Community Impact Grants

The Community Impact Grants program is administered by the LaGrange County Community Foundation, a place based philanthropic organization dedicated to improving quality of life for residents of LaGrange County, Indiana. The Foundation distributes income generated from its unrestricted funds to support nonprofit organizations working to address community needs. Through this program, the Foundation emphasizes strengthening nonprofit capacity and supporting initiatives that enhance effectiveness, efficiency, and long term sustainability. The program is designed to fund projects that demonstrate meaningful and measurable impact within the local community. The primary purpose of the Community Impact Grants program is to support innovative and creative projects that address unmet or underserved needs across LaGrange County. Funding is available across six key areas of interest including arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health and human services, and recreation. The Foundation prioritizes projects that reach a broad segment of the population, foster collaboration among organizations, and avoid duplication of existing services. Additionally, proposals that introduce new solutions or provide services not currently available in the community are strongly encouraged. Grant funding is typically awarded in amounts ranging from 5000 to 25000 dollars. These funds may be used to support programmatic activities, pilot initiatives, or capacity building efforts that align with the Foundation’s priorities. Preference is given to projects that demonstrate potential to attract additional funding sources or generate long term sustainability. While the Foundation supports a wide range of activities, it does not fund individuals, organizations with outstanding grant reports, or entities that do not serve LaGrange County residents. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that serve LaGrange County. Organizations headquartered outside the county may apply if the majority of the beneficiaries of the proposed project reside within the county. Public and private schools seeking funding for classroom or extracurricular activities are directed to apply through a separate program known as LIFE. The Foundation encourages applicants to engage with the Program Director prior to submission to discuss project alignment and funding needs, which can improve the quality and competitiveness of applications. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online grant portal. Applicants are required to upload several supporting documents including an operating budget, a detailed project or program budget outlining expected revenues and expenses, a current list of board members, and a copy of the organization’s 501 c 3 determination letter. The grant process is competitive, and proposals are evaluated based on alignment with funding priorities, potential community impact, and organizational readiness. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with three distinct application deadlines each year. For 2026, deadlines are February 26, June 26, and September 25, with award notifications expected in April, August, and November respectively. Organizations are limited to one grant award per year under this program. Applicants are encouraged to plan submissions carefully within these cycles and ensure all required documentation is prepared in advance. For additional guidance, applicants may contact the Program Director directly via email or phone to clarify requirements and improve submission quality.

Focus on projects that reach broad community segments, demonstrate collaboration, avoid duplication, and introduce innovative solutions to unmet needs