Category: Local Grant Recipients

  • October 12: World Premier of Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz

    October 12: World Premier of Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz

    The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is proud to announce the world premiere of Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz at the 34th Heartland International Film Festival on Sunday, October 12, at 1:00 pm in the Tobias Theater at Newfields. Additional screenings will be held at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater on Thursday, October 16, at 4:45 pm and Sunday, October 19, at 12:00 pm. Tickets are available online.

    In December 2023, the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awarded a $10,000 Community Grant to the JCRC to support the final production and post-production of this important documentary. Sweet Lorraine in Auschwitz shares powerful first-hand accounts of the Holocaust, with the goal of expanding historical knowledge among Indiana students, combating antisemitism, and preserving a living history for future generations.

    We encourage Rotarians and the public to attend one of these screenings and experience this moving film.

  • 2024-2025 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Community Grants

    2024-2025 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Community Grants

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces Community Grant Recipients
    $130,000 in funding distributed to seven Indianapolis nonprofits

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awards annual Community Grants through a competitive application and review process. The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024-25 Community Grants.

    • Child Advocates will receive $25,000 to provide legal representation for youth within the child welfare system facing immigration issues.
    • Medical Mutts Service Dogs will receive $25,000 to rescue dogs lingering in shelters, train them to detect glucose drops, impending seizures, anxiety/panic attacks and social emotional discomfort. The dogs will then be paired with their human companion and be of service to them for 8-10 years.
    • Pretty Passionate Hands will receive $25,000 to provide teen parents with parenting classes, education workshops to promote financial literacy and stability, mentorship programs, as well as access to food, household supplies, clothing, childcare, baby toys and equipment.
    • Westminster Neighborhood Services Inc will receive $25,000 to purchase a box truck. The truck will allow them to pick up food donations for their food pantry, soup kitchen, and youth programs, ensuring no neighbor goes hungry.
    • The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, Inc. will receive $10,000 for translation services that will assist their families during scheduling, evaluations and therapy sessions.
    • Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis Inc. will receive $10,000 to provide the residents of the Martindale Brightwood Neighborhood in need with a Day of Rest, a restorative healing circle, restorative activities and program materials that teach coping skills to address trauma, domestic violence, and self-care strategies.
    • Freewheelin’ Community Bikes, Inc. will receive $10,000 to support their Mobile Education Bike Lab program. The program is in Indianapolis area schools, youth development centers, libraries, parks and recreation services, and other community organizations strategically identified in “bike deserts” with less access to bicycle education programs.

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Each year, the Foundation generously donates over $250,000 annually to projects and organizations in the Central Indiana Area that promote the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

    Want to contribute to the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation? Donate here.

    The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is one of the largest and most active Rotary Clubs in the world. Founded in 1913, the club has compiled an extensive record as one the leading supporters and contributors to the quality of life in Indianapolis. For further information about the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, visit indyrotary.org

  • 2022 Community Grants: Apply Online

    2022 Community Grants: Apply Online

    The 2022 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Community Grant guidelines have been posted. The Foundation intends to award two grants of $25,000 and two grants of $10,000.

    The online grant application can be found here. Applications are due by June 20, 2022. Applicants must be 501(c)3 nonprofits who serve the charitable and educational needs of Central Indiana.

    You can find out more about the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation here.

  • 2021-2022 Community Grants Awarded

    2021-2022 Community Grants Awarded

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces Community Grant Recipients
    $80,000 in funding distributed to five Indianapolis nonprofits

    Indianapolis, IN (December 7, 2021): The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awards annual Community Grants through a competitive application and review process. The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021-22 Community Grants.

    • 100 Black Men of Indianapolis will receive $25,000 to support their Financial Literacy Program. The Financial Literacy program is a 16-week co-ed program designed to educate high school students in the areas of financial management and basic investments.

    • Playworks Indiana will receive $25,000 to relaunch a development league program with ten partner schools that will expand to a city-wide league program focused on learning sports and developing social emotional skills. Leagues are non-competitive and focus on building skills so that students have confidence, and often first, positive team experience. The sessions will include co-ed soccer, flag football, kickball and girls basketball.

    • Assistance League of Indianapolis will receive $10,000 to purchase supplies for Assault Survivor Kits which includes a complete outfit of warm, comfortable, and new clothing. The kits are utilized at nineteen Central Indiana hospitals, emergency rooms, and domestic violence shelters in nine counties.

