Community Impact Grants

The LaGrange County Community Foundation offers Community Impact Grants to support nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for residents of LaGrange County, Indiana. The Foundation administers these grants using income derived from its unrestricted funds and aims to fund programs that are both innovative and demonstrate a significant positive impact in the communities served. The overarching goal is to foster projects that are effective, efficient, and promote long-term self-sufficiency for the applicant organizations. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations that serve LaGrange County or its residents. The Foundation favors proposals that address unmet needs, reach wide segments of the community, and demonstrate cooperative approaches that reduce duplication of services. Particularly encouraged are projects requesting seed money for creative opportunities, those that provide services not currently available, and initiatives that are likely to inspire further financial support or make the applicant organization more sustainable over time. Grants are awarded in six areas of interest: Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services, Recreation, Environment, Community Development, and Education. The Foundation accepts applications twice annually. For 2025, the spring cycle opens on January 24 and closes on April 3, with award notifications sent in June. The fall cycle opens on June 26 and closes on September 3, with notifications in November. The grant is competitive, and applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Foundation’s Program Director before submitting a proposal. Applications are submitted through an online portal. Required documents include the organization's operating budget, the specific program or project budget, a list of current board members, and a copy of the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. All documents should be in PDF format and readily available before beginning the application. Public and private schools seeking funding for classroom or extracurricular activities must apply through the Foundation’s LIFE program instead of the Community Impact Grant. There is no stated award ceiling or floor, and the total program funding available was not disclosed. However, funding is awarded on a competitive basis, and priority is given to projects that align well with the Foundation's goals and priorities. Matching requirements were not mentioned, so this may be confirmed through direct inquiry with the Foundation. Previous grantee lists and budget templates are available on the Foundation’s website to help guide applicants. The Foundation is located at 0045 N 250 W, LaGrange, Indiana, and can be contacted by phone at (260) 463-4363. Email inquiries should be directed through their website’s contact form. All applications must be submitted by the posted deadlines through the online portal.