Give Today 
Community Foundation Awards $76,500, Including $24K To Support Vocational Training
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Seven local nonprofit organizations were awarded a combined $76,500 in funding from the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI), including $24,000 in awards from the Commerce America Foundation Fund to support local vocational training.
Two $12,000 grants were awarded to Ivy Tech Sellersburg and Southern Indiana Works from the Commerce America Fund, a field of interest fund held at CFSI. Established in 1998, the fund supports charitable agencies in Clark and Floyd counties, specifically for social service and vocational education.
“We are excited for the opportunity to support an initiative aimed at improving our region’s vocational training, something our Community Needs Assessment highlighted as an area of concern for our residents,” said Linda Speed, CFSI President and CEO. “We hope these grants help provide essential training opportunities, which in turn will foster both skill development and career advancement for individuals of all backgrounds.”
Two Field of Interest Grants were awarded, totaling $24,000. Recipients include:
Ivy Tech – Sellersburg Campus
Supports Advanced Manufacturing program, which aims to upskill technicians in HVAC, automotive, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. ($12,000)
Southern Indiana Works
Supports organization’s “Summer Works” program, which provides sustainable employment opportunities for people aged 16-21. ($12,000)
In addition to two vocational grants, CFSI also awarded $51,500 to five local nonprofits as part of the Foundation’s Capacity Building and Community Assist grant programs, which support organizations serving residents in Clark and Floyd counties. The Capacity Building Grant Program focuses on improving organizations’ operating capacity, while Community Assist Grants support a program or activity that will positively impact the lives of people living in Southern Indiana.
Two Capacity Building Grants were awarded, totaling $37,500. Recipients include:
Choices Life Resource Center
Supports organization’s strategic planning, from development through implementation ($12,500)
Friends of Open Door Youth Services
Develop and purchase robust software platform to streamline organization’s service tracking and management processes. ($25,000)
Three Community Assist Grants were also awarded, totaling $15,000. Recipients include:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Supports Evidence-Based Youth Mentoring Project in Clark & Floyd Counties ($5,000)
St. Marks UCC
Supports Saturday Café, which Provides Food and Shelter to Homeless & Low-Income Families ($5,000)
Stairlift for Vets
Provides “Elevator Experience” Stairlifts to Veterans in Need of Mobility Support ($5,000)
Both the Capacity Building and Community Assist Grant Programs accept applications year-round, and nonprofit organizations can apply whenever it best suits their needs. Capacity Building grant requests between $5,000 and $25,000 are accepted, while Community Assist grant requests are available for up to $5,000. Recipients are selected quarterly.
To learn more about CFSI’s competitive grant programs, please visit our website: www.CFSouthernIndiana.com/nonprofits.