The Indianapolis Foundation Competitive Grants

The Indianapolis Foundation Competitive Grants is sponsored by The Indianapolis Foundation (part of Central Indiana Community Foundation). Supports initiatives that mobilize communities, foster equity, and create lasting impact in Indianapolis.

Competitive Round – The Indianapolis Foundation info@indianapolisfoundation. org Indianapolis nonprofits can request funding through our competitive grant process to drive meaningful change and help shape Indianapolis into a community where all can thrive.

Organizations that share our mission for thriving communities can access funding, resources, and collaborative opportunities that advance innovative solutions in housing , economic , health , and environmental equity. Our grants support initiatives that mobilize communities, foster equity, and create lasting impact—because together, we can build a stronger Indianapolis for all.

The next Indianapolis Foundation competitive round is slated to open April 1, 2026 . Questions should be directed to TIFrequests@indianapolisfoundation. org .

Competitive Round Proposal Criteria of the Indianapolis Foundation Applications for the IF Competitive Round are reviewed at least annually. The maximum allowable request for this round is $100,000. The budget amount requested should not exceed 30% of an organization’s board-approved budget for the current fiscal year.

Due to the large number of applications received each round, IF may not be able to fully or partially fund all proposals. In addition: Proposals must be submitted through the Grants Portal powered by SmartSimple by the designated deadline. Late proposals will not be considered.

Proposals should include a clear plan for how the organization will allocate sufficient financial and human resources to operate within the proposed budget. Applicants must select performance metrics that they will track and report to the Foundation if they are awarded funding during the grant period.

General Eligibility for Receiving Funds from the Indianapolis Foundation IF maintains minimum organizational requirements for applicants seeking funding. Please review the thresholds as follows: IF provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations . We are not accepting applications from fiscal sponsors this round.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong track record and established presence serving communities in Indianapolis. In accordance with our non-discrimination statement, an eligible organization must not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected class characteristics.

An organization may only receive funding from the IF Competitive Round once annually and must be in full compliance with all other funding received from the Indianapolis Foundation. Current grantees of the Indianapolis Foundation are eligible to apply for a new grant this round, provided the organization has sufficiently completed all reporting requirements within the past three calendar years.

Organizations that received funding in 2025 are eligible to re-apply; however, IF must receive, at minimum, a satisfactory 6-month report from any prior competitive funding rounds to be able to receive additional funding.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other historically marginalized groups Immigrants and refugees Returning Citizens or Justice-Involved Residents Residents experiencing or surviving violence, trauma, or eviction, particularly women and youth (ages 11–24) Older youth and young adults (ages 16–24) not engaged in education, employment, credentialing programs and/or training An organization’s profile must be current in IF’s Grants Portal (powered by Smart Simple) to include up-to-date financial and governance documentation such as: Form 990, Audits (when relevant), Year-End Statement of Activities, Profit and Loss Statements, Statement of Assets, Board-Approved Budget for Current Fiscal Year/Calendar Year, and Board roster.

Applications must be submitted in the Grants Portal . Late applications are not accepted. In addition to the criteria above, IF will give preference to organizations and proposals that align with the IF Equity Framework.

Aligned efforts would include: A focus on root causes rather than symptoms of systemic inequities Efforts that seek to address or eliminate disparities in Indianapolis Proven evidence of consistent, meaningful community engagement that informs and improves the organization’s programs, services, and overall direction A history of providing services to Indianapolis residents using a community asset-based approach For additional information on alignment and applying for a competitive grant, review IF's Grant Application Guide .

Download Equity Imperative 2030 Grant Application Guide To help you get ready to apply, download a preview of the grant application here . This document outlines the questions and information you’ll need, so you can gather everything in advance before entering the application portal. IF has identified baseline metrics to assist in tracking grantee progress.

Selected metrics align with the Equity Imperative 2030 areas of health, housing, economic, and environment. Applicants are required to select or identify unique metrics to demonstrate the impact of their organization’s work. Each applicant submits metrics in the application that, if awarded, are utilized in the reporting process.

Metrics, reporting, and storytelling are valuable components to understanding progress and garnering lessons learned. If awarded, reports are submitted in the Grants Portal at the six- and twelve-month marks of the grant performance period. Example metrics are listed in the application by priority area.

Grants Portal (Powered by Smart Simple) Applicants must submit all application and reporting materials using the IF Grants Portal (powered by Smart Simple). First time applicants create a user profile for the organization. Organizations already registered in the IF Grants Portal must update the organizational profile prior to submitting a new proposal.

For guidance on setting up an account and navigating an applicant profile, please refer to the Grants Portal 101 resource for guidance or send a request for support to GrantSupport@cicf. org . Organizations that need assistance in accessing and utilizing Smart Simple can contact grantsupport@cicf.

org to receive technical support at no cost. Questions about the details of your application can be directed to TIFrequests@indianapolisfoundation. org or the respective IF Community Leadership officer .