family-sustaining wage employment. Recent examples include $160,000 to Muncie Community Schools for the Educational Data and Outcomes Team, and $100,000 to the Third Grade Reading Collaborative Action Network.

Civic Enhancement
Supports projects that strengthen communities and improve quality of life. Recent grant: $30,000 to 8twelve Coalition for 2025 neighborhood revitalization action plan implementation in Thomas Park Avondale and South Central neighborhoods.

Arts and Culture
Funds visual and performing arts organizations and cultural institutions. Example: $7,500 to Muncie Three Trails Music Series for summer 2025 free concert series.

Nature and Historic Preservation
Maintains the area's natural resources through advocacy and conservation. The foundation's largest grants in this area support Minnetrista Cultural Foundation's gardens and Nature Area, with Minnetrista receiving over $1 million annually.

Wrap Around Services
Supports human services organizations helping individuals and families in need of temporary financial or material assistance. Recent grant: $34,000 to Christian Ministries of Delaware County for Emergency Men's Sleeping Room winter shelter program.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without IRS 501(c)(3) designation
• Regular operational expenses (except in exceptional cases)
• Organizations serving areas outside East Central Indiana (with limited exceptions for higher education institutions)
• Specific exclusions available on their Quarterly Grant Guidelines page at gfballfdn.org

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

• Will Bracken - Board Member of Ball Brothers Foundation and Trustee Emeritus of Carleton College
• Ermalene M. Faulkner - Retired Administrator, Muncie Community Schools
• Michael B. Galliher - President, A. E. Boyce Co., Inc.
• Steven M. Smith - Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Mid-west Metal Products Co, Inc.
• Marianne Vorhees - Retired Judge, Delaware Circuit Court No. 1
• James R. Williams - Attorney, DeFur Voran
• Mark K. Hardwick - Chief Executive Officer, First Merchants Corporation
• Stefan Anderson - Chairman Emeritus and Trustee

Key Staff

• Tom Kinghorn - President and CEO
• Linda Faughnder - Executive Assistant
• Program Impact Officer and Program Officer positions support grantmaking operations

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

1. Pre-Grant Meeting Required: All prospective grantees must schedule and complete a pre-grant meeting with foundation program staff before submitting an application. Contact the foundation at 765-741-5500 or through their website to arrange this meeting.

2. Online Application: Applications are submitted through the foundation's online grant application system for Quarterly Competitive Grants.

3. Application Components:

   • Cover letter (brief statement of general purpose and exact amount requested, signed by the submitter with executive director's name included)
   • Application narrative (maximum 5 pages, excluding attachments)
   • Budget worksheet and narrative for the project
   • Annual organizational budget worksheet
   • List of current board members
   • Latest annual report
   • IRS not-for-profit determination letter

Decision Timeline

• Quarterly Deadlines: February, April, August, and November (specific dates posted on website)
• Board Review: The Board of Directors meets exactly one month following each quarterly submission date
• Decision Notification: Applicants receive funding decisions approximately 6-8 weeks after submission deadlines
• Total Timeline: Plan for approximately 2 months from deadline to decision

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly published. However, the foundation awarded $5 million across multiple grants in 2024, indicating they fund numerous organizations each quarter across their five focus areas.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact foundation staff during the required pre-grant meeting to discuss reapplication timelines and guidance.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Leveraged Funding: "The Foundation looks with favor on grant applications which propose leveraging the requested funds with those of other funding sources or matching funds." This is explicitly stated in their guidelines and represents a key evaluation criterion.

Alignment with Cradle to Career Muncie: Given that the foundation serves as the backbone convener for this collective impact initiative, applications that demonstrate understanding of and connection to this framework are well-positioned. The initiative works with 70+ community partners utilizing collective impact and results-based accountability frameworks.

Data-Driven Approaches: The foundation emphasizes "a keen focus on data" and "activation of evidence-based strategies" in their strategic approach. Applications should demonstrate how proposed work will be measured and how evidence supports the proposed intervention.

Collaborative Solutions: The foundation values cross-sector partnerships and collaborative approaches, as evidenced by their leadership of 10 Cradle to Career Collaborative Action Networks (CANs) comprised of diverse stakeholders working together toward positive outcomes.