    • Circle City Clubhouse will receive $10,000 to rebuild and expand their capacity for transitional and supportive employment programs post pandemic. Circle City Clubhouse is a vocationally based psycho-social rehabilitation program for adults living with serious mental illness.

    • Saint Florian Center will receive $10,000 for their year-round program focusing on youth leadership development, STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, college preparation, lifetime fitness, life-long reading, cultural heritage and pride, crime awareness and drug-free prevention.

    “We had nearly 100 applications submitted this year. The applicants highlight the incredible needs and services provided throughout Central Indiana,” says Indianapolis Rotary Foundation President Bill Bubenzer. “We appreciate the hard work of all those who submitted applications and are confident that our Community Grant recipients will use their funding to make a significant community impact.”

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Each year, the Foundation generously donates almost $200,000 annually to projects and organizations in the Central Indiana Area that promote the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

    Want to make a contribution to the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation? Donate here.

    With almost 200 members, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis is one of the largest and most active Rotary Clubs in the world. Founded in 1913, the club has compiled an extensive record as one the leading supporters and contributors to the quality of life in Indianapolis. For further information about the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, visit www.indyrotary.org.

  • 2020 Community Grants: Apply Online

    2020 Community Grants: Apply Online

    The 2020 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Community Grant guidelines have been posted to our website. The Foundation intends to award two grants of $25,000 each and one grant of $10,000.

    The online grant application can be found here. Applications are due by June 22, 2020. Applicants must be nonprofits who serve Central Indiana. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the officers and directors of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation have decided to only accept 2020-21 Community Grant Applications from organizations that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 virus. 

    You can find out more about the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation here.

  • 2019-20 Community Grants Awarded

    2019-20 Community Grants Awarded

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces Community Grant Recipients $80,000 in funding distributed to five Indianapolis nonprofits

    Indianapolis, IN (December 3, 2019): The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awards annual Community Grants through a competitive application and review process. The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2019-20 Community Grants.

    • Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People will receive $25,000 to fund a Survivors of Suicide (SOS) program specifically targeting and benefiting children, teens, and young adults ages 3 to 29 in and around Marion County, as well as their family members or caregivers, who have experienced the death of a loved one by suicide. The program will provide no-cost individual therapy services, suicide-specific grief resources, and grief support awareness and education.

    • Elevate Indianapolis will receive $25,000 to expand their Post-Secondary Preparation Program at George Washington High School. The program equips, trains and prepares high school students to be successfully enrolled, enlisted or employed upon graduation.

    • Kids Dance Outreach, Inc. will receive $10,000 to support their in-school program in two schools which will positively impact the lives of 125 children through joyful dance programs that inspire excellence, instill confidence, encourage teamwork, and applaud persistence.

    • Purchased, Inc. will receive $10,000 to fund their My Life My Choice (MLMC) program, a ten-week curriculum serving upper middle school and high school girls ages 12 to 17 who are at risk for or have been sexually exploited or trafficked in Indiana. The program will focus on changing attitudes and perceptions about the commercial sex industry, understanding healthy relationships, learning about sexual health and substance abuse, and building skills that reduce the risk of exploitation.

    • The Society of St. Andrew, Inc. will receive $10,000 to increase their ability to glean and distribute approximately 111,000 pounds or 333,000 servings of fresh produce to those in Central Indiana who are food insecure.

    “We had over 100 applications submitted this year. The number of applicants highlights the incredible needs and services provided throughout Central Indiana,” says Indianapolis Rotary Foundation President Bill Bubenzer. “We appreciate the hard work of all those who submitted applications and are confident that our Community Grant recipients will use their funding to make a significant community impact.”

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

    Each year, the Foundation generously donates almost $200,000 annually to projects and organizations in the Central Indiana Area that promote the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

    Want to make a contribution to the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation? Click Here

    With over 200 members, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis is one of the largest and most active Rotary Clubs in the world. Founded in 1913, the club has compiled an extensive record as one the leading supporters and contributors to the quality of life in Indianapolis. For further information about the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, visit www.indyrotary.org.

  • June 10: Special Program with Eva Kor, Holocaust Survivor

    Join the Rotary Club of Indianapolis for a special program as we welcome Eva Kor, Holocaust Survivor and Forgiveness Advocate, as our speaker on Monday, June 10.

