Fund Purpose: To provide support for building inclusive communities for those with disabilities.
Fund Story: The WindSwell Foundation (formerly AWS Foundation) serves twelve counties in the Northeast Indiana Region. Their mission is to help children and adults with enduring intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities live as independently as possible. Since it began grantmaking in 2009, they have awarded over $48 million to more than 190 nonprofit organizations.
Recently, WindSwell recognized that the majority of their funding has historically supported organizations in Allen County. To intentionally connect with their rural communities, they are establishing similar funds with other local community foundations in their region. By partnering with community foundations that already have great relationships with the local nonprofits, they aim to extend their reach and ensure access to this grant funding. Establishing funds like this one will help streamline the grant application process, making it easier for local nonprofits to access the resources they need to serve individuals with disabilities in their communities.
This year, WindSwell is making $50,000 available to each of the rural counties in its region. Nonprofits can apply for grants of up to $10,000, with the goal of awarding funding to approximately eight organizations. Depending on the types of applications received and the overall success of this initiative, WindSwell hopes to establish this as a regularly occurring grant cycle in our community.
Stay tuned for more details regarding the application process and timeline. We are thrilled to be part of this opportunity and look forward to the positive impact it will have on local nonprofits and the individuals they serve.
Fund Impact:
Fellowship of Christian Athletes of East Central Indiana
Affordable Housing Corporation
Special Olympics Indiana – Grant County
Firefly Children and Family Alliance
