Strategic Grants: A New Approach to Meeting Hamilton County’s Most Pressing Needs

Nonprofit leaders often have a clear vision for their organization’s next step: a renovated facility that can safely serve more young people, a new staff role that connects families with childcare, or a stronger fundraising operation that sustains services well into the future. The greater challenge is often securing resources to bring that vision to life. 

Investments of this scale rarely fit within Hamilton County Community Foundation’s grantmaking cycle. However, in 2026, HCCF had the opportunity to introduce a new way to support them. 

Through its first round of Strategic Grants, HCCF awarded a combined $1.675 million to eight organizations across Hamilton County. Each award supports an organization prepared to take a significant step forward in addressing one of the county’s most pressing challenges. 

Expanding What Community Grantmaking Can Do 

For years, HCCF’s grantmaking has centered on annual competitive grant rounds. Rooted in trust-based philanthropy, that round supports approximately 25 to 30 organizations each year and remains central to the foundation’s work with local nonprofits. 

The competitive round also has natural limits. Its funding ceilings make it less suited to capital projects, major capacity-building efforts, and other requests that call for a larger investment. 

A $6 million grant from Lilly Endowment created an opportunity to go further. With this support, HCCF significantly increased its grantmaking in 2026 and will continue to do so in 2027. Strategic Grants are one of the primary ways the foundation is putting that expanded capacity to work. Offered through an invitational round, they provide awards of up to $250,000. 

The round focuses on the priorities in HCCF’s strategic plan, which reflect the findings of its 2024 Community Needs Assessment: accessible housing, childcare, social services, and workforce and education. 

“Nonprofits often reach a point where the next step requires a larger investment than our traditional grants can provide,” said Danielle Stiles-Polk, HCCF President. “Strategic Grants give us a way to meet them at that moment and help turn a long-term goal into tangible progress.” 

Eight Organizations, Eight Pivotal Moments 

The 2026 recipients are at different stages of their work, and the Strategic Grants round allowed HCCF to tailor its support to each organization’s circumstances. The investments fall broadly into three areas. 

Building for Growth 

Several organizations are investing in physical spaces that will expand what they can offer. Teter Organic Farm is constructing a new barn that will increase year-round food production and create more hands-on opportunities for volunteers and community groups. Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville is planning facility improvements focused on safety, accessibility, and serving more youth. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis is making long-term investments for a future affordable housing development. These capital projects fall outside what HCCF’s competitive grant round is designed to fund. 

Strengthening People and Systems 

Investments in staff, leadership, and infrastructure are less visible than a new building, yet they shape how effectively an organization can serve the community for years to come. Grants to Child Care Answers, Grace Care Center Foundation, and Prevail, Inc. support new positions, operational improvements, and stronger fundraising capacity. 

Extending Services to More Residents  

Two organizations are expanding established programs that serve residents at different stages of life. Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program is broadening services across all six of its local branches, including tutoring, case coordination, and social activities that help youth and families access resources at no cost. Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County is expanding case management, counseling, and volunteer services for older adults and caregivers, helping residents remain independent and age safely in their homes.  

Adapting as the Community Changes 

Strategic Grants reflect a broader principle that guides HCCF’s work: as Hamilton County grows and changes, the foundation evolves alongside it. That evolution may take the form of a new funding opportunity, a new program, or a new role in the community. In every case, it begins with taking the time to listen to community partners. HCCF works closely with nonprofit, government, and community leaders to understand the county’s most pressing priorities and to identify where its resources, expertise, and relationships can be most useful. 

Looking Ahead 

No single round of grants will resolve the county’s housing, childcare, or social service challenges. As Hamilton County continues to grow, so do the demands on the organizations serving its residents. Strategic Grants help equip nonprofits to take meaningful next steps, and they give HCCF a new way to respond when an opportunity calls for more than a traditional grant can provide. 

Much of the progress ahead will come from the people already dedicated to this work. Nonprofit leaders, staff, and volunteers bring firsthand knowledge of the neighbors they serve. Their work is strengthened by donors who choose to invest in the place they call home. HCCF’s role is to connect those efforts and help them reach further, and donors play an essential part in making that possible. 

Investing in Hamilton County’s Future 

For those who want to be part of that progress, donations to HCCF’s Community Initiative Endowment offer a lasting way to give. Gifts to the endowment provide flexible, long-term support that allows the foundation to respond as the community changes, whether through a new funding opportunity, a new program, or a challenge no one can yet anticipate. Through June 30, 2028, gifts to the endowment can be tripled through a 2-to-1 match from Lilly Endowment. With this match, a donation of $100 turns into a $300 opportunity to make a difference. 

The endowment is just one of many ways to give through HCCF. Individuals, families, and businesses can also establish donor-advised funds, named scholarships, organization endowments, or supporting organizations aligned with their philanthropic goals. HCCF accepts a wide range of assets beyond cash, including closely held stock, real estate, partnership interests, and private foundation payouts or dissolutions. This flexibility allows donors to give in the way that works best for them while supporting the community they care about. 

Whatever form it takes, each gift becomes part of something larger: a shared commitment among donors, nonprofits, and community partners to strengthen the community they know and love.  

Hamilton County will continue to grow and change. With the generosity and commitment of the people who live and work here, the community is well prepared to meet what comes next, together.