Frequently Asked Questions

The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. is one of approximately 700 community foundations in the United States. Community foundations are set up by individuals, corporations, and families that are dedicated to improving the quality of life in a specific region. All community foundations share the common goal of serving donors, nonprofit organizations, and the community as a whole.

We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows people to establish permanent endowment funds within the scope of one large foundation. We also offer an inexpensive, value-added way to establish a named family fund. The distributions from these separate funds - and the principal if the donor desires - are available to respond to emerging opportunities and needs in Muncie and Delaware County.

The primary work of a community foundation is to inspire and work with donors to design gift plans that fit their charitable wishes and make responsive grants to nonprofit organizations working within the community.

The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. was established in 1985 to encourage philanthropy and assist donors in building an enduring source of charitable assets. The distributions generated by the investment of these funds is used to make grants to qualified nonprofit organizations whose programs serve the needs and enhance the quality of life for present and future residents of Muncie and Delaware County. Since 1985 the Foundation has granted more than $22 million to organizations working in arts and culture, economic development, education, community betterment and human services. To learn more click here.

The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. serves all the communities located in Delaware County. Some donors, however, have interests elsewhere which they can support through their donor advised funds at the Foundation.

Donors, which include individuals, corporations, and families to The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. range from people of relatively modest means to those with significant financial resources. Donors make the grants we give possible.

To support your community and the things you care about. The Foundation offers considerable expertise regarding the needs and opportunities within Delaware County. This expertise helps people who care about the community find the best way to direct their funds.

Our donors appreciate the speed, flexibility, and ease of using the Foundation. Because the legal tools are already in place and existing forms are available, a fund can be established -and all applicable tax advantages can be obtained - in a very short time.

The Foundation is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors.

The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. makes grants to nonprofit organizations working in areas of economic development, education, community betterment, the arts and culture, and human services.

You can apply for a grant by clicking here, or by calling (765) 747-7181. Grant procedures and deadlines are also found in the Grants section of this website. The Foundation's Grant Policy Committee and the Board of Directors review all applications on a quarterly basis.

Both organizations are important resources to Delaware County. Some have described the differences by suggesting the United Way is more like the community's checkbook, raising and distributing money annually, while the Foundation is more like a savings account, distributing grants from a long-term fund in perpetuity. The United Way focuses on health and human services, while the Foundation's scope of funding is much broader and includes working in areas such as economic development, education, community betterment, the arts and culture, and human services.

The Foundation's approach to planned giving offers a number of important benefits to donors. Because we manage a large number of discretionary funds, administrative costs and custodial fees for any one fund are minimized - meaning less overhead cost to the donor's fund. Another important advantage is that the federal tax code provides significant incentives for contributions to the Foundation.

The Foundation also has a number of different types of funds to accommodate donors who prefer the long-term strategy of endowments or those who want to give more actively each year. Donors may choose to establish one of these funds, which allow donors to recommend grants, or donors may choose to contribute to an existing fund that is flexible in response to emerging needs in Delaware County.

We offer a variety of options for making donations. By combining your resources with those of others that share your interests, you can maximize the impact of a modest contribution. Gifts of any size make a difference and are always appreciated.

There is no cost to set up a fund at the Foundation. The first step is determining what you would like to accomplish. To do this, it may be helpful to learn more about some of our existing funds.

Some people prefer the simplicity of cash. But there are many other ways to give, including securities and real estate. Plus, all gifts receive the maximum deduction allowed by law.

For more information visit the informed giving portion of the sight or simply give now.

Yes. The Foundation honors requests for privacy. If a donor wishes to remain anonymous, the Foundation must be notified at the time the gift is made. A request for anonymity means, among other things, that the donor's name will not be published in any public document such as the Community Foundation Newsletter or the Annual Report.