Ball Brothers Foundation gives $3 million to initiatives in Muncie
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The Muncie-based Ball Brothers Foundation has awarded $3 million in grants, including money for public art, community organizations an educational initiatives.
In a news release, the foundation highlighted grants related to public art as part of a concentrated effort across Delaware County. The nonprofit views investment in public art “as a catalyst for transformation in Muncie.”
Specifically, funding from the Ball Brothers Foundation is being used to establish two separate public art funds—one meant to support installing the long-term care of public art and another focused on quickly implementing more transient installations and projects.
Connected to art itself, Ball Brothers say its grant funding will support the Creative Space Action Plan run by The Community Foundation and Delaware County to build and connect creative spaces in Muncie.
Arts specific grants in the spring cycle included $30,000 for Conner Prairie Museum for trail maintenance, $35,000 for Music for All for the 2025 Bands of American Summer Camp and $200,000 to Sustainable Muncie Corporation for general operations and programming.
“Our region’s legacy of industrial design and glassmaking is reflected in today’s growing arts scene in an array of small businesses that have emerged across the city, and in a makers’ movement that continues to gain momentum,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation in the release. “Both Ball Brothers Foundation and The Community Foundation share a strong belief that art will play a key role in the next phase of downtown Muncie’s revitalization.”
The Muncie-based private foundation, established in 1926 by the family who launched the glass jar manufacturing company, prioritizes projects and programs that improve the quality of life in the foundation’s home city of Muncie, county of Delaware and state of Indiana.
Additional grant awards include:
Education
- Anderson University – $25,000 to expand cybersecurity apprenticeships with other universities across the state of Indiana, building on an existing partnership between Anderson University and Ball State University.
- Ball State University – $25,000 for the Cardinal Academy of Digital Security and Education (CADSE) which provides internships and certifications for students interested in cyber careers.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Muncie – $350,000 to support general operations for two years at the Madison and Buley Sites.
- Inspire Academy – $30,000 for window replacement.
- Job Source, Inc. – $15,000 for programming and operations at Muncie Scholar House.
- Project Leadership – $450,000 for general operating support across two years.
- Ross Community Center – $300,000 for general operating support across two years.
- Wes-Del Community Schools – $59,000 to upgrade the high school’s computer science lab, improving opportunities for coursework in cybersecurity and networking operations.
Environment
- City of Muncie – $40,000 to add 1.2 miles to the existing multi-use trail on the southeast side of Prairie Creek Reservoir.
- Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District – $30,000 for educational events, water quality monitoring, and agricultural cost-share programs in the Upper Mississinewa and Upper White River watersheds.
- Indiana Natural Resources Foundation – $100,000 to expand the Wilbur Wright Fish and Wildlife Area in Henry County.
- Red-tail Land Conservancy – $166,000 for general operating support across two years.
Health
- Muncie Sports Commission, Inc. – $70,000 for general operating and programmatic support.
- Riley Children’s Foundation – $100,000 for research centered on early identification of Type 1 diabetes risk and delay of disease onset via the Luke Bracken Wiese Fund for Diabetes Research.
Human Services
- Ball State University Police Department – $10,000 to update the department’s training room.
- Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – $400,000 for general operating support across two years.
- Heart of Indiana United Way – $80,000 to provide matching dollars for the 2025 campaign.
- Indiana Youth Institute – $45,000 for customized consulting services for up to four youth-serving organizations across East Central Indiana.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana – $40,000 to repair, update, and install new sprinkler systems.
- YWCA Central Indiana – $100,000 for general operating support.
Public Society Benefit
- Cardinal Greenways – $425,000 for general operating support across two years.
- Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office – $50,000 for the High Tech Crimes Unit’s purchase of additional digital forensics tools, training, and internships in collaboration with Ball State University.
- Delaware County Sheriff’s Office – $20,000 to upgrade digital forensics tools and software, including the expansion of digital evidence storage capacity.
- Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District – $90,000 for a new canoe/kayak launch on Memorial Drive.
- East Central Indiana Regional Planning District – $30,000 to support an internship program designed to help municipalities and organizations in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, and Jay counties.
- Henry County Emergency Management – $21,000 to upgrade technology at the county’s emergency operations center and enhance the training center located near New Castle.
- Muncie Downtown Development Partnership – $100,000 to provide general operating support and add new event programming.
- Muncie Innovation Connector, Inc. – $85,000 for branding/marketing refresh as well as kitchen, bathroom, and HVAC updates.
- Muncie Police Department – $20,000 to upgrade digital forensics tools and software as well as cyber training.