Grantee Stories
The first five years of a child’s life are so important to their development. That’s why the quality of early childhood care and education during this time is critical—it shapes how their brains grow and helps them develop life-long learning skills.
Brightpoint Head Start helps children prepare for the transition to kindergarten—and academic and social success beyond that—by providing the quality preschool experience children need. Every classroom follows a routine that includes meals, reading, playtime, and more.
Andrea Noble, Board Chair of MLK Montessori School, was recognized as the 2024 David A. Bobilya Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Award recipient at an award ceremony on October 23, 2024!
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne’s homeownership program empowers Allen County residents to increase their strength, stability, and self-reliance by helping hard-working, low- to middle-income families build and purchase their own homes. In 2023, Habitat served 20 families—and in 2024, they will serve a record 26 families, thanks to new and innovative collaborations.
Foellinger Foundation has announced a $125,000 five-year program grant to Courageous Healing in honor of late Foellinger Foundation board member, Janae McCullough-Boyd. The grant will support counseling and/or coaching for African American women in Allen County.
Afterschool programs provide safe environments for youth to continue to learn and grow. School-age children and youth spend 80% of their waking hours outside of school, so how they spend that time can be formative for continuing not only their academic development—but also their social and emotional development.
Afterschool programs provide safe environments for youth to continue to learn and grow. School-age children and youth spend 80% of their waking hours outside of school, so how they spend that time can be formative for continuing not only their academic development—but also their social and emotional development.
In celebration of its 65th anniversary, the Foellinger Foundation board of directors has approved a three-year, $1,000,000 grant to the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation department for capital support of the Foellinger Outdoor Theatre and Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.
The Barbara Burt Innovative Leader Fund (BBILF) provides grants to nonprofit board members for unique learning experiences. Board members may apply for funding to attend conferences, workshops, webinars, or other events—encouraging them to think innovatively, develop adaptive leadership skills, network with other nonprofit leaders, and explore leadership styles and best practices within nonprofit organizations.
Incorporated on March 2, 1960, ACRES is Indiana’s oldest and largest local land trust. The nonprofit organization protects more than 7,200 acres of land in northeast Indiana and portions of southern Michigan and northwest Ohio.
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s Zoo for All program was built from their vision that every family in our community should feel welcomed, regardless of their needs. Zoo for All encompasses all IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) work, which includes community tickets, accessible facility improvements, employment initiatives, and more.
In December 2022, Blue Jacket, Inc. launched Tall Rabbit Cafe + Community, to provide employment opportunities to Blue Jacket clientele. The artisan espresso-based coffee shop experience provides meeting and gathering space in a vintage, rustic throwback décor. The cafe’s name is a subtle nod to Chief Blue Jacket—Shawnee war chief and namesake of Blue Jacket, Inc.—whose nickname was Tall Rabbit.
The Power House Youth Center is one organization supporting students in Allen County, offering afterschool programs to 7th-12th graders in New Haven and Fort Wayne. Each day, students are bused from New Haven Junior and Senior High Schools to The Power House, where they have a safe place to spend the evening hours.