Community Foundation of Randolph County Grant

The Community Foundation of Randolph County is a private philanthropic organization located in Winchester, Indiana, focused on enhancing the quality of life for residents of Randolph County. It accomplishes this through various grantmaking and community development efforts. The foundation distributes grants aimed at increasing the capacity of local not-for-profit organizations to respond effectively to the community’s evolving needs. These grant programs are funded by a number of donor-advised and field-of-interest endowment funds, including the Community Foundation Enrichment Fund, Riverstart Union Township Endowment Fund, and the Rural Randolph Cares Agricultural Endowment Fund, among others. The grant program is designed to support a range of initiatives across Randolph County. The foundation generally favors one-time projects or needs, start-up costs for new programs, and capital needs that are beyond an applicant’s current capabilities. The primary funding areas include youth, elderly, education, arts and culture, recreation and sports, health and human services, animal protection and welfare, civic and community development, and environmental and historic preservation. The foundation is clear that it does not usually fund endowment campaigns, religious or sectarian purposes, individual needs outside of scholarships, operating deficit recovery, or political activities. Furthermore, routine government services and ongoing operating budgets are typically not supported unless an exception is made by the Board. Eligibility for funding is generally limited to nonprofit organizations that possess a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS. Proposed projects must address a recognized community need and must benefit a significant number of Randolph County residents. Projects should not discriminate based on race, gender, religion, creed, or ethnicity. Before submitting an application, organizations are required to consult with the Foundation’s Executive Director or Community Grants & Operations Manager. This preliminary step involves a letter of inquiry or informal contact to discuss the viability of the proposed project. Applications must be submitted through the foundation’s online portal unless alternative arrangements are made in advance. For 2025, the foundation conducted two formal grant cycles: Spring and Fall. The Spring cycle closed on March 31, 2025, and the Fall cycle closes on September 30, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The Spring 2025 cycle awarded more than $65,000 in grants to 12 nonprofit organizations. Applications for the Fall 2025 cycle must be completed and submitted by the deadline to be considered for funding. Evaluation of applications focuses on the project’s alignment with community needs, potential impact, and the organization’s capacity to execute the proposed work. The foundation’s contact for grants is Ashley Stephen, Community Grants and Operations Manager, who can be reached at (765) 584-9077 or astephen@randolphcountyfoundation.org. Detailed application instructions and the online application form are available at www.randolphcountyfoundation.org/grants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the foundation’s Grant Application Introduction and Instructions before applying. Grants from this foundation are part of an annually recurring cycle. Based on the Fall 2025 application deadline of September 30, the next expected cycle is anticipated to open in late August 2026. All interested applicants should verify the latest deadlines and cycle openings with the foundation starting around August 1, 2026, to ensure timely preparation and submission of application materials.

Applicants should first consult with the Executive Director or Community Grants & Operations Manager before submitting a proposal; applicants are encouraged to review the Grant Application Introduction and Instructions