Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF) gathered Wednesday afternoon to award grant checks to 11 grant recipients in the final grant cycle of 2025. Awards totaled $218,234. MCCF Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Taylor welcomed everyone and thanked the nonprofit leaders for the work they do in our community. Fund owners in attendance were recognized and thanked, for without fund owners, the grants would not be possible. Listed by Area of Interest, the following grants were awarded:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
- Animal Welfare League, $18,145
- Animal Welfare League will improve conditions for shelter pets through “The Great Outdoors” project. The initiative includes rebuilding the cat cattery with a concrete base and adding more outdoor dog runs. This effort aims to provide a safer, more enriching environment for animals at the facility.
- Montgomery County Leadership Academy, $15,000
- The Leadership Academy’s Signature Program aims to develop a leadership pipeline dedicated to improving the county. The 6-month program includes monthly day-long sessions featuring Clifton Strengths assessments, leadership skill development, community engagement, and a capstone community project. These funds will support the 2026 Signature Program.
- Waveland Strong, $2,075
- Waveland Strong Inc., exists to improve the community through events, projects, and beautification efforts, fostering community pride. To improve safety for children, they will purchase and install new mulch for the town park playground.
- Master Gardeners of Montgomery County, $5,000
- Master Gardeners will create the first public, curated garden educating residents about pollinator landscapes at the 4-H county fairgrounds. Planned for Spring 2026, the garden will feature native plant seedlings, plugs, ornamental trees, and native shrubs, complemented by educational signage.
EDUCATION
- Montgomery County Educational Foundation, $40,000
- MCEF offers teacher grants to encourage innovative educational projects in the three local public school corporations. Last year’s grants positively impacted 3,883 students, demonstrating the program’s significant educational reach and potential for enhancing student learning through creative teaching approaches. This award will help fund projects for the 2026-27 school year.
HEALTH
- Crawfordsville Community School Corporation, $10,000
- The CCSC serves 2,261 students, with 66% receiving free/reduced lunch. The Health & Welfare project provides financial assistance for medical, dental, vision, and mental health services. Key objectives include enabling healthcare access, supporting students’ health needs, and enhancing school nurses’ professional development.
- North Montgomery Community School Corporation, $11,514
- The Corporation serves 1,853 PK-12 students across 5 schools. These funds will address increasing poverty and healthcare challenges. With a free/reduced meal rate near 40%, the project aims to provide comprehensive medical support including physician care, medication coverage, dental care, vision and hearing, mental health resources as well health education, and emergency medical supplies.
- South Montgomery Community School Corporation, $10,000
- The Corporation aims to support its 1,700 PK-12 students by addressing critical health and welfare needs, particularly for the 45% receiving meal assistance. Through the Health and Welfare Fund, the district will provide comprehensive support including medical, dental, vision, mental health services, and more.
HUMAN SERVICES
- Abilities Services, $27,000
- Abilities Services has served individuals with developmental disabilities for over 50 years. Funds will be used to purchase a pre-owned SUV to provide transportation for their consumers to medical appointments, interviews, work sites, trainings, as well as social outings. The vehicle will increase community participation and accommodate adaptive equipment.
- Women’s Resource Center, $14,500
- Locally, 1/3 of pregnant women don’t receive first-trimester care. The WRC provides free medical services including pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, STI testing, and a Safe Sleep program. Funds will be used to purchase medical supplies and baby supplies.
YOUTH
- Youth Service Bureau, $65,000
- YSB is a youth-focused organization serving over 4,000 at-risk youth annually. With programs like CASA, child abuse prevention education, and an alternative high school credit recovery classroom, YSB addresses critical community needs, including a 15.5% child poverty rate and 76% of Teen Court referrals related to drug/alcohol offenses. YSB aims to represent 149 children through 32 CASA volunteers, provide personal safety education to 1,700 students, and implement a strategic succession plan.
The grants were made possible by the following MCCF Field of Interest Funds:
A.F. Ramsey Trust Fund, Amy C. Robinson Trust Fund, Faye O. and Anna Winter Schenck Fund, Karl B. Taylor Mental Health Fund, Women of Wisdom Fund, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: honoring Rev. Chris Hotopp-Zachary, Mary Vi Leaming RN and Meda Lorton, and the Youth Are Our Future Fund.
And from these MCCF Unrestricted Funds:
Missie Bickle No Hill for a Climber Fund, Phil and Farzaneh Boots Fund, Samuel L. and Eva Fern Boots Fund, Community Fund, Tony and Cindy Cosenza Fund, Tom and Dolores Crews Fund, John and Betty Culley Fund, Irwin Lee Detchon Fund, Ron and Trudy Dickerson Fund, Dr. William and Nancy Doemel Fund, Ron Eden Fund, Leland and Dolores Epperson & Family Fund, Bob and Bill Fell Fund, Larry and Susan Griffith Fund, M. Gaildene and Stan Hamilton Fund, Thomas and Mary Beth Harmon Fund, Hoosier Heartland State Bank Fund, Roger and Judy Hildebrand Fund, Dennis and Dee Hohlbein Fund, Larry D. Servies and Wanda R. Hopkins Fund, John and Roberta Hudson Fund, Max W. Johnson Fund to honor Mary Francis “Fran” Johnson, Lincoln Legacy Foundation Fund, Pearl and Don Livingston Fund, Mag and Lil Fund, Steve and Diane McLaughlin Fund, Tom and Cynda Mellish Fund, Phil and Judy Michal Fund, Mike and Rhonda Mitchell Family Fund, Nucor Fund, Morris and Barbara Odle Family Fund, Gloria and Marvin Oliver Fund, Michael L. and Karen A. Patton Fund, Marty Pool Fund, Torey and Bethany Rauch Fund, William and Amy Roth Fund, Coach Rick and Deb Schavietello Fund, Kathy and John Steele Fund, Stewart-Sweek Family Fund, Max K. Tannenbaum Trust Fund, John T. Taylor Charitable Fund, Tom Warren Fund, Roland Brooks and Helen Johnson Wynne Fund, and the Jarrod and Crystal Zachary Fund.
MCCF manages over 250 endowed funds, each established by donors with the desire to make Montgomery County a better place to live. Since 1991, over $31.5 million in grants and scholarships has been awarded to agencies and students right here in Montgomery County.
To learn more about MCCF Grantmaking visit https://www.mccf-in.org/unrestricted-grant-cycle to review the eligibility guidelines and learn about the application process. Direct questions to Cheryl Keim, Grants & Community Relations Director at 765-362-1267 or cheryl@mccf-in.org.