Wayne County Foundation Program Support and Rapid Response Grants

The Wayne County, Indiana, Foundation, Inc. is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to fostering and encouraging charitable giving to enhance community spirit and improve quality of life for residents of Wayne County, Indiana. The Foundation offers multiple grant opportunities throughout the year, including two regular program support grant cycles and a separate Rapid Response Grant program for urgent or unexpected needs. It focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations operating in or serving Wayne County, with an emphasis on projects that address significant community problems, present innovative solutions, and demonstrate the stability and qualifications of the applicant. The program support grants are competitive funding opportunities intended for substantial projects that require between $25,000 and $50,000. Applicants must present initiatives for which funding is needed but is not available through their regular budgets. Projects should propose practical and creative solutions to identified issues, and applicants must be able to demonstrate organizational capacity to deliver the proposed outcomes. All applicants must hold 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and be located in or serving Wayne County, Indiana. There are two primary grant cycles each year. Cycle I opens on March 1, 2025, and closes on March 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with awards announced on June 12, 2025. Cycle II opens on August 1, 2025, and closes on August 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with awards announced on October 9, 2025. Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online portal. New users must register in the portal and will receive an email confirmation upon approval. Applicants must also download and complete the Project Budget Form, which is a required part of the application. The Rapid Response Grant program is designed to fund unplanned opportunities or urgent needs that require immediate funding, or to provide seed money for a project. Applications for Rapid Response Grants are accepted year-round, with a maximum request of $5,000. This grant features a shorter application process and quicker decision-making, and organizations may receive one Rapid Response Grant per year in addition to a program grant. The Foundation encourages first-time applicants or those who have not previously been successful to contact Brian Schleeper, Director of Nonprofit Engagement, before applying. His contact information is brian@waynecountyfoundation.org and 765-962-1638. Applicants must adhere to all guidelines outlined in the Foundation’s updated 2025 Grantmaking Guidelines. A post-grant report and final project budget are required within 30 days after the end of the grant period, submitted through the online portal. The Wayne County Foundation generally limits organizations to one grant award per year, with the exception of the Rapid Response Grant, which may be awarded in addition to a program grant. All grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM on the closing date of the cycle. The Foundation also provides resources such as a press kit to help grantees share news of their awards and maintains an FAQ document to assist applicants in understanding the process.

First-time or previously unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to contact the Director of Nonprofit Engagement before applying.