The Rush County Youth Athletic Fund, established by James Robert Billman in 1993, aims to support the development and training of amateur athletes and coaches in Rush County, Indiana. The fund promotes athletic excellence as a pathway to healthier lifestyles and higher educational opportunities, with a particular focus on programs that engage underprivileged youth. Grants are awarded to support amateur competitions and activities that foster athletic involvement as an alternative to sedentary lifestyles.
The Rush County Community Foundation (RCCF) administers this fund, along with several other funds, to enrich and enhance the quality of life in Rush County. RCCF achieves its mission by investing donations and using the earnings to award grants to local organizations, people, and projects. Some of these grants are restricted based on donor preferences, and income from the "Community Grant Funds" (unrestricted funds) is distributed through a grantmaking process. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the available funds to determine which is most appropriate for their project.
Grant applications are welcomed from any non-profit organization that benefits Rush County or its citizens, particularly those that meet certain criteria. The Foundation favors applications that propose practical solutions to community issues, address underlying causes of local needs, encourage volunteer involvement, and impact a substantial number of people. The Foundation also looks for projects that are preventative rather than remedial, foster cooperation, and avoid duplicating existing services. Non-profit organizations must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code to apply.
RCCF does not typically fund certain types of requests, such as ongoing operating expenses, annual fundraising drives, debt reduction, travel expenses, or political or religious activities. Additionally, multi-year grants or repeat funding are generally not awarded from unrestricted funds. However, the Foundation remains open to considering any proposal that is charitable in nature and could significantly impact the community.
The deadline to apply for these grants is September 1st each year. Applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation’s eligibility guidelines and the application process, which can be found on their website. The Foundation ensures a non-discriminatory approach in its grant decisions, expecting applicants to follow the same standards.