    For the past 40 years, Holocaust survivor Eva Kor has shared her story with students, teachers, medical professionals, senators, administrators, historians, university groups, graduating classes, and civic groups, both nationally and internationally. Eva is one of the few surviving twins sharing her personal account of the medical experiments supervised by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele at Auschwitz. Eva’s account of her survival of the Holocaust offers many relevant lessons on the dangers of hate and prejudice, and the consequences of allowing prejudice to persist, unchecked, in others. 

    In addition to the importance of her account from a historical perspective, Eva’s life lessons and message of forgiveness have touched the lives of millions of people. In 1995, Eva chose to forgive the Nazis, after deciding that they should no longer have power over her life. She describes forgiving the Nazis as an act of self-healing, self-liberation, and self-empowerment; forgiveness is not about the perpetrator, not about forgetting. It is one step toward repairing the world by helping victims free themselves from perpetrators and remove anger and hatred. Eva shares her own discovery of the power to forgive so that others may see the possibility to heal themselves through forgiveness. Forgiveness provides a way for people to free themselves from hurt, anger, and hatred, from the pain of victimhood. If people find peace with themselves, the world may also find peace.

    WFYI Public Media recently received a $25,000 Community Grant from the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation to fund a recurring, interactive program at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center that will feature the “Eva” documentary, a half-hour discussion and an interactive exhibit. The “Eva” documentary brings difficult topics to the forefront as it features the life journey of Eva Mozes Kor, Holocaust survivor. 

    Pre-registration is required for this event and includes a buffet lunch provided by MBP Distinctive Catering. Indianapolis Club Rotarian tickets are $26 and guest tickets are $35. Tables of 8 can be reserved by contacting Donna Christian at dchristian@indyrotary.org. If you participate in the Rotary Value Club contact Donna to reserve your ticket.

    Purchase your tickets on Eventbrite.

  • Our Office Has Moved…..

    The Rotary Club of Indianapolis office is now located at the Glossbrenner Mansion. The new mailing address is 3202 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 and the new phone number is 317-829-1041. Please update your records.

  • 2018 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Annual Report

    2018 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Annual Report

    The Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the primary community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

    Annual contributions to the Foundation are added to an eternal endowment fund and allocated income from that fund is utilized to support grants for charitable and educational purposes, primarily in the Indianapolis and Central Indiana areas. Download the 2018 Annual Report.

  • Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces Community Grant Recipients

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces Community Grant Recipients

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Announces
    Community Grant Recipients
    $70,000 in funding distributed to four Indianapolis nonprofits

    Indianapolis, IN (December 4, 2018): The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation awards annual Community Grants through a competitive application and review process. The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 Community Grants.

    • WFYI Public Media will receive $25,000 to fund a recurring, interactive program at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center that will feature the “Eva” documentary, a half-hour discussion and an interactive exhibit. The “Eva” documentary brings difficult topics to the forefront as it features the life journey of Eva Mozes Kor, Holocaust survivor.

    • Fight for Life Foundation will receive $25,000 to expand the Building Dreams program to serve an additional 1,500 vulnerable students at five K-8 schools within the Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries. The program works to overcome trauma and build social-emotional competencies.

    • Dove Recovery House will receive $10,000 to support “Steps to Success,” a community outreach and housing initiative to expand programming for women who are taking the first step toward recovery, financial stability and securing safe, affordable housing. In addition to two years of support at the House, participants also receive a rental subsidy towards permanent housing.

    • Central Indiana Police Foundation will receive $10,000 to equip 110 local police officers with Trauma Kits that provide training and tools to help address immediate needs of those who are injured during a first response call. With the Kits, police officers can provide life saving treatment until ambulatory services arrive.

    “We had over 100 applications submitted this year. The number of applicants highlights the incredible needs and services provided throughout Central Indiana,” says Indianapolis Rotary Foundation President Bill Bubenzer. “We appreciate the hard work of all those who submitted applications and are confident that our Community Grant recipients will use their funding to make a significant community impact.”

    The Indianapolis Rotary Foundation is a private, stand-alone corporation that serves as the community charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. Each year, the Foundation generously donates almost $200,000 annually to projects and organizations in the Central Indiana Area that promote the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

    With almost 300 members, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis is one of the largest and most active Rotary Clubs in the world. Founded in 1913, the club has compiled an extensive record as one the leading supporters and contributors to the quality of life in Indianapolis. For further information about the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, visit www.indyrotary.org.