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Author: Shelly Jones

22 Jul

Posted at 15:42h in Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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Marion, Indiana — The Community Foundation of Grant County has awarded a $24K grant to support Team Marion USA as 18 local student-athletes travel to Hualien, Taiwan, from July 30 through August 7, to compete in the 2026 International Children's Games (ICG). This summer, over 1,600 athletes from 60 teams will travel to Taiwan to compete in 8 different sports. Team Marion USA will compete in three sports: 3x3 Boys Basketball, 6v6 Boys Soccer, and 6v6 Girls Soccer. Only 17 cities across North America will participate in this year's International Children's Games. Marion, Indiana, will proudly be the only delegation from the United States represented in these three sports. For these athletes, this journey is about much more than competition. The International Children's Games provide young athletes with the opportunity to compete on an international stage while building friendships across cultures, experiencing new traditions, and serving as ambassadors for their communities. Throughout the Games, Team Marion USA will represent not only Marion and Grant County, but also the State of Indiana and the United States. "These students have worked incredibly hard to earn this opportunity," said Shelly Jones, Chief Development Officer for the Community Foundation of Grant County. "We couldn't be more excited...

22 Jul

Posted at 13:32h in Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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Marion, Indiana — The Community Foundation of Grant County has awarded two $200,000 Collaboration Partner grants to support transformational initiatives that will strengthen Grant County's economy by investing in entrepreneurs, students, and the future workforce. The grants were awarded to the Grant County Economic Growth Council and The Academy through the Foundation's Collaboration Partners grant cycle, designed to help trusted organizations deepen their impact, expand capacity, and pursue innovative solutions that create lasting community change. The Grant County Economic Growth Council received $200,000 for its Grant County Entrepreneurial Support initiative, which will establish the county's first coordinated entrepreneurial support ecosystem by connecting aspiring and existing business owners with training, coaching, mentorship, workspace, and access to capital. The initiative is designed to guide entrepreneurs from idea to launch while creating a permanent support network for business growth across Grant County. The Academy received $200,000 for its Talent Pipeline & Workforce Development initiative, which will expand opportunities for local students through paid apprenticeships, dual-enrollment education, mentorship, workforce training, and career development. The initiative is designed to help young people build meaningful careers while encouraging them to live and work in Grant County. "Strong communities don't happen by accident, they are built intentionally," said Dawn Brown, President...

24 Jun

Posted at 12:57h in Community News, Featured Story, Grantmaking Impact
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Grant County, Indiana — The Community Foundation of Grant County awarded $474,617 in scholarships to 104 students through its 2026 Universal Scholarship Program, helping local students take the next step toward their educational and career goals. A total of 196 scholarships were awarded to students enrolling in colleges, universities, and career training programs this fall. The scholarships were made possible through more than 100 donor-established scholarship funds created by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations committed to investing in the future of Grant County. This year's scholarship recipients represent students from across Grant County who plan to pursue a wide variety of academic and career pathways. The Community Foundation's Universal Scholarship Application allows students to complete a single application and be considered for dozens of scholarship opportunities, simplifying the process and increasing access to available funding. The 2026 scholarship program received 249 completed applications, resulting in the award of 196 scholarships to 104 students. The average scholarship award totaled approximately $4,500 per student, helping recipients offset the rising costs of higher education and career training. "Behind every scholarship is a donor who believed in the power of education and wanted to help the next generation succeed," said Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community...

22 May

Posted at 19:50h in Featured Story
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Strategic investments support innovation, education, housing, healthcare, youth development, and downtown revitalization across Grant County. Grant County, Indiana —The Community Foundation of Grant County is proud to announce the distribution of $955,850 in grant funding through its 2026 Give To Grant Spring Grant Cycles, supporting projects and partnerships designed to strengthen communities, expand opportunity, and improve quality of life across Grant County. Funding was awarded through three coordinated grant opportunities: the Innovation Partners Cycle, the Vireo Funding Partners Cycle, and the General Funding Partners Cycle. Together, these grant opportunities reflect the Foundation’s commitment to investing in both immediate community needs and long-term transformational impact aligned with the Grant County Strategic Vision. Representing investments in housing stability, healthcare access, educational opportunity, disability inclusion, recreation, arts and culture, downtown revitalization, and long-term economic growth throughout Grant County. “Grantmaking is one of the most visible ways generosity comes to life in our community,” said Dawn Brown, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County. “These projects represent organizations that are solving problems, creating opportunity, and working collaboratively to move Grant County forward. We are incredibly grateful to the donors whose generosity makes this work possible.” “These grant awards reflect what is possible when donors, nonprofits, community...

22 May

Posted at 16:36h in Featured Story
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A community foundation is a nonprofit organization created to strengthen the community through charitable giving, strategic grantmaking, and long-term investment in local causes. At the Community Foundation of Grant County, we connect people, resources, and causes to promote sustainable impact toward the betterment of Grant County. In simple terms? We help generosity keep working long after the original gift is made.  For nonprofits, a community foundation serves as both a funding partner and a permanent source of community support. Through endowment funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and organizations, charitable dollars are invested for long-term growth, allowing grants to be awarded year after year. Instead of generosity being a one-time moment, it becomes a lasting community resource.  One of the most powerful tools in supporting local nonprofits can be designated endowment funding. When an organization has a permanently endowed fund with a healthy balance, it creates something many nonprofits dream about: dependable annual support that continues growing over time. These funds help sustain programs, strengthen operations, provide stability during uncertain seasons, and create breathing room for organizations to think beyond simply surviving year to year. Here’s the beautiful part: the original gift is preserved and invested, while a portion of the earnings becomes...

