HCCF Strategic Grants Provide $1.7M for Major Community Initiatives

Every day, Hamilton County’s nonprofit leaders are tasked with stretching limited resources to match our county’s rapid growth. HCCF’s 2024 Community Needs Assessment found that the most pressing of those needs include childcare, social services, accessible housing, and workforce and education opportunities.  

For many of the nonprofit organizations tackling those challenges, growth is limited not by demand, but by access to the capital needed to navigate pivotal moments.  

To address this gap, Hamilton County Community Foundation created Strategic Grants as a new funding pathway designed to provide larger investments in organizations pursuing significant opportunities or navigating critical challenges. 

Through its inaugural Strategic Grants cycle, HCCF awarded a combined total of $1.675 million to eight organizations across Hamilton County. Each investment reflects a clear opportunity to strengthen services, expand capacity, or advance a significant initiative. 

“Our Strategic Grants are very different from our traditional funding,” said Danielle Stiles-Polk, HCCF President. “They are designed to meet organizations at key moments when a larger investment can help them take the next step. These resources allow nonprofits to pursue opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.” 

2026 Strategic Grant Recipients 

• Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville – $250,000 to advance facility improvements and renovation planning focused on safety, accessibility, and expanded capacity, allowing the Club to enhance programming for more than 2,200 youth each year. 

• Child Care Answers – $150,000 to establish a dedicated Child Care Resource Specialist position to support families, childcare providers, employers, and community partners by connecting them to much needed resources. 

• Grace Care Center Foundation – $125,000 to support volunteer leadership development, staff capacity, and improved operational systems to increase organizational effectiveness, ensure consistent service delivery, and build long-term capacity for growth. 

• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis, Inc. – $250,000 to aid in the purchase of 6+acres in Hamilton County for a future 46-home affordable housing development, expanding affordable homeownership opportunities for Hamilton County residents. 

• Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program – $250,000 to support the expansion of services across all six local Youth Assistance branches, including case coordination, tutoring, pro-social activities, and operational support to help youth and families access resources at no cost.   

• Prevail, Inc. – $200,000 to strengthen Prevail’s fundraising capacity and long-term sustainability by expanding fundraising staff, contracted development support, professional development for staff and Board, and upgrading its client database to better track and communicate outcomes. 

• Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County – $200,000 to expand core programs that provide case management, counseling, and volunteer services for older adults and caregivers, strengthening resources that promote independence and help residents age safely in their homes. 

• Teter Organic Farm – $250,000 to support construction of a new Produce Production Barn with cold storage, wash-and-pack space, volunteer work areas, and educational spaces, increasing year-round food production and expanding hands-on opportunities for community groups and volunteers. 

Strategic Grants are part of HCCF’s broader approach to aligning resources with key community priorities and investing in organizations as they grow, adapt, and pursue opportunities to help all of Hamilton County’s residents thrive.