Concise Communication: Applications must not exceed 5 pages excluding attachments, demonstrating the foundation's preference for clear, focused proposals.

Recent Successful Grants

• Large-Scale Operating Support: Minnetrista Museum & Gardens - $1,110,000 for operations and capital projects
• Education Data Systems: Muncie Community Schools - $160,000 for Educational Data and Outcomes Team
• Collaborative Networks: Third Grade Reading Collaborative Action Network - $100,000
• Neighborhood Revitalization: 8twelve Coalition - $30,000 for neighborhood action plan implementation
• Human Services: Christian Ministries of Delaware County - $34,000 for emergency shelter and security
• Community Events: Muncie Three Trails Music Series - $7,500 for free summer concerts

Strategic Approach Tips

1. Schedule the Pre-Grant Meeting Early: This required meeting is an opportunity to discuss fit, refine ideas, and build relationship with program staff before investing time in a full application.

2. Demonstrate Local Impact: With a strong geographic focus on Muncie and Delaware County, show deep understanding of local challenges and opportunities.

3. Connect to the Bigger Picture: Understand how your work connects to the Cradle to Career framework or other foundation priorities, even if not directly part of a Collaborative Action Network.

4. Show Your Partnership Potential: The foundation values organizations that can work collaboratively with other community stakeholders.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Mandatory pre-grant meeting is not optional - this is a requirement before the Board will consider any request, and it provides valuable opportunity for feedback and relationship building
• Leverage and matching funds significantly strengthen applications - the foundation explicitly favors proposals that demonstrate other funding sources or matches
• Geographic focus is paramount - serving Muncie and Delaware County is the priority; organizations outside this area face limited opportunities (primarily higher education exceptions)
• Education and youth development receives majority of funding - over 50% of grantmaking flows to this area, particularly initiatives aligned with the Cradle to Career approach
• Quarterly deadlines provide multiple opportunities - with four cycles annually, organizations can plan strategically about optimal timing for submission
• Grant sizes vary dramatically - don't assume you need to request six figures; successful grants range from $7,500 to over $1 million based on project scope and organizational capacity
• Data and evidence matter - the foundation's strategic emphasis on results-based accountability means applications should demonstrate how success will be measured and why the approach is evidence-based

References

1. George and Frances Ball Foundation Official Website - www.gfballfdn.org (Accessed February 24, 2026)
2. George and Frances Ball Foundation - Quarterly Grant Guidelines - https://www.gfballfdn.org/quarterly-grant-guidelines.html (Accessed February 24, 2026)
3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - George And Frances Ball Foundation (EIN: 35-6033917) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/356033917 (Accessed February 24, 2026)
4. Muncie Journal - "George and Frances Ball Foundation Wraps Up $5 Million 2024 Grantmaking Investments in Cradle to Career Muncie" - January 2025 - https://www.munciejournal.com/2025/01/george-and-frances-ball-foundation-wraps-up-5-million-2024-grantmaking-investments-in-cradle-to-career-muncie/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)
5. Inside Philanthropy - George and Frances Ball Foundation Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/indiana-grants/george-and-frances-ball-foundation (Accessed February 24, 2026)
6. Instrumentl - George And Frances Ball Foundation 990 Report - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/george-and-frances-ball-foundation (Accessed February 24, 2026)
7. Cause IQ - George and Frances Ball Foundation Profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/george-and-frances-ball-foundation,356033917/ (Accessed February 24, 2026)
8. Foundation Directory Online (Candid) - George and Frances Ball Foundation - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BALL001 (Accessed February 24, 2026)
9. George and Frances Ball Foundation - Cradle to Career Initiative Page - https://www.gfballfdn.org/cradle-to-career.html (Accessed February 24, 2026)
10. George and Frances Ball Foundation - Our Team Page - https://www.gfballfdn.org/our-team.html (Accessed February 24, 2026)
11. Ball State University - "Ball State University and George and Frances Ball Foundation Partner for 'Cradle to Career Muncie' Initiative" - February 2024 - https://www.bsu.edu/news/press-center/archives/2024/02/ball-state-george-and-frances-ball-foundation-partner-for-cradle-to-career-muncie-initiative (Accessed February 24, 2026)