Indianapolis Foundation’s Competitive Grant

The Equity Imperative 2030 Grant is offered by The Indianapolis Foundation (IF) as part of its long-term strategic commitment to create a more equitable Indianapolis. This grant initiative aims to fund nonprofit organizations that align with IF’s Equity Framework and contribute toward building thriving neighborhoods with measurable, positive outcomes for Indianapolis residents. Competitive Round funds, unlike other grant rounds at IF, are privately sourced and not combined with government funding. The 2025 Competitive Round funds may be used for operational needs, programming, systems change efforts, and direct service initiatives. Applicants are required to demonstrate alignment with IF’s Equity Imperative 2030 strategic plan, selecting at least one of the four core priority areas: Housing Equity, Economic Equity, Health Equity, or Environmental Equity. The grant focuses on addressing root causes of systemic inequities and encourages approaches that promote community involvement, empowerment, and long-term transformation in Indianapolis. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or apply through a qualified fiscal sponsor. They must have a physical presence in Indianapolis and serve its communities. Organizations must maintain an updated profile in the IF Grants Portal with required financial and governance documentation. Additionally, preference is given to organizations with leadership and board demographics reflective of priority populations including BIPOC individuals, immigrants, refugees, returning citizens, young adults aged 16–24, and individuals affected by violence or trauma. Applications must be submitted through the Grants Portal powered by Smart Simple, and late submissions will not be considered. Before applying, organizations are encouraged to contact IF staff to discuss alignment and funding suitability. Key application materials include a detailed budget, performance metrics, and a plan for community engagement. Funding cannot be used for capital expenses, religious programs, political campaigns, fundraising, debt retirement, or individual grants. The 2025 application window opens July 15, 2025, and closes August 29, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Funding decisions are made by December 2025, with disbursements beginning shortly thereafter. Grantees are required to submit six-month and final reports through the Grants Portal, including agreed-upon impact metrics. Evaluation criteria include mission alignment, systems change scope, performance metrics, stakeholder engagement, organizational sustainability, and staff and board representation. For assistance, applicants may contact IF at TIFrequests@cicf.org or reach out to designated Community Leadership Officers by priority area. Technical support for using the Grants Portal is available at GrantSupport@cicf.org. More resources and training are available for nonprofits through CICF and affiliated networks.