08 May

Posted at 14:50h in Featured Story
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01  Project Overview The Riverfront Canvas Public Arts Initiative is a community-centered public mural project of the Community Foundation of Grant County, Inc. Guided by a five-member commission and chaired by Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr., the initiative will bring to life the positive stories, people, and places that have shaped Grant County into what it is today. More than a beautification effort, this is an act of community storytelling. It is an opportunity to celebrate the people, places, and moments that define Grant County’s character and history. It is also an acknowledgment of transformation: that communities grow, change, and reinvent themselves, and that public art can be a powerful way to honor that journey while strengthening community bonds for generations to come. 02  Purpose & Vision The murals produced through this initiative will serve as enduring public expressions of who Grant County is and who it aspires to be. Each piece will be rooted in the lived experiences of residents, honoring those who built community and envisioning the future being shaped by those who live here today. The commission envisions murals that: - Celebrate the individuals, organizations, and movements that have made Grant County distinct - Tell the authentic, layered stories of community — from...

08 May

Posted at 14:41h in Community News, Featured Story
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Marion, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Grant County is inviting the public to help shape the Riverfront Canvas Public Arts Initiative, a community-driven mural project that will transform the Grant County riverfront into a public art gallery celebrating local stories, people, and places. Centered in downtown Marion’s Arts District, the Riverfront Canvas will turn the Foundation’s historic 100 South Washington Street building into a vibrant visual narrative of Grant County’s identity. The initiative is guided by a five-member public art commission chaired by Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell Jr., with members Eric Marshall, Ron Mazellan, Courtney Middlesworth, and Keenan Davis. Since its formation earlier this spring, the Commission has convened to develop both a project brief (See attached for details) and a community application process, outlining the themes, values, and goals that will guide the murals. Together, these tools ensure that public participation is central to shaping each stage of the project, from concept to creation. “This project is about more than artwork on walls, it’s about telling the story of who we are as a community,” said Dawn Brown, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County. “We want every resident, student, business owner, and neighbor to see themselves reflected...

16 Apr

Posted at 17:18h in Featured Story
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Marion, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Grant County announced today the members of a commission that will guide its new public art initiative, Riverfront Canvas, in downtown Marion. Chaired by Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell, Jr., the five-member commission will oversee planning and design of the murals, which will adorn the Foundation’s historic building at 100 South Washington Street in the Riverfront District. The members include: Eric Marshall, Photographer Ron Mazellan, Creative Director Courtney Middlesworth, Community Volunteer Keenan Davis, Chief Operations Officer, City of Marion “We’re excited to take this next step with a group of individuals who care deeply about this community,” said Mark Atkinson, chair of the Community Foundation of Grant County Board of Directors. “We see this as an opportunity to create something meaningful that the community can take pride in for years to come.” The commission will develop criteria for selecting individuals and stories to be featured, establish a process for receiving community input, and guide the artist selection and mural design process from concept through to completion. “This project will highlight and build on the activity already happening in the Riverfront District,” said Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell, Jr. “By bringing together a strong commission and inviting community input, the...

09 Apr

Posted at 17:07h in Featured Story
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Marion, Ind. - The Community Foundation of Grant County has approved the launch of a public art initiative as the next phase of its $7.5 million renovation of the historic building at 100 South Washington Street in Marion’s Riverfront District.  A newly-formed commission, chaired by Marion Mayor Ronald Morrell, Jr., will include community members and Foundation Board representatives. In the coming weeks, the commission will develop a framework for the initiative and will oversee its progress. The initiative, Riverfront Canvas, will be guided by a focus on local people and inspiring stories, brought to life by local artists, and celebrating Grant County as it moves forward. “This building is a long-term investment in our community, and we want every part of it to feel connected to Grant County,” said Mark Atkinson, chair of the Community Foundation of Grant County Board of Directors. “During the renovation process, we consulted a national intellectual property law firm to review copyright considerations related to the current artwork. We learned that the legal rights to the underlying photos used in the existing murals do not belong to us.” “That finding prompted us to take a fresh look at the building’s visual identity as a whole, and ultimately led...

02 Apr

Posted at 17:21h in Featured Story
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🎵Celebrate Good Times, Come on… It’s a Celebration 🎶 Okay… this is your official permission to cue the confetti!  Because together—we did something BIG! 🌟 We successfully met the Lilly Endowment, Inc. $1.5 million GIFT VIII Unrestricted Gift Matching Challenge—an extraordinary milestone for Grant County! 🌟 🎵Celebrate Good Times, Come on… It’s a Celebration 🎶 Thanks to the generosity of those who choose to give where you live, all unrestricted donations from that past 2 years were matched with a generous $1.5M donation from Lilly Endowment Inc. This will permanently increase our annual grantmaking funds—we call them the Give To Grant Funds because your giving means more granting. 🎉 When you give where you live, your generosity goes to work right here in our community—helping our friends, our families, and our neighbors build a stronger, healthier, more hopeful Grant County. There is power in increased grantmaking! Some might think a small, rural community couldn’t possibly rally around a $1.5M goal. But you did more than just show up… You turned a challenge into a celebration. You turned generosity into momentum. You turned a big goal into a shared community win. And that is absolutely worth celebrating! 🎉 Here’s the part we’re still celebrating… This wasn’t the finish line. Because while GIFT VIII has officially wrapped… ✨...