Since 1992, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has supported more than 400 nonprofit organizations through grantmaking. As the Community Foundation continues to grow our capacity, we have evolved our grantmaking strategy.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants
In September 2026, the Community Foundation awarded $746,000 in Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants to 19 organizations to address urgent operational needs and strengthen services across Monroe County. The awards, ranging from $20,000 to $75,000, are the first made through the Foundation’s 2026-2027 multi-tier funding initiative to support the county’s growth, resilience, and long-term vitality.
Collaborative Local News Funding Initiative Grants
In May 2026, the Community Foundation awarded $30,000 in grants to expand original, nonpartisan, publicly accessible local journalism in Monroe County and foster collaboration among news publishers. Grant recipients include Limestone Post, WFHB, and the Herald-Times.
Local News Student Learning Lab at Indiana University
In February 2026, the Community Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the Indiana University Media School. Launched in fall 2026, the local news learning lab provides paid experiential learning opportunities for IU student journalists and expands local coverage in Monroe County and the surrounding communities.
Hoosier Hills Food Bank Grant
In October 2025, the Community Foundation awarded the Hoosier Hills Food Bank (HHFB) a $100,000 grant. The Community Foundation mobilized the grant within days to help HHFB respond swiftly to increased food demand stemming from the ongoing federal government shutdown and its disruption of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Endowment Building Grants
From February 2024 through June 2025, 18 local nonprofits participated in an endowment-building initiative to create or grow existing endowments. Each participating nonprofit met its fundraising goal and received a dollar-for-dollar match for its endowed fund at the Community Foundation. In addition to matching endowment funds, participating agencies each received a $10,000 capacity-building operational grant to address immediate needs or staff their endowment fundraising activities. These nonprofits solidified their long-term sustainability and collectively grew their endowments by more than $1.3 million.
Beacon Center Grant
In May 2025, the Community Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant for the new Beacon Center. This transformative facility will integrate permanent housing, emergency shelter, and a daytime resource center in one location to better serve people experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The new Beacon Center will co-locate essential services, including healthcare, mental health support, legal aid, and employment training, to provide comprehensive support for those in need.
Community Kitchen Express Location Grant
In August 2024, the Community Foundation awarded Community Kitchen a $50,000 grant for its new Express Location. Located in the Crestmont neighborhood, the facility replaced an aging building and now provides warm and cold carryout meals. The new facility features a new consulting room where patrons can discuss other services with referral specialists.
Dance & Movement Grant Initiative
In August 2024, the Community Foundation awarded Constellation Stage and Screen a $22,500 Dance & Movement Grant from the Community Foundation’s Marina Svetlova Fund for Dance. Constellation used the grant funds to support choreography expenses for three shows and purchased a component dance floor and movable mirror system. The equipment supports Constellation’s dance and movement productions, as well as other organizations that utilize the John Waldron Arts Center for rehearsals and performances.
Community Impact Grants
In January 2023, the Community Foundation awarded Community Impact Grants to 15 nonprofits. This funding initiative awarded a total of $439,083. The Community Impact Funding Initiative is a competitive grant program designed to fuel innovative ideas and lasting impact in Monroe County through funding opportunities that meet our community’s most pressing needs and seize its most compelling opportunities.
Heading Home Grants
In Summer 2022, the Community Foundation awarded six nonprofit organizations with Heading Home Grants. Through this funding initiative, the Community Foundation awarded a total of $200,000 to advance housing security through projects and programs aligned with solutions outlined in the recently released Heading Home Plan, A Regional Plan for Making Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Repeating.
Creating Community Grants
In December 2021, the Community Foundation awarded nine nonprofit organizations with Creating Community Grants. This funding initiative awarded a total of $154,036, focusing on restoring and enhancing our community’s vibrancy, quality of place, and livability by supporting and enhancing the amenities that make Monroe County an attractive place to call home.
To see more grants awarded in 2021 & 2020, please view the Community Foundation COVID-19 Response